renée jackson cyberbullying policy and critiques

8/9/2019 Rene Jackson Cyberbullying Policy and Critiques

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Rene JacksonAssignment 3 Cyberbullying Policy

Lake County School District. (2009, April). Student bullying and other forms of aggression. Retrieved

July 1, 2009, from

http://lake.k12.fl.us/16511031094951697/lib/16511031094951697/Policy_5.33.pdf

The Lake County, Florida School Board adopted an eleven page policy on bullying,

cyberbullying and other forms of aggression as required by Florida law. It was last revised on April 27,

2009. The comprehensive policy refers to all activities on and off campus and enroute to all school-

related activities. Listed underChapter 5:Students in the School Board Policy Manual, the policy

covers students, school personnel, and third parties and their interaction with students while they are

under school supervision. Any activity where the operation of a school or a persons ability to receive

an education is interfered with or disrupted is included. The Board asserts that it refuses to tolerate

aggressive behavior of any type. The policy goes on to give definitions to be used as guidelines for

aggressive behavior. Cyberbullying is among the terms defined and reasons are given as to why it can

be particularly harmful to students. The policy gives procedures for reporting, investigating and the

consequences for actions of all forms of aggressive behavior by students, staff, contractors, and third

parties of Lake County School District. The policy also includes procedures for notification to all

parties where criminal charges may be involved and referral to counseling for perpetrators and victims.

The definition of cyberbullying is one of the main strengths of the Lake County policy. It

mentions by name most of the technologies that could be used in cyberbullying. The policy covers

rumors, hurtful remarks, and threatening messages sent by cell phone, email or posted to websites, or

blogs. The policy mentions embarrassing and misleading or fake photographs as being included in

cyberbullying, and numerous cell phone calls that run up a phone bill. It also stipulates that the action

of cyberbullying can take place on or off campus and be perpetrated against an individual or group.

The policy mentions that cyberbullying can be done using a false identity. Cyberstalking is also

addressed. The comprehensive bullying and aggressive behavior policy has procedures in place to

require reporting of any suspected incident of cyberbullying and requires that the policy be posted in


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the schools and in the code of conduct and employee handbooks as well as discussed with students.

The policy allows for anonymous reporting but does not allow disciplinary action solely on anonymous

reports. The policy also promotes prevention education and includes it in the curriculum. The policy

states that it should not be interpreted in a way to infringe on First Amendment rights.

One weakness of the Lake County policy on cyberbullying is that it does not actually mention

sexually explicit language or photographs that could be used in messages about a person or to a person.

I think it should be written into the language of the policy even though it does say that cyberbullying is

not limited to the definition given. The prevalence of sexting or texting sexual pictures among teens

should be addressed specifically in the policy. The policy wording is also a bit weak and seems to give

students an out by saying that students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately for their level

of development, maturity, and demonstrated capabilities. Another weakness is that there is no

mention of retrieving or preserving evidence of the cyberbullying. Also, education on preventing

cyberbullying should be included in each class that includes the use of technology, and repeated often

throughout those classes. There was also no provision mentioned for reviewing or revising the policy.


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Avonworth School District. (2008, November). Board Policies. Retrieved July 1, 2009, from

http://www.avonworth.k12.pa.us/schoolboard/Board%20Policies/Forms/AllItems.aspx?R

ootFolder=%2fschoolboard%2fBoard%20Policies%2f200%20Pupils&FolderCTID=&Vi

ew=%7bA52A3BEF%2dD524%2d4A21%2dBC83%2dBECB8A6BCC87%7d

Avonworth School District in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania adopted a policy on bullying and

cyberbullying on November 10, 2008. The policy is found in the districts policy manual under the

Pupils section. The policy states that the Board prohibits bullying by the district students and is

committed to a safe and positive learning environment for them. The definition of bullying given does

include cyberbullying and mentions electronic acts. It gives the parameters of the location of the

bullying and cyberbullying to be in the school, on the campus, on the school bus and at bus stops, and

any activity that is school sponsored, sanctioned or sponsored. The policy encourages students that

have been victims to promptly report the incident to the principal and orders that complaints be

investigated swiftly and verification of the incident made. Consequences and disciplinary action for

those violating the policy are given. It is directed that the policy be displayed in the school building

and reviewed annually with students, and reviewed by the Board every three years. Permission is given

for the development of prevention and intervention educational programs, and training for reporting

and responding to incidents of bullying.

