Nearly all states have anti-bullying laws requiring schools to provide awareness training, rules of engagement, reporting guidelines, and recourse for violations. However, many do not include cyberbullying—yet. Click here for the latest PDF from Cyberbullying Research Center displaying state cyberbullying laws.
How prevalent is this kind of bullying? Studies show that more than 1 in 5 students either have been bullied or have bullied another student. Amanda Todd is one of the most recent tragedies; that became public news of this seemingly unfortunate and ubiquitous dilemma.
Bullying in general can be defined as “Intentional or willful, repeated acts, either verbal or physical, intended to harm another." To be clear, not all bullying is repeated (a single threat of future violence—or a punch in the nose may suffice), nor is it done solely on a child-to-child basis. Adults are bullied by other adults (and by some students) as well.
As mentioned, while nearly all states and therefore schools have bullying protocols, most states and their respective schools do not seem to speak to conduct off-campus—at night, over weekends, and during the summer—a potentially big gap.
The many forms of electronic communication available Internet, intranet, mobile smart devices, etc. add complexities to this situation. It is important, therefore, that schools have a robust Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) addressing cyberbullying and acceptable off-campus behaviors.
These components are critical to an effective AUP:
- It's mission/culture appropriate
- Articulates rights and duties
- Includes training
- Identifies scope—on and off campus
- Outlines handling of violations
- Clarifies consequences
- Reserves the school’s right to impose discipline for inappropriate use of technology off campus.
- Holds students/adults to the same expectations off-campus as if on campus.
- Includes off-campus activity that has an impact on campus should be of concern to schools.
For purposes of education as well as enforcement, tying AUP to employee and student supporting documents is critical.
Review and update key employee policies
- Electronic communications policy
- Acceptable use policy
- Harassment policy
- Social media policy
- Confidentiality policy
Review and update key student documents
- Enrollment agreement
- Student and parent handbook
- Anti-bullying plan
- Code of conduct
States (and the federal government) have their rules and regulations; you need to know them and comply. However, your school needs to take responsibility even where regulations don’t exist to protect its students, staff, and faculty.
For more detailed information about state legislature regarding cycberbullying, cyberstalking, and cyberharrassment visit the National Conference of State Legislature site.
Additional ISM resources:
Private School News Vol. 11 No. 6 October Is National Bullying Prevention Month
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Managers Vol. 2 No. 2 Tips for Students: Managing Bullying
ISM Monthly Update for Division Heads Vol. 7 No. 8 The Bullying Epidemic
ISM Monthly Update for Admission Officers Vol. 9 No. 5 Efforts to End Bullying Spark New Concerns
ISM Monthly Update for Business Managers Vol. 10 No. 1 Back-to-Bullying Season
ISM Monthly Update for Admission Officers Vol. 10 No. 1 Communicating Through Social Media
Private School News Vol. 10 No. 7 Children Online
Additional ISM resources for Consortium Gold members:
I&P Vol. 36 No. 3 Addressing Bullying and Sexual Misconduct
