https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx EDG-6305 en-us 2019-12-03 03:44:25 UTC 2019-12-10 03:31:58 UTC hello@padlet.com michelle_kylberg https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868421 My professional perspective is that of an Instructional Coach in the high school setting. This legal guide padlet will cover cyberbullying which is quickly becoming a problem in high schools around the country. As an instructional coach, I will be in a position to help teachers understand the signs of cyberbullying and what steps need to be taken to stop it. I can also offer guidance to the administration about addressing the issue with the student population. ]]> 2019-12-03 03:53:54 UTC https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868421 michelle_kylberg https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868483 I interviewed Chad Rood, the principal of Giddings High School.
Why is cyberbullying important to understand in the school setting?
Mr. Rood explained that in recent years, our students have moved into a pure digital world. Because of this, the fairly new issue of cyberbullying has also began to impact students. Mr. Rood feels that the lack of face to face conversations, students feel empowered to say mean and hateful things via Snap Chat, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Best Practices
Three best practices that Mr. Rood felt every school should implement included:
1)  Clearly defined rules and regulations covering cyberbullying in both the student handbook and the code of conduct.
2) Training and professional development for teachers to recognize the signs of cyberbullying and the steps involved in intervention.
3) Open discussions with students about the harm of cyberbullying and how to report issues.
Emerging Issues
Because there are no federal laws regulating cyberbullying, Mr. Rood believes that the recent rise in court cases must be examined for guidance. He also stated that he contacts the district lawyers on a regular basis when dealing with this issue. Mr. Rood believes that more laws and regulations are forthcoming. Until that happens however, the schools must rely on local policy and educator code of ethics when handling instances of cyberbullying. 

(C. Rood, personal communication, December 1, 2019)

]]> 2019-12-03 03:54:19 UTC https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868483 michelle_kylberg https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868533 PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center has dedicated countless hours to helping resolve the issue of bullying and cyberbullying in schools. The organization offers many useful strategies for school officials, teacher, parents, and students. For example, the organization:
 - Inspires communities to get involved;
 - Offers lesson plans, tool kits, and resources for classroom use;
 - Provides informative guides for parents; and
 - Creates school-wide opportunities to address bullying.

Reference
"Cyberbullying". (2019). PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center. Retrieved from https://www.pacer.org/bullying/about/.]]> 2019-12-03 03:54:41 UTC https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868533 michelle_kylberg https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868579 Hector Arzate discusses the increase in cyberbullying among teens in his article "Cyberbullying is on the Rise Among Teenagers, National Survey Says". The article discusses recent data which reports:
 - 20% of students surveyed have been a victim of bullying in school and 15% of those students reported cyberbullying;
 - 21% of females reported being bullied through texts or online; 
 - 90% of students that reported cyberbullying, said rumors were spread about them and it carried over to school; and
 - 39% of those cyberbullied were excluded from school activities by their peers.

Reference
Arzate, Hector Alejandro. (2019, July 15). "Cyberbullying is on the rise among teenagers, National Survey says". Retrieved from https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/District_Dossier/2019/07/cyberbullying_is_on_the_rise_a.html.]]> 2019-12-03 03:54:59 UTC https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868579 michelle_kylberg https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868592 "Cyberbullying Challenges Mental Health in our Schools" discusses the harm students are facing when bullied online. In the article, Berkowicz and Myers discuss how cyberbullying now includes "harassment, cyberstalking, exclusion, impersonation, dissing, and outing" (para. 4).  The article addresses how, even with counseling and parental support, students are not facing this new threat well. The article also discusses how the best way to battle this new form of bullying is to be aware, educate, and protect our students. 

Reference
Berkowicz, Jill and Ann Myers. (2017, May 28). "Cyberbullying challenges mental health in our schools". Retrieved from https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/leadership_360/2017/05/cyberbullying_challenges_mental_health_in_our_schools.html. ]]> 2019-12-03 03:55:04 UTC https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868592 michelle_kylberg https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868634 Statutory Law
Texas Education Code §37.0832 defines bullying as engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity (Tex. Educ. Code §37.0832). ]]> 2019-12-03 03:55:24 UTC https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868634 michelle_kylberg https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868651 Statutory Law
Senate Bill 179, also known as David’s Law, states that "Cyberbullying means bullying that is done through the use of any electronic communication device, including through the use of a cellular or other type of telephone, a computer, a camera, electronic mail, instant messaging, text messaging, a social media application, an Internet website, or any other Internet-based communication tool (TX S.B. 179, 85^th Leg., 2017). ]]> 2019-12-03 03:55:31 UTC https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868651 michelle_kylberg https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868706 Administrative Law
Giddings High School Student Handbook states that bullying (including Cyberbullying) may include: hazing, threats, taunting, teasing, confinement, assault, demands for money, destruction of property, theft of valued possessions, name-calling, rumor-spreading, or ostracism.

Reference
Giddings ISD Board Policy. (2019). Retrieved from https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/805?filename=GRAC(LEGAL).pdf.

]]> 2019-12-03 03:55:50 UTC https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868706 michelle_kylberg https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868788 As set forth by Texas Administrative Law Section 247.2, the Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators states that, "The educator shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly engage in physical mistreatment, neglect, or abuse of a student or minor" (Tex. Admin. Law §247.2). In relation to cyberbullying, this ethical law means that teachers have a responsibility to report any form of cyberbullying whether seen directly or indirectly. ]]> 2019-12-03 03:56:19 UTC https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868788 michelle_kylberg https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868819 In Teen Cyberbullying Investigated, Judge Tom Jacobs presents a collection of landmark cases involving teens  cyberbullying. Each chapter features a seminal case and resulting decision, asks readers whether they agree with the decision, and urges them to think about how the decision affects their lives.

Reference
Jacobs, Thomas A. (2010). Teen Cyberbullying Investigated. Free Spirit Publishing.


]]> 2019-12-03 03:56:34 UTC https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868819 michelle_kylberg https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868855 Cyberbullying has increasingly become an issue in middle and high schools across the country. Schools must not only address the issue with students, but also get parents and community members involved. Best practices for this issue include:
 - Having a common definition of bullying which includes cyberbullying;
 - School officials should work closely with school attorneys in order to create lawful rules and guidelines;
 - Schools should create a zero tolerance policy for cyberbullying; 
 - Start a mentoring program that includes parents, teachers, and students; 
 - Develop school-wide anti-bullying curriculum;
 - Have students and parents sign electronic agreements which include cyberbullying policies; and
- Have counselors readily available for victims of cyberbullying.]]> 2019-12-03 03:56:48 UTC https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418868855 michelle_kylberg https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418869477 Judicial Law
Anthony Zeno, a New York high school student was threatened and harassed for years because of his race. The school took minimal action in order to remove the threat, but the harassment continued. Zeno was awarded a $1 million dollar settlement.

Reference
Zeno v. Pine Plains Central School District, 10-3604-CV (2d Cir. Dec. 3, 2012.

]]> 2019-12-03 04:00:15 UTC https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418869477 michelle_kylberg https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418869656 Judicial Law
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania found that Bethlehem Area School District had the right to punish a student for derogatory and allegedly threatening comments made on a website about a teach. The court stated that school officials are justified in taking action against threats to faculty and students.

Reference
J.S. v. Bethlehem Area School District, 757 A.2d 412 (Pa. 2002).]]> 2019-12-03 04:00:48 UTC https://padlet.com/michelle_kylberg/q5xvdw5pxyzx/wish/418869656