A strength of this policy is that it titles the policy bullying/cyberbullying. It defines bullying to

include cyberbullying and states that electronic acts are included under acts of bullying. The

consequences for violations of the policy are also given in clear terms. Counseling and therapy for

those in violation is mentioned in the Consequences section. The policy is also mandated to be

accessible in every classroom which is a very positive action. The policy is to be distributed annually

to the students and reviewed by the Board every three years. Strengths of the policy also include that it

states the Board prohibits all forms of bullying by students of the district and that all students are held

responsible for keeping the school environment free of bullying.

A weakness of this policy is that it only addresses student actions. It does not address staff,

administration, volunteers, visitors, or anyone other than students. The actual definition of


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bullying/cyberbullying could be more comprehensive and inclusive, and there is no mention of

cyberstalking, or that cyberbullying can be done under a false identity. The policy should be more

assertive that reporting be done by students and faculty. It should also make note that the policy should

not be used to abuse the students rights under the First Amendment. The policy does not give any

procedures or guidelines for reporting, investigating, or notifying victims or those accused of acts of

bullying. There is no mention of saving or providing evidence of cyberbullying. Anonymous reporting

is not addressed either. The education section of the policy is weak because it does not direct that

education should be instituted, only that the district may develop and implement bullying prevention

and intervention programs. Preventive education should be mandated and the policy should be

reviewed with the students and staff. The current policy says that the students will be given a Code of

Student Conduct that contains the bullying/cyberbullying policy but not that it will be discussed with

the students. There is no mention of counseling or therapy for victims.

Medford School District 549C. (2007, September). Cyberbullying. Retrieved July 1, 2009, from

http://www.medford.k12.or.us/CodePrint.asp?CodeID=1598


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The cyberbullying policy for the Medford School District in Medford, Oregon was adopted on

September 4, 2007. The policy is listed in the Personnel section under the heading Cyberbullying. The

policy states that any form of cyberbullying by staff, students or third parties is prohibited and will

not be tolerated in the district. The policy goes on to give a definition of cyberbullying and reiterates

that any communication in electronic form that disrupts or prevents a safe school environment may

also be considered cyberbullying. The policy states that staff should report any incident of

cyberbullying to the principal and take appropriate action at the time of the incident.

The policy addresses the consequences of students, staff and third parties found to be in violation of

the policy. Legal references are given at the bottom of the policy.

The main strength of this policy is that it is specifically for cyberbullying. The policy states

clearly that cyberbullying is prohibited, and mentions students, staff and third parties. The definition

given for cyberbullying is fairly comprehensive and mentions that the act of cyberbullying can be

carried out using a false identity and includes cyberstalking. The policy states that staff should take

appropriate action and report an incident to the principal, and that evidence of an electronic

transmission thought to be malicious should be preserved. Consequences for students, staff and third

parties in violation of the cyberbullying policy are given with further reference made to the district

policy on Electronic Communications System and Personal Communication Devices.

Weaknesses of the policy include the omission of what activities or locations are covered under

the policy. For example, there is no mention that the policy on cyberbullying applies to actions on

campus or off, or during school sanctioned activities. There are no set procedures given for

intervention, reporting, or investigating any acts of cyberbullying. There is no mention of education on

prevention or intervention on cyberbullying, and no mention of posting the policy in the school or

classroom. The policy does not make mention of providing either victims or perpetrators with

counseling or education. The policy does not address the possibility of anonymous reporting of

incidents or that allegations made in good faith would not be subject to retaliation or revenge. It also


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does not mention that the staff and students of the district are expected to be responsible for

maintaining a safe learning environment of mutual respect and free from cyberbullying. The policy

does not make note that it shouldnt be interpreted as to infringe on a students right to free speech.

Cyberbullying Policy


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Purpose: To provide an environment that is productive, peaceful and positive in attitude, and that

protects the safety, security and serenity of students, staff, and all third parties involved in education in

the district by prohibiting any form of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying in any form will not be tolerated

and action will be taken against anyone found to be in violation of the district policy. All students,

staff, and third parties are expected to act responsibly, respectfully, and work to keep their school free

of cyberbullying. To this end, education of students, staff and third parties in the prevention of

cyberbullying is mandatory.

