District Administration - September 2006 - (Page 43)
SCHOOL SECURITY Bullies in Cyberspace Administrators may be reluctant to
address this latest social problem yet they may have no choice I BY JULIE
STURGEON t began as a typical teenage scuffle: someone said something
about some- Officials turned to mediation from one's girlfriend, whose
friends felt compelled to retaliate. a private counseling group to refo-
Overnight, administrators at the Hawaii Department of Education had a cus
students back toward education. bigger problem than many thought possible
from such an insignificant seed. They then formed an ad hoc school Using
Internet social sites like Myspace.com and cell phone text messaging,
board committee led by a lawyer to students blasted insults at each other
from cyberspace and this sideline soap study what comes next. opera drama
that soon enfolded students from both the Oahu and Big Island It clearly
has an effect on the high schools cut into their ability to concentrate on
classroom lessons and overall sense of safety at the school academic
assignments the next day. when there's this influence that creates
September 2006 43 www.DistrictAdministration.com cyberbully.w.indd 43
8/14/06 11:33:39 AM
http://Myspace.comhttp://www.DistrictAdministration.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - September 2006