Winning Essays on Bullying

Several weeks ago for Parenting with Technology, I wrote an article about the backlash against the anti-bullying campaign that appears to be growing and discussed that it is hard to see how anyone could object to bullying finally coming under stronger scrutiny. To further buttress my arguments with those who wrongly think that all you have to do is physically strike a bully to get them to stop, I refer you to the essays that were submitted to a contest sponsored by Nicholas Kristoff of The New York Times. As one submitter wrote: “Today’s problem isn’t so much the bullying itself — bullying has been around for centuries,” says Paulina Puskala, 17, of Marquette, Mich. “The problem is that it is difficult to escape it. Technology-enabled bullies contain the ability to harass 24/7.” Many of the essay writers argued that adults are either oblivious to bullying or turn a blind eye to it. In any case, they say, students themselves have to take the lead in making bullying uncool. One site that was mentioned as being helpful to students trying to do just that is We Stop Hate, an organization described as “more than just an antibullying program. It’s a call to action to stop hate: stop hating on yourself, stop hating on others.”

Staying Off Facebook is Not the Answer to Privacy Woes

These days for most people, social networking seems like the easiest way to keep up with friends and family. Most don’t worry about fake offers, spam, and apps harvesting personal data, even though that threat is always lurking. However, recent research suggests that for the privacy-obsessed, not joining Facebook and similar sites, is no longer the answer. A quartet of German researchers was able to learn about people who weren't members of social networks by examining information posted online by their friends, according to a recent paper.

Cyberbullying Revisited

One Florida school district is revisiting cyberbullying and in a recent workshop discussed that the issue is still tricky. A student’s First Amendment rights have to be preserved and victims have to demonstrate significant harm was caused by the aggressor's action. Florida Atlantic University professor Sameer Hinduja, co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, released a study last year on the dangers of cyberbullying among teenagers. He said on average a teen sends out about 3,000 text messages a month and phones can be dangerous weapons in the cyberbullying arena. In some cases, aggressors use technology to stalk, blackmail, extort or manipulate other students into saying or doing things against their will. Hinduja said that because of a number of suicides and high profile incidents, schools are becoming more aggressive in dealing with cyberbullying.

The Anti-bullying Backlash

As with all things, even the anti-bullying campaigns that have taken hold are in for some flak. The Wall Street Journal ran an article entitled "Stop Panicking About Bullies" with the subhead of "Childhood is safer than ever before, but today's parents need to worry about something. Nick Gillespie on why busybodies and bureaucrats have zeroed in on bullying." While Mr. Gillespie may be right that we are not in the midst of a bullying epidemic, there is nothing wrong with taking a serious look at bullying especially as it has been exacerbated by social media. Take a look at the Parenting with Technology column on this site, subtitled “Proud to be a Busybody” for a response.

Are You Raising a Mighty Girl?

One of the best ways to fight bullying is to produce “mighty” kids, whose self esteem stays intact even when confronted with outright serial bullying. When it comes to girls though, our society hands out lots of mixed messages, even through books and movies aimed at young girls, about submission and physical appearance being the key to being popular or successful. If you are sick of the whole Disney Princess gig and want to help your daughter figure out there is more to her future, take a look at the new A Mighty Girl site for some guidance on “the world's largest collection of books and movies for smart, confident, and courageous girls.” It’s about time.

Schools and Facebook – No Laws Define Where to Draw the Line

School districts are struggling to determine when it is appropriate to discipline students for online behavior that takes place outside of school. In Minnesota, a 12-year-old student was disciplined by her school for Facebook posts she made from home. The district is now the focus of a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union, which claims the district violated the student's First Amendment rights. Current law, dating back to war protests of the late 1960s (well before Facebook), permits districts to discipline students for off-campus behavior ONLY if it disrupts the educational process. Some of the questions one school administrator suggests that schools use to determine if there is a disruption include: Are kids talking about it? Are they talking about it during class? Are they talking about it during lunch? Are people getting worked up over it? Are we running the risk of some sort of retaliatory action at school? Of course, these are not totally objective questions and there is no one-size-fits-all policy to handle controversial online comments.

Fake Facebook Pages – A Problem for Schools and the Police

In Minnesota and elsewhere, a growing number of students are being bullied online by those who have created fake Facebook profiles on home computers. Police say, in some cases, students as young as 11 and 12 are creating fake profiles in which they claim to be 13 -- the minimum age required for a Facebook profile -- to bully other students online. Officers say the online problem, which has led to in-person fights in schools, is difficult to track, making it hard to discipline the students, and that out-of-date laws make it hard for them to pursue and punish perpetrators. Police walk a fine line in respecting kids' First Amendment rights to express themselves on social media outside of school, while dealing with the problems that result. Several states like Texas do have laws making impersonation a crime punishable by a jail term and fine.

Kids May Know More About Privacy Than Adults Think

Middle-school students may be more savvy about online privacy than parents or teachers give them credit for, say researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. As part of a small study to be published in the journal Learning, Media and Technology, researchers found that tweens are aware of online risks, and take various steps to protect their privacy on the Internet and often discuss concerns with parents and teachers. On the other hand, kids report that parents and teachers often try to use undue and unrealistic scare tactics when it comes to pointing out dangers online. This is a good reminder to keep your discussion with your kids about online safety honest and open so they don’t reject what you have to say as being too extreme.

Anti-Bullying Funds Available in NJ

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has signed legislation that provides $1 million to help school districts implement an anti-bullying law. Districts will be required to seek free anti-bullying training before being eligible for the state grants. The state's anti-bullying law was adopted in 2010 following the cyberbullying of a Rutgers University student and his subsequently committing suicide. His roommate, who used a web cam to observe his roommate having sex, has since been convicted of a hate crime for his part in the affair. The anti-bullying law debuted to mixed results this year. A survey of a dozen school districts found that  it is being used often, but some school officials called it a "bureaucratic nightmare," and some parents said it did not resolve problems for their children.

Bullying and the Special Needs Student

The National Center for Learning Disabilities, along with their Special Needs Taskforce, is partnering with The Bully Project to raise awareness of America's bullying crisis—specifically how it affects children with special needs and their families. According to the NCLD, sixty percent of students with disabilities report being bullied regularly compared with 25 percent of all students. Whether it is physical, verbal or digital, the impact of bullying can be devastating. To help parents learn more about what bullying is, how students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities are particularly at risk, and what you can do to stop it, the NCLD is offering a toolkit and you can sign up to receive it when it is released in April. Filled with resources to help families of children with special needs deal with bullying, the Toolkit provide parents with guidelines and tips on how they can help end bullying and increase opportunities for children with special needs to succeed.