Journal #8 (NETS-T 4, 5)

Bogacz, R., & Gordillo, M.G. (2011). Should schools be held responsible for cyberbullying?. Learning and Leading with Technology, 38(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-march-april-2011.aspx

Summary:
This article explained the opposing viewpoints of two individuals on the issue of if schools should be held responsible for cyberbullying. The first author took the extreme viewpoint on one side that students need to be monitored so closely, and pretty much have no sense of privacy at all amongst their online peers. She explains that parents should have access to all of their children's online accounts so they can monitor what is said. She does also say however that teachers and administrators need to play a more active role in watching out for cases of cyberbullying on campus, and handle it quickly and effectively. The other author takes the other extreme point and says that schools are not responsible for cyberbullying, and that it is really an issue that stems out of a bad familial relationship at home. He says that schools should help to teach the parents how to handle this type of behavior, but that the schools themselves are not directly responsible.

Question 1:
Do you think parents should have access to all of their children’s online accounts?

I don’t think parents should have this much access. I think if the children are at a younger age, then their amount of online accounts should be limited already, and as they get older, they can be allowed to have more accounts like Facebook. I think it is up to the parents to instruct their children on proper Internet safety not only for themselves, but their friends as well. But giving their children a space in which they can be themselves is an important part of growing up, it just so happens that this space is turning into a digital one in these times.

Question 2:
Do I think schools should be held responsible for cyberbullying?

My stance lies somewhere in between the two authors of the article. I think teachers, administrators, and students need to be very vigilant in spotting issues of bullying, cyber or otherwise; and put an immediate stop to it to show that it will not be tolerated. I also think that parents do need to be educated on how to help this process at home. Many parents don’t realize that this is something they should be talking with their children about. I think the schools should take advantage of the times when they are interacting with parents to go over this issue with them. This issue is not limited to either an at home or at school environment, and the solution is not limited to one or the other either.