Cyberbullying is defined as when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. "What is cyberbullying. (2009). Retrieved July 25, 2010 from stop cyberbullying: http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/what_is_cyberbullying_exactly.html."
My personal experience with cyberbullying is almost zero. When I first arrived at college the chat room phenomenon was in full swing. Many of my friends had computers thought I didn't and one of their favorite past times was trolling the chat rooms to pester other people, the desire was to needle someone to the point that the unknown person would begin to threaten physical violence. I'm not sure if we would be considered the bullies for harassing them or they would be considered the bullies for threatening us, but one way or the other it was at that time the thing to do. Now I have almost no contact with anyone that I don't know in real life on the internet so the concept of cyberbullying is more foreign.
Schools face an intriguing problem with cyberbullying in that so much communication is done via technology now that it is the preferred method for most young people. As much as the Colt .45 SAA was the great equalizer of physical prowess during the old west the internet has become the great equalizer of the new millinium. The internet offers the allure of complete anonymity. You can now say anything to anyone, true or not without the fear of reprocussions, or retalliation. This power creates an environment ripe for cyberbullying. The reality is that as long as long as the bully limits their actions to non-school mediums during non-school hours there is little that the school can do, unless they believe there is immenant physical threat, or an impedence of the school to perform its duties, both of which are very hard to prove. The main concern of the school should be limited to creating a positive place for the children to be. It is easy to recognize the victims of cyberbullying by their withdrawn or agitated responses to things like checking e-mail, or texts, but finding the bullies usually proves far more difficult. Spending time and money chasing down internet bullies is not unlike Hercules's battle with the Hydra, one would be better served to spend their efforts working to eliminate the source of the problem, the void of community in the classroom.
The cure to cyberbullying must begin in the classroom. The goal to create community in the classroom must be of the highest order, and infused into everything that we do, from lessons about internet ettiquet to group projects. If we can use trust building activities and democratic principles we can create an atmosphere where children protect and support each other, and that is the support that they truly crave. If we strive to turn enemies into mutual protectors then we can eliminate most of the major social issues in the classroom.
Excellent insight and analogies in regards to cyberbullying. I agree whole heartedly that the way to combat cyberbullying is to create community in the classroom. Building community is where it all begins and we have a responsibility, as educators to foster a community oriented environment.
ReplyDeleteI had the same introduction to cyberbullying. I used to chat while playing internet games and talk all kinds of smack. I did this while knowing that there was no chance of physical retalliation. That is the problem with cyberbullying, kids don't see any threat of immediate repercussion. The problem I can forsee though is at school the next day. Students may become violent as a result of the cyberbullying.
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