Cyber bully – The new kid on the Block Internet Safety for Schools in the Digital Age Meridianville Middle School Mrs. Sandra Maneice Austin Assistant Principal August 1, 2011

Internet Safety for Schools in the Digital Age Technology is a integral part of the teaching and learning process in today’s school systems. As innovative technological advancements have emerged, so have problems with cyber bullying. Cyber bullying can be done at school, but most children commit these acts of bullying in the comforts of their own homes.

The purpose of the workshop is to promote awareness of the seriousness of cyber bullying. WE WILL: Define and discuss cyber bullying Discuss how cyber bullying affects all parties involved Describe preventive strategies and interventions for cyber bullying Discuss the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) Discuss the importance of the Madison County Board of Education (MCBOE) Acceptable Use and Internet Safety Policy

What is cyber bullying? Cyber bullying involves sending or posting hurtful, embarrassing, or threatening text or images using the internet, cell phones or other digital communication devices. Using these technologies, cyber bullies can reach a wide group of people very quickly. www.eyesonbullying.org/cyberbullying.html

Cyber bullying is the inappropriate use of: Emails Text messaging Chat rooms Instant Messaging Websites Online games Cell phones Social networking sites (Face book, Twitter) Photos Blogs www.eyesonbullying.org/cyberbullying.html

Cyber bullying can include acts as: Making threats Sending provocative insults or racial slurs Gay bashing Infecting the victim’s computer with a virus Flooding an email inbox with messages Spreading rumors Posting false or private information Getting other people to post or send hurtful messages Excluding someone from an online group http://www.whatis.techtarget.com/definition

Six Common forms of cyber bullying Harassment –Repeatedly sending offensive, rude, and insulting messages Denigration – Distributing information about another that is derogatory and untrue through posting it on a Web page, sending it to others through email or instant messaging, or posting or sending digitally altered photos of someone Flaming: Online “fighting” using electronic messages with angry, vulgar language

Six Common forms of cyber bullying continued…… 4.Impersonation: Breaking into an email or social networking account and using that person’s online identity to send or post vicious or embarrassing material to/about others 5.Outing and Trickery: Sharing someone's secrets or embarrassing information, or tricking someone into revealing secrets or embarrassing information and forwarding it to others 6.Cyber stalking: Repeatedly sending messages that include threats of harm or are highly intimidating or emerging in other online activities that make a person afraid for his or her safety Nancy Willard, http://www.olweus.org/public/cyber_bullying.page

Warning signs of cyber bullying The warning signs of cyber bullying are similar to those for traditional bullying in terms of emotional effects. However, there are some differences. It is important to keep in mind that some children who are cyber bullied may also be experiencing traditional bullying at school. A child may be experiencing cyber bullying if he or she: appears sad, moody, or anxious avoids school withdraws from or shows a lack of interest in social activities experiences a drop in grades or decline in academic performance appears upset after using the computer or being online Appears upset after viewing a text message on a cell phone www.cyberbullying.us/bullying_warning_signs.pdf

Signs your child is a cyber bully Uses the computer at all times of the night Quickly closes screen or program when someone walks in Gets usually upset when he or she can’t get to a computer Laughing excessively when using the computer Uses multiple online accounts

Bully / Cyber bully– What’s the difference? Anonymous Occurs off school property Good relationships with teachers Fear loss of technology privileges Further under the radar than bullying Emotional reactions cannot be determined Bully Direct Occur on school property Poor relationships with teachers Fear retribution Physical: hitting, punching, & shoving Verbal: teasing, name calling & gossip Nonverbal: use of gestures, & exclusion www.cyberbullying.us/bullying_warning_signs.pdf

Why some kids cyber bully others? Who knows why? When it comes to cyber bullying, kids are often motivated by: anger revenge jealousy frustration laughs mean girls the need for entertainment or because they are bored having too much time on their hands and too many tech toys available to them righting wrong and standing up for others www.stopcyberbullying.org

Cyber harassment / cyber stalking Teachers and adults can also be threaten or embarrassed using technological devices. By definition, cyber bullying occurs among young people. When an adult is involved, it is called cyber harassment or cyber stalking, which are crimes that can have legal consequences and may involve jail time.

Prevalence of Cyber bullying according to www.wiredsafety.org 90% of middle school students have had their feelings hurt online. 75% have visited a Web site bashing another student 40% have had their password(s) stolen and changed by a bully. Only 15% of parents polled knew what cyber bullying was.

Meridianville Middle School Discipline 2010 - 2011

Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is a federal law enacted by Congress to address concerns about access to offensive content over the internet on school and library computers. CIPA imposes certain types of requirements on any school or library that receives funding from internet access or internet connections from the E-rate program – a program that makes certain communications technology more affordable for eligible schools and libraries. Additional information on Internet Safety Policy requirements and provisions can be found in the CIPA policy primer available on the E-Rate Central Web site at: http://www.eratecentral.com/help/cipa-policy_primer.pdf.

What CIPA Requires Schools and libraries subject to CIPA may not receive the discounts offered by the E-rate program unless they certify that they have an internet safety policy that includes technology safety measures. The protection measures must block or filter internet access to pictures that are:(a) obscene, (b) child pornography, or © harmful to minors (for computers that are accessed by minors). Schools subject to CIPA are required to adopt and enforce a policy to monitor online activities to minors. Schools and libraries subject to CIPA are required to adopt and implement an internet safety policy addressing(a) access by minors to inappropriate matter on the internet;(b) the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications; ©unauthorized access, including so called “hacking,” an other unlawful activities by minors online; (d) unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors, and (e) measures restricting minors’ access to materials harmful to them. www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cipa.html

What the school system is doing to prevent cyber bullying The Madison County School system is in compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and utilizes the E-rate discount for internet access and internal connections. The system has in place an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and Internet Policy. 1. Students are required to have the AUP signed by a parent or guardian 2. Employees are required to sign the appropriate forms 3. These forms are kept on file at the local school 4. The policy has specified violations and consequences The Madison County Board of Education (MCBOE) has partnered with i-SAFE to provide internet safety education in all K-12 schools. I-SAFE is a program designed to educate and empower educators and students of being safe and responsible when using the internet.

