Issues Assignment # 3 Amanda Ellis Georgia Southern University ITEC 7330 Internet in Schools

2 Lake County Schools: board policy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://lake.k12.fl.us/16511031094951697/site/default.asp The Lake County School district located in Tavares, Florida has a cyber bullying policy that has a goal of providing a safe environment for their students. The policy can be found on the school district website http://lake.k12.fl.us. They define cyber bullying as the use of communication technologies used to cause deliberate harm or emotional distress to others. The cyber bullying policy includes any electronically transmitted abuse such as threats, comments, and personal degradation. The Lake County School policy explains why cyber bullying is harmful and devastating. The policy points out that cyber bullies are dangerous because of their anonymity and that they can spread harmful messages at a high speed. When a student is accused of a cyber bullying incident the policy states that the location or time of that the incident occurred cannot be a defense against disciplinary action. This plan also includes how an incident should be reported, the procedures for investigating a report, and consequences if found guilty of cyber bullying. The Lake County School districts cyber bullying policy has many strengths that I believe is a positive step towards protecting their students. The authors of the policy do a good job in defining what they believe is cyber bullying and who is included in this policy. I also like that they include the reasons that cyber bullying is devastating to students. Another strength of the policy is that it states that the location or time that the cyber bullying took place will not be a defense against the disciplinary action. The creators of this policy were also thorough by including the plan on how to handle reports of cyber bullying incidents and providing a way for reporters to remain anonymous.

3 A weakness of this policy is that I believe it fails to express the seriousness of cyber bullying. I believe that they should have included that engaging in the act of cyber bullying is a crime and can be reported to authorities.

Bedford Central School District: school board policies. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bcsdny.org/policies.cfm The Bedford Central School District located in Mt. Kisco, New York has a cyber bullying policy put in place that is designed to protect the learning experience of students. The school boards policy can be found at http://www.bcsdny.org/policies.cfm?pid=366&searchwords=cyber%20bullying. The policy states that harassment or bullying is negative behavior that is intentional or repeated and causes physical or emotional harm against another person. The school boards policy gives in depth criteria of what the school board uses to define intentional harm. It also explains that is the responsibility of all students and staff to prevent cyber bullying by reporting suspected acts of cyber bullying. The policy also states that corrective action will be taken if it is determined that the act of bullying has taken place. Strengths of the policy are that it states that it is the responsibility of all students and staff members to take measures to prevent cyber bullying and failure to do so may result in a disciplinary action. It also states that the police or authorities may get involved if the act constitutes a crime. Weakness that I found with the Bedford Central School Districts cyber bullying policy is that it has combined cyber bullying with other bullying and harassment offenses. Cyber bullying is complex and is different from in person bullying that goes on in schools. This policy also fails

4 to define what they consider cyber bullying and does not discuss the sources that could be used to cyber bully. I believe that this policy would be difficult to use against someone accused of cyber bullying because they have left too much up for individual interpretation. The school board policy also does not state that it has a specific plan in place on how they will handle reports or convictions of cyber bullying.

Warwick School District: bullying / cyber bullying policy. (1997). Retrieved from http://www.warwick.k12.pa.us/orgmodule.php?deptid=107&schoolid=0007&mid=248 The Warwick School District has adopted a school board policy that is designed to protect students against cyber bullying. The Warwick School Districts cyber bullying policy can be found at http://www.warwick.k12.pa.us/orgmodule.php?deptid=107&schoolid=0007&mid=248. The policy states that cyber bullying is prohibited and anyone who violates the policy will be subject to discipline. It also states that students should report incidents of cyber bullying to any staff member so that it can be investigated immediately. In the school boards policy they explain that they will inform students of this policy annually. Written in the policy is a definition of cyber bullying that includes up to date technology such as instant messaging and blogs. The delegation of responsibility is also included in the policy. It includes students and staff members responsibility of reporting suspected abuse, as well as staff members who receive the complaints reporting it to an administrator. After the report is made the policy states that all parties involved and their parents or guardians will be notified. A detailed complaint procedure is also included.

5 The Warwick School Districts Cyber Bullying Policy is very detailed and expresses that the school board takes this offence seriously. The strengths in this policy are that it is written clearly and leaves very little up to individual interpretation. The definitions are thorough as well as the complaint procedure. Another important detail that I believe is strength of this policy is that it states that this policy is not to infringe upon a students right to engage in legally protected speech or conduct. A weakness of this policy is that it does not provide an opportunity for anonymity to students or staff members who make a cyber bullying complaint. This may cause a complaint to go unreported due to fear of retaliation.

My Policy The protection of our children at School A is paramount and necessary in order to provide a comfortable and safe learning environment for our students. We at School A have a no tolerance policy that is intended to protect students from cyber bullies. Cyber bullying is a punishable offense that is taken seriously and could lead to serious consequences taken by the school board and/or local authorities. Cyber Bullying is defined as using any electronic communication device (i.e. cell phone, computer, electronic handhelds), computer programs such as websites, blogs, chat rooms, and social networking sites or printed material from an ECD to intentionally cause harm, intimidation, embarrassment, or an unsafe feeling. Harm is defined as causing physical, emotional or mental anguish.

6 All students and staff members are responsible for the prevention of cyber bullying. Any suspected case of cyber bullying should be reported immediately. You may remain anonymous. Failure to report cases of cyber bullying could result in disciplinary action. 1. To report cyber bullying please notify our central office, the school principal, or a teacher. 2. The report will then be forwarded to the approve personnel that will start an immediate investigation of the incident. Please provide as much specific information as possible. Examples of information are, but not limited to date and time of incident, persons involved and where the incident took place. 3. If it is determined that cyber bullying has taken place the student who is accused of the cyber bullying and the parent or guardians will attend a meeting with school officials to determine a disciplinary plan. Discipline may include but is not limited to loss of technology privileges, mandatory counseling, suspension, expulsion, reporting to local police or authorities. This policy has been put in place to ensure students of a safe learning environment. It is not intended to infringe on students legally protected right to speech or self-expression. This policy will be posted in the school, on the technology permission forms, and in the student handbook.