Chapter 10 - Preventing Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is a terrible reality. This section makes that apparent in its first section. However, much as real bullying is a very real concern in real life we still expect our children to interact with others face to face and, like it or not, hiding them from the internet will not render them effective adults. To the contrary, early and well guided exposure to the internet may help us avoid some of these problems.

                The chapter gives an outline of how to go about preventing cyberbullying. The first step is to determine whether or not cyber bullying is a problem within the school. Anonymous testing is the suggested method, with a clear definition of what cyber bullying entails. This also involves making sure that fellow instructors have a clear understanding of cyberbullying. The passage also seeks to inform parents and maintain their involvement in online activities with their children. The chapter also mentions the necessity of law enforcement under extreme circumstances.

                I plan for a significant portion of my course to involve online interactions and discussions. This means not only to have positive relationships with classmates, but an in depth understanding of proper internet etiquette all round. From my own experience, the problem facing students on the internet is the idea that the computer is a safe place. While this can be true when the internet is used with some discernment, it is a great deal to ask from students while offering no training or guidance.

                To gain this understanding, students will not only need to be informed, but also have practice and a watchful eye. It would be prudent for me, in this scenario, to ensure that high school students collaborating over the internet could have those conversations reviewed and would be allowed, in class, some time to become familiar with such concepts before they were let loose into cyberspace to research and talk unobserved. As such, I can completely understand the suggestion of parent involvement and teacher guidance, as well as the opportunity for personal exploration. Teaching students that the internet is a real place with real consequences is possibly our best tool in allowing them to realize that they are responsible for both their own safety and activity, as well as the safety of their peers.