Technology – (Policies & Forms) MADISON COUNTY SCHOOLS ACCEPTABLE USE AND INTERNET SAFETY POLICY Approved by the Madison County Board of Education, November 6, 2001 www.madison.k12.al.us. Technology – (Policies & Forms)

CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLATIONS   Consequences of violations include but are not limited to:        Suspension of information network access        Revocation of information network access        Suspension of network privileges        Revocation of network privileges        Suspension of computer access        Revocation of computer access        School suspension School expulsion Legal action and prosecution by the authorities www.madison.k12.al.us  - policies & forms

When schools get involved in the discipline of a student for cyber bulling actions that took place off-campus and outside school hours, they are often sued for exceeding their authority and violating the student’s free speech right. Schools can work with parents to stop and remedy cyber bullying situations. They can also educate the students on cyber ethics and the law. It is imperative that schools have students and parents read and sign the school’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) which reserves the right to discipline a student for actions taken off-campus. This makes it a contractual, not a constitutional issue. www.stopcyberbyllying.org

Ways to prevent cyber bullying at school Educate the staff, students and families about cyber bullying. Update and post anti-bullying policies to address cyber bullying in a prominent place. Use filtering and tracking software on all computers. Closely monitor students’ use of computers . Investigate any and all reports of cyber bullying immediately. Take action if cyber bullying occurs through the district's internet system. Remember you are liable for damages if you don’t. Notify parents of victims and parents of known cyber bullies. Notify the police if the known or suspected cyber bully involves a threat. Closely monitor the behavior of cyber bullying victims. Investigate to see if the victim of cyber bullying could use support from a counselor or other resource specialist.

What can YOU do to prevent cyber bullying? Tell someone if you are cyber bullied(Administrator, Teacher, Counselor, Parent, Friend) Don’t open and read messages from someone you don’t know Don’t give out any personal details online REMEMBER that people in chat rooms might not really be who they say they are Protect yourself – never meet with anyone you have met online THINK BEFORE YOU WRITE: don’t leave yourself open to bullying Resource: www.i-safe.com

Cyber bullying Tips for Parents Keep computers in visible places so that you can monitor use. Talk with children about safe and responsible use of the internet and cell phones, and about the dangers of cyber bullying. Discuss what to do when cyber bullying occurs. Teach children not to respond to bullies. Show them how to block or delete messages. Remind children not to share any personal information online. Encourage children to tell you if they are being cyber bullied or know others who are. Assure them that you will help them deal with the problem. Collect information about all threats. Set limits on computer and monitor often!

Cyber bullying Resources Keeping children safe in cyberspace becomes more important as new technology develops. Cyber bullying can be prevented if we teach children how to recognize and prevent it. For more information on cyber bullying check out the following resources: National Crime prevention Council website, www.ncpc.org: This website contains cyber bullying and internet safety for parents www.wiredsafety.org: Wired safety provides Internet safety information for children, teens, and adults. The website also has and important resource for parents – a downloadable translator for cyber lingo and acronyms used by teens www.stopcyberbullying.org: provides relevant cyber bullying prevention and Internet safety information for parents, teachers, and police officers, as well as children and youth www.stopbullyingnow.org: Includes information for adults regarding cyber bullying and face- to-face-bullying. The site also offers information for children ages 10-12 about cyber bullying Center for Safe and Responsible Internet use, www.csru.org: This website has guides for parents, teachers and students to addresses issues of online safety, security, and ethics Clipart@www.clipart.com

Cyber bullying resources continued Cyber bullying Research Center, www.cyberbullying.us: The Cyber bullying Research Center provides cyber bullying research, stories, cases, downloads, fact sheets, online quizzes, tips and strategies news headlines, and a frequently updated blog Cyber Security for the Digital District, www.cosn.org/cyberbullying: CoSN provides information and tools for K-12 technology leaders and policy makers to help them protect information security, and understand/develop policies and procedures to promote online safety to ensure that technology helps contribute o their primary goal of teaching and learning Net Smartz for kids: Use your Net Smartz, www.netsmartz.org/uyn/index.htm: This website offers en videos about online safety for younger children. Video topics include recognizing potential viruses, creating passwords, and identifying predators i-SAFE, www.isafe.org: i-SAFE’s easy-to-use professional training for educators is online trough a series of video modules. Educators learn i-SAFE’s core topics and become certified to train/teach others i-SHIELD for Law Enforcement, http://ilearn.isafe.org www.eyesonbullying.orc/cyberbullying.html http://www.whatis.teachtarget.com/definition Nancy Willard, http: www.olweus.org/public/cyber_bulling.page www.cyberbullying.us/bullying_warning_signs.pdf http://www.cyberbyllying.us/cyberbullying_fact_sheet.pdf http://reatecentral.com/help/cipa_policy_primer.pdf www.madison.k12.al.us

Summary Cyber bullying is a major issue confronting administrators, teachers, parents, and students. With the implementation of preventative strategies, the goal is to eliminate cyber bullying. Administrators, teachers and parents must collaborate and take appropriate actions when discovered. It is vital that children are educated about cyber bullying within the school system and in the home.