cyber bullying policy critique

8/7/2019 Cyber Bullying Policy Critique

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Cape May Special Services Board of Education. (2007, January 16). Cyber-bullying policy .

Retrieved from http://www.cmcspecialservices.org/Policies/CyberBully.html

Summary

In this policy statement regarding cyber bullying, the Cape May Special Services School

District created this policy in helps to create a safe and civil environment to help their students

learn and achieve at high academic standards. They first define cyber bullying as the use of

electronic information and communication devices that threatens, harasses, intimidates and place

any fear or harm to a person or a group. It also has the effect of disrupting the operation of

school. Any cyber bullying should be reported to the Principal. If anything happens using non-

school technology, they may have the right to report the investigation to local law enforcement.

Consequences include anywhere from positive behavioral interventions to suspension or

expulsion. Any type of retaliation is prohibited when it comes to cyber bullying and depending

on the circumstances of the act, it may be looked at in accordance of Federal and State statutes

and regulations, and district policies and procedures. Also, if anyone falsely accuse someone

will have the same consequences of those who are accused of cyber bullying. If a school

employee falsely accused another for cyber bullying, then he/she will be disciplined in

accordance of district policies and procedures.

One of the strengths of this policy is what was included in the use of electronic

information and communication devices. Some people think cyber bullying can just occur over

the internet. However, they included text messaging and cellular telephone communications.

So if a person is cyber bullying someone on the cell phone by just calling that person up, he/she

can get in trouble. Also another strength of this policy is that they included retaliation. When


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someone is bullied, the first thing that comes into mind is how he/she can get back to that other

person. Well if you do anything and it does not even have to be cyber bullying, you can still

receive the same consequences as if you were doing the cyber bullying yourself. Many children

do not realize that retaliation is wrong. Some are told to fight back from their parents and in

the long run, that does not solve anything.

One of the weaknesses of this policy is that cyber bullying is only limited through the use

of school district owned, operated, and supervised technologies. So if you are using one of the

school computers and you cyber bully someone, then you can get in trouble. However, if cyber

bullying is done in the comfort of your own home, then this policy does not affect you. They did

mention that they may report you to local law officials if a report is made that you are cyber

bullying someone using your own technological devices but that may not happen. If someone is

being cyber bullied, regardless of where it is done at, then something needs to be done. They

mention in the beginning of the policy how they want their students to be in a safe environment

and want them to reach their full academic standards but if you are at school sitting there worried

because of what someone said when you are at home, that is impossible for that to happen.


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Clark County School District. (2010, March 11). Clark county school district policy. Retrieved

fromhttp://www.ccsd.net/pol-reg/pdf/5137_P.pdf

Summary

In this school policy written by the Clark County School District, they included cyber

bullying into their policy which includes bullying, harassment, and/or intimidation. This policy

is written not just for students but also employees of the school district. In the policy, it

mentions that all persons are entitled to maintain their own beliefs and to disagree respectfully

without resorting to bullying, cyber bullying, harassment, and intimidation. Professional

development will also be provided to all employees of the school district to receive the

appropriate training when it comes to awareness of cyber bullying and methods to improve

school environment that will facilitate positive human relations.

A strength in this policy is that it is providing professional development to the employees

on raising awareness of cyber bullying and ways to help maintain a positive environment in the

school system. Some people do not understand what can constitute as bullying or cyber bullying

depending on how it is done. It is important for the whole staff to be on the same page because it

is our job as educators to make sure the students are in a safe environment so they can reach their

full potential.

There were a few weaknesses in this policy that I found. The first weakness that I found

was that they did not specify what could constitute cyber bullying. That area is a gray area and it

can cause a lot of uproar when someone wants to say someone is cyber bullying them and the

other person can say it was not cyber bullying. Also, they did not specify what type of

consequences would follow if cyber bullying was to take place. I believe if you are going to add
http://www.ccsd.net/pol-reg/pdf/5137_P.pdfhttp://www.ccsd.net/pol-reg/pdf/5137_P.pdfhttp://www.ccsd.net/pol-reg/pdf/5137_P.pdfhttp://www.ccsd.net/pol-reg/pdf/5137_P.pdf


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rules to prohibit something in the school environment, you need to specify what could possibly

happen if the rules are broken. I found this school policy very weak and vague when it comes to

setting up a policy on cyber bullying.