Definition: Cyberbullyingis the use of electronic communication technologies in an aggressive,

malicious, premeditated, continuous, and unwelcomed manner to threaten, intimidate, insult, degrade,

defame, frighten, embarrass, harass, humiliate, stalk, harm, or otherwise cause distress to an individual

or group, or disrupt or interfere with the operation of a school, or detract from a students ability to

pursue a quality education. The cyberbullying actions can take place under a persons own or an

assumed identity, on or off school property, in school vehicles, at appointed school bus stops, during

school operation, or school sanctioned activities by students, staff, or third parties using personnel

electronic communication devices or technologies, or school owned property. The electronic

communication technologies and communication devices often used in cyberbullying include but are

not exclusive to the following: email, instant messaging (IM), chat rooms, online bulletin boards, short

message service, enhanced message service, multimedia message service, websites, polling sites,

blogs, interactive games, sexting, cell phones, camera phones, PDAs, and computers. Cyberbullying

can include password or identity theft, driving up cell phone bills, misrepresentation to ISPs or cell

phone companies, distribution of falsified or embarrassing photographs or video, inflammatory text, or

audio. Cyberbulllying can include the use of obscene and vulgar language, sending lewd or

pornographic images of ones self or others, or the threat of illegal or immoral acts.


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Staff: Any person employed by the school district on a permanent or part-time basis.

Third Party: Visitors, volunteers, parents, guardians, contractors, or any other person on a school

campus for a short term.

Education: Education is the key to theprevention of cyberbullying. The policy will be reviewed with

students in each homeroom annually. Each technology class will include continuing education on

netiquette, cyberbullying and prevention during at least two class periods annually. The use of

workshops, presentations, posters, screensavers with information on cyberbullying, or other

educational material for students is expected. Students are required to read and sign the Cyberbullying

Contract. Yearly training for staff on reporting, preventing, and the intervention in any act of

cyberbullying is mandatory.

Reporting: Students and staff are expected to make a report of any incident of suspected

cyberbullying. Students should report the incident to a staff member and they will in turn bring it to the

attention of the principal. A report may be made in writing or orally. Any evidence of such an incident

such as an email, photo, or text message should be saved and provided to the principal. An

investigation into all reported incidents will be made without delay. All reports will be confidential and

any report made anonymously will be investigated. All good faith reports of cyberbullying will be free

from repercussions or retribution. Following confirmation of an incident, appropriate corrective action

will be taken.

Investigation: An investigation into all reported incidents will be made without delay. A person

designated by the district will be in charge of following up on all reports. All interviews with all parties


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involved will be done by the designated investigator and conducted individually and in private. All

evidence and facts of the incident will be gathered, evaluated and determination of the validity of the

charge made based on a thorough and detailed investigation.

Notification: All parties involved in an investigation will be notified promptly that such an

investigation is taking place by the principal by phone or letter. If the incident warrants possible

criminal charges then law enforcement will also be notified.

Consequences: Any violation of the Cyberbullying Policy by students, staff, or third parties will result

in appropriate disciplinary action. The action for staff may include up to termination, and for third

parties may include up to exclusion. Actions against staff and third parties could also include criminal

charges.

Consequences for students include but are not limited to:

Counseling or therapy in or outside of school

Loss of school privileges and/or exclusion from school activities

Detention

Suspension

Expulsion

Criminal charges

Review: This policy will be reviewed by the Board every two years and revised as needed.

Posting: A copy of this policy will be posted in each classroom, media center, cafeteria, and

gymnasium in the district. A copy will be included in the student and staff handbooks.


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Victims: Counseling or therapy in or out of school will be made available to victims.

Freedom of Speech: This policy should not be construed in any way to be used to deny a person of

their rights under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

Contract for Students:

I will not use any school computer, or personal communication device on or off campus to

perpetrate any act considered cyberbullying by the Board with the intent to harm, intimidate,

embarrass, harass, exclude, coerce, or degrade any student, group, staff, or third party, or cause

any disruption or interference of school proceedings. I understand that any student or group

found in violation of the Cyberbullying Policy could face disciplinary action up to expulsion.

I have read and agree to abide by the above Cyberbullying contract:

Student: ____________________________________ Date:_________________

Parent/Guardian: _____________________________ Date:_________________

renée jackson cyberbullying policy and critiques

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