Cyber Bullying in Schools

Administration

Administrators play a key role in preventing cyber bullying within their schools.  Putting policies in place with clear consequences will help students and teachers understand what is expected.  It is important that teachers and administrators are on the same page when it comes to cyber bullying.  Be sure to meet often with your teachers and discuss new software and communication technology that may make cyber bullying more prevalent.  Fighting cyber bullying as a team including parents, teachers and students will be the best way to stop it. 

The following list of articles and resources has been provided for administrators to give them suggestions and guidelines on how to help prevent and deal with cyber bullying within their schools.
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Roher, E. M. (2007). Confronting Facebook, YouTube and MySpace: Cyberbullying In Schools. Available from http://www.ctf-fce.ca/Documents/Priorities/EN/cyberbullying/CyberFacebook.pdf

        Suggestions regarding policy and detailed steps of investigations, including what information should be gathered are available within this article.  “It is recommended that these [computer and Internet use] policies be updated to include harassment, threats or intimidation using mobile and wireless Internet information technologies. Both students and parents should sign the acceptable use policies and there should be clear and serious consequences for anyone who does not comply with the policies.”  “Where a school administrator is informed about an incident of cyberbullying or has reason to believe that cyberbullying involving a student has taken place, he or she should conduct a thorough investigation.”
       
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Myers, J.J., McCaw, D.S. and Hemphill, L.S. (2011). Responding to CyberBullying: An Action Tool for School Leaders. Corwin Press, Thousand Oaks, CA. Available from http://www.corwin.com/booksProdDesc.nav?prodId=Book235830&

        "This is an extremely timely reference book that provides educators with the background and the tools necessary to deal with Cyber bullying in an objective, yet proactive way. This book helps to establish a balance between rights and responsibilities for all."  ~Barb Keating, Principal, Lord Kelvin Community School, New Westminster, BC, Canada
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Cyber Bullying Task Force. Government of Nova Scotia. Available from 
http://cyberbullying.novascotia.ca/teacherandschool.php

        This site provides guidance for educators on how to incorporate the community into the fight against cyber bullying.  Links to resources and a cyber bullying survey are also included.
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Responding to Cyberbullying.. Available from http://www.adl.org/education/cyberbullying/workshops.asp

        This site describes workshops that are available for administrators to teach them how to deal with cyber bullying. They are provided by the non-profit organization called the Anti-Defamation League.
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Poland, S. (2010). Cyberbullying Continues to Challenge Educators. Direct Administration: Solutions for School District Management. Available from http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=2401

        This site is full of resources and articles to help administrators run their schools effectively. It includes a list of suggestions that administrators should implement to decrease cyber bullying, such as “1. Clearly define cyberbullying and its consequences in the school handbook, and review it with students and parents.”