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Liberty Charter School. (2010, May 11). Policy: cyber bullying . Retrieved from

http://www.libertycharterschool.com/Documents/CYBERBULLYINGPOLICY.pdf

Summary

The Liberty Charter Schools policy on cyber bullying includes using any type of

technology that can harassing, teasing, intimidating, threatening, slandering, or terrorizing

another student or staff by sending or posting inappropriate or derogatory email messages,

instant messages, digital pictures or website postings. If it can physically, emotionally, mentally,

or harms the reputation of a student or staff, then it was cyber bullying. Also adding to what

constitutes as cyber bullying is causing a reasonable fear of damage to or loss of personal

property and creating a hostile environment that interrupts a students educational opportunities.

The policy went on to state how a student or a parent can report cyber bullying. It also lists the

discipline actions such as Saturday school, suspension, or expulsion depending on the severity of

the cyber bullying.

A strength that I found useful in this policy was that they included digital pictures. Some

people do not realize that editing a picture and making it hurtful to the subject of the picture, is

considered cyber bullying. I have seen where people edit pictures as a joke but in the long run, it

hurts the person who is in the picture because of whatever is done to the picture. I also liked

how they included that cyber bullying can result to physical, emotional, and mental harm. Some

people may say it is just a mental issue but it can result in physical or emotional harm to oneself.

This policy does not reflect on where the cyber bullying is done at for this policy to be in

effect. Someone can easily say it does not include cyber bullying done in the privacy of the

home so therefore he/she should not receive the punishment that is stated. That is where it is
http://www.libertycharterschool.com/Documents/CYBERBULLYINGPOLICY.pdfhttp://www.libertycharterschool.com/Documents/CYBERBULLYINGPOLICY.pdfhttp://www.libertycharterschool.com/Documents/CYBERBULLYINGPOLICY.pdf


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vague at in this policy. It also does not state if cyber bullying is done in the school either. I

think that is very important to include that in the policy because that could easily be interpreted

in many different ways.


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Policy for my School

Howard Middle School is committed to providing a safe, positive, and productive

educational environment for all of its students and encourages the promotion of positive

relationships between members of the school community. Howard Middle School will not

tolerate any gestures, comments, threats, or actions that may cause physical, emotional, and/or

mental harm to the students or staff of Howard Middle School. This prohibition includes verbal

(oral or written) and electronically transmitted (cyber or high-tech) abuse.

This policy applies to all activities in the Bibb County School District, including

activities on school property or enroute to and from school-sponsored activities, and those

occurring off school property, such as field trips or athletic events, where students are under the

schools control or an employee is engaged in school business. This policy also applies to

activities that take place off-campus if the activities cause emotional distress to an individual that

interferes or disrupts the operation of a school or the ability to receive an education.

Cyber bullying is the use of information and communication technology, such as e-mail,

cell phone, text messages, instant messaging, personal web sites, internet blogs, internet chat

rooms, internet postings, and digital pictures and images, used on or off school campus to

support hostile behavior by an individual or group that is intended to threaten, harm, or cause

emotional distress to an individual that interferes or disrupts the operation of a school or the

ability to receive an education.

Cyber bullying includes and is not limited to posting slurs or rumors about a student or

staff on a web site, sending mean and threatening e-mail or instant messages, using a camera

phone or a digital camera to take and send embarrassing photographs of students or staff, and

posting misleading or fake photographs of students or staff on web sites.


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Any student who believes he/she has been the victim of cyber bullying should

immediately report the situation to the principal, assistant principal, or the superintendent.

Concerns may also be reported to a teacher or counselor who will be responsible for notifying

the appropriate administrator.

A prompt investigation will soon follow of a report of cyber bullying. Documented

interviews of the victim, alleged perpetrator, and witnesses will be done privately and will be left

confidential. The investigator will collect and evaluate facts based on the incident. All

investigation steps shall be completed within 10 days from the initial filing.

If the alleged act is within the scope of the Bibb County Board School District, the

following consequences will soon be followed based on the severity of the act from anywhere to

positive behavioral interventions to suspension or expulsion.

If the alleged act is outside the scope of the Bibb County Board School District and has

been determined that the act was criminal, the principal will refer the matter to the appropriate

law enforcement authorities.

Retaliation against any person, who reports, is thought to have reported, files a complaint,

or participates in the investigation is prohibited and will not be tolerated. Retaliation is a

violation of Bibb County School District Policy and will result in disciplinary action.