SUBSTANTIAL Disruption » Cyberbullying

Girls face ‘sexting’ threat from peers

Mike Tully — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:18:11 +0000

A report commissioned by the NSPCC, conducted in collaboration with King’s College London, reveals the level that ‘sexting’ has reached among teenagers, with schoolgirls facing increasing pressure to provide sexually explicit pictures of themselves, a threat that appears to come from friends and peers rather than strangers.

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School district plans community discussions about bullying (MN)

Mike Tully — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:14:42 +0000

Rochester schools Superintendent Michael Muñoz said the district is in the early stages of planning public meetings that would focus and encourage a community-wide discussion on the looming problem of bullying in the schools.

“I’ve had some conversations with our community partners, and I think we’re looking at some type of World Cafe-type discussions inviting our community to come and talk about this,” Muñoz said Tuesday at a regular meeting of the Rochester School Board. The district recently used World Cafe discussions to develop a strategic plan.

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Springfield mother charged with harassment, accused of cyberbullying a 14-year-old on Facebook

Mike Tully — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:07:06 +0000

Springfield police say a mother threatened to kill a 14-year-old girl on Facebookusing racial slurs. Officers say the woman’s son had a child with the young girl. The teenager who is referred to only by her initials in court documents told officers she posted that Crystal Smith’s son did not call or visit their child on Christmas. After that post, police say Smith sent a lengthy, threatening message to the 14-year-old.

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Orie: Make cyber bullying a crime in state (PA)

Mike Tully — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:05:07 +0000

High technology has gotten ahead of state law when it comes to Internet abuse involving children hassling other children, and one state senator hopes to do something about it.

A new generation of middle and high school students is using computers to intimidate classmates and create phony Web sites that subject them to public ridicule.

“This is a new level than what we saw in our generation,” said state Sen. Jane Orie, R-Bradford Woods.

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How to Create Social Media Guidelines for Your School

Mike Tully — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:16:36 +0000

Social media is fast becoming as ubiquitous as the air we breathe. In recent months, many schools and districts around the country have taken steps to create social media policies and guidelines for their students and staff. In my work with several districts to draft these documents, I have seen many approaches that work well, and some that don’t.

That said, there is no silver bullet for administrators; every school, district, and state has a different set of circumstances. With that in mind, here are some steps that will help you determine the best approach for your own community.

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Consumer Reports advocates for a law, not so much for consumers

Mike Tully — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:14:39 +0000

Consumer Reports has a Facebook page, it reports on the third page of its June cover story on privacy in social media. Along with some 900 million other people and organizations around the world who use Facebook, CR apparently derives some benefit from having that page. It also reports that…

•“Facebook recently partnered with the Department of Labor and others to help connect job seekers and employers, developing systems to make job postings viral.
•When tornadoes hit the Midwest and Texas this year, photos of animals posted on Facebook helped families find lost pets.
•The network keeps active-duty soldiers in touch with families, including a National Guardsman serving in Afghanistan who not only reconnected with the woman who later became his wife but now uses it to follow the daily milestones of his newborn daughter.
•And millions now turn to Facebook to express their opinions to government and businesses, flexing their collective muscle in ways never possible before.”
But all that comes after the “many causes for concern” that represent two pages of disservice, not help, to US consumers.

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You’ve Seen ‘Bully’ – What Comes Next?

Mike Tully — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:13:50 +0000

Since it opened nationwide last month, “Bully” has captured national attention and sparked conversations as moviegoers realize just how serious and prevalent bullying is in today’s society. The film, said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, “has been a jarring wake-up call.”

For Deb Crerie, an educator in Virginia, ”Bully” reinforces the fact that everyone – teachers, administrators, parents – have to act when they see bullying and not wait to see how badly it can turn out.

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Understanding Bullying: Fact Sheet (CDC)

Mike Tully — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:11:54 +0000

(NOTE: I posted this study (a downloadable PDF document) to contrast with this article from the Huffington Post that claims that 97% of middle school children are cyber-bullied. Quite a contrast. Here is the HuffPo article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/signe-whitson/cyberbullying_b_1462459.html)

Bullying is a form of youth violence. Although definitions of bullying vary, most agree that bullying includes: 1
• Attack or intimidation with the intention to cause fear, distress, or harm that is either physical (hitting, punching), verbal (name calling, teasing), or psychological/relational (rumors, social exclusion);
• A real or perceived imbalance of power between the bully and the victim; and
• Repeated attacks or intimidation between the same children over time.
Bullying can occur in person or through technology (electronic aggression, or cyberbullying). Electronic aggression is bullying that occurs through e-mail, a chat room, instant messaging, a website, text messaging, or videos or pictures posted on websites or sent through cell phones.

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Don’t forget the May 4th Deadline to submit proposal to IBPA conference

Mike Tully — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:15:10 +0000

Don’t forget the May 4th deadline if you are interested in presenting at the International Bullying Prevention Conference Nov. 4-6, 2012 inn Kansas City!

Submit online at www.stopbullyingworld.org.

Making Jamey’s loss meaningful (NY)

Mike Tully — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:15:37 +0000

It returns to her in flashbacks — the Sunday morning in late September when Alyssa Rodemeyer discovered her 14-year-old brother hanging in the backyard.

“Sometimes, in a second, like out of nowhere, I can relive the whole thing,” she said.

It’s been eight months since Jamey Rodemeyer died, eight months since the morning when Alyssa’s life forever turned from its ordinary road.

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