It Takes A Village....

Parents, administrators, and teachers can combat cyberbullying on their respective levels by inundating students with right, wrong, and consequence. Parents and administrators need to know what's out there, know the latest page (ie. Myspace, Facebook), interactively incorporating accountability. Children thrive off of the ignorance of others. A parent who creates his/her own Facebook, for instance, requesting to be added as a friend to his/her child's wall (rejection should raise red flags) is less likely to be surprised by his/her little angel's uncharacteristic behavior, language, and/or suspensions down the road. Teachers can play double duty: 1) integrating character and/or government lessons that speak directly to such issues as child porn, defamation, etc. 2) acting as informant for parents and administrators as it would pertain to grouping, popularity, etc., meeting needs for 45/90 minutes at a time; sustainable practices however, require consistency. Parents are the only constant. An old adage claims that in order to get rid of old habits, one must develop new ones. If we are going to march into cyberspace with, "Do NOTs", we should be armed with attractive alternatives. Concrete expectations are transparent for educational stakeholders. Where is transparent accountability for parents, governed by a child-centered society?

Accountability is key. Definitive lines of appropriateness start at home and extend a long arm into hallways, classrooms, school lots and bus stops. Children are to be raised and reared at home - not in the classroom, and certainly not in the street. Expectations hold little weight without consequence. If a village of teachers, students and parents/stakeholders are willing to effectively subpoena concensus for cybercowardice, fewer Jesse's and Jolita's will surface tomorrow.

Cyberbullying defined, is the use of e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, pagers, cell phones, or other forms of information technology to deliberately harass, threaten, or intimidate someone (whatis.com). Much of what our students and staff experience however, might eliminate the word "deliberate" and add "humor" as a defining purpose. Cyberbullying's predecesor-bullying, was confined to a moment or phase-easily dismissed with a lecture and a hug. Modern technology provides a world wide stage for tangible humiliation, leaving little room for "forgive and forget."

Jesse Logan committed suicide months after a bitter X shared nude photos of Jesse with the masses. Jolita Berry is recognized as the beat up teacher (in her underwear no less) by local neighbors, former colleagues, and strangers abroad. Student, Jesse and former teacher, Jolita fell victim to poor character NOT technology.