Monday, April 11, 2011

Journal 8: Should Schools Be Held Responsible For Cyberbullying?

Bogacz, R, & Gordillo, M. (2011, March/April). Point/counterpoint: Should Schools be Held Responsible for Cyberbullying?. Learning & Leading , 38(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Point_Counterpoint_Should_Schools_Be_Held_Responsible_for_Cyberbullying.aspx

There are basically two very good arguments for why cyberbullying should and should not be the school's responsibility. In this article the argument for having schools being held responsible is basically that schools administrators, parents and law enforcement should all be held accountable together as one to help prevent and control cyberbullying. Even if the bullying is off campus, it still effects the school environment, and therefore it effects the school and the school should be involved. The argument pro school involvement also suggested that parents be very in tune with what their children are doing and to even go to lengths such as to check their phones, be their "friend" on social networking sites, and to also have their passwords to their various accounts.

The argument against having schools being involved was very simple, yet powerful. It basically said that we must look at the root of the problem of bullying, which is lack of love. Children need to be loved, and supported at home and that alone is the best vaccine against bullying. I thought this was very true, and that a school's involvement could only go so far as to monitor the bullying, but inevitably it the bullying could happen either way. Love is the answer!!

How do we pass on all this love anyways?

I think that the author of the article was very valid in saying that the root of the problem is lack of love. But it's not so simple that all of a sudden when I child is loved they are perfect and that bullying is out of their range. Love can also be spread in many different ways (like love of sports, music, dance, etc.). If love is the answer then we all need to spread it as much as we can and we need to especially start at a young age with our children!

If a school does get involved, how would you feel about monitoring that as an educator?

I understand that cyberbullying is something that has recently evolved in the past couple of years. I think that as an educator you can do the best possible to try and monitor it, but its a pretty hard load to carry. All you can do as an educator is try to promote a comfortable learning environment, and to make your classroom comfortable and bonded together as one.

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