Internet Safety and Cyber-bullying

May 20 - 26

This week we learned about internet safety and cyber-bullying. I think this two concepts are linked together but are also important topics individually. Since technology became so much more easily accessible there are things that both parents and teachers need to do. I think both parents and teachers need to work together to keep kids safe when using the internet. Both teachers and parents need to show the children how to use the internet and technological sources that are available with care and respect. I also feel that it is the parents responisblity to monitor the child when they are using any forms of technology and put blockers on the internet. However, the problem with blockers sometimes is that children are smart and know how to get around them so the parent needs to make sure the computer is in a public place and should be sitting in the room with them or nearby so they can keep an eye on their child to make sure he/she is not looking at something they should not be.

When doing a little research about cyber-bullying I came across this article because I found it very informative. I think it is so crazy to see how much violence in school has changed since the addition of technology. Computers are now allowing children to bully another from the privacy of their own home. Schools often feel that they can not step in when a child is a victim of cyber-bullying because the incident did not happen on school grounds. However, just because an individual decides to cyber-bully someone it doesn't mean that they aren't going to physically, mentally, or emotionally bully the child while they are on school grounds as well. Some individuals might choose to be a cyber-bully because they can be annoynmous and feel that someone will not find out who they are. However, I think that this is where both the parents and schools can come in handy. I also feel that schools need to have information workshops about internet safety and cyber-bullying so parents can know what to do if their child becomes a victim or becomes a cyber-bully.

Keith, S., & Martin, M. E. (2005). Cyber-bullying: Creating a culture of respect in a cyber-

world. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 13(4), 224-228. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/214193728?accountid=27927.

This article discusses how school violence has changed as we entered into the 21^st Century. The new forms of technology that are available to students today have caused an increase on a new form of bullying – cyber-bullying. This article gives a view into this world, by first defining who a cyber-bully is, and some practical solutions for dealing with the problem. The article also discusses some differences between girls and boys when it comes to cyber-bullying in order for the reader to gain a better understanding of cyber-bullying. The article concludes with some signs that parents can look for to see if their child is a victim or cyber-bullying or if their child is in fact a cyber-bully.

This article is useful for someone who wants to gain a simple understanding of who a cyber-bully is. The authors include some results from several surveys as well as scholarly information to help express the facts. Finally, this article helps the reader to see how violence has changed significantly since the 1990s and technology has become more readily available to individuals of all ages.

Shariff, S. (2005). Cyber-dilemmas in the new millennium: School obligations to provide student

safety in a virtual school environment. McGill Journal of Education, 40(3), 467-487.

Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/202731440?accountid=27927.

This article discusses how cyberbullying is a psychologically devastating form of cruelty that is effecting many adolescents today. It discusses the current policies in regards to both the legal requirements and expectations of the schools to oversee and supervise the on-line actions of the students, while ensuring the safety of students, education, and interactions among students in the online environment. This article begins by defining what a cyber-bully looks like as well as the conditions of cyber-bullying is also discussed. Also, this article gives a brief discussion on the schools response to cyber-bullying. This article ends with both emerging and established laws to help provide guidelines for schools to prevent cyber-bullying and protect all students inside and outside of the school building.

This article is very significant and useful because it discusses cyber-bullying as an extension of bullying and the three main troubles with monitoring a potential cyber-bully. The section on roles and responsibilities is very significant and useful to parents and teachers. The author also includes the legal obligations and policies that schools are required to follow which is very helpful to the reader. Finally, the author includes scholarly research to help express the importance of the topic.