Cyber bullying is an important topic and one that needs to be handled, but I feel like the school is expected to be more involved than they need to be. Bullying has become a term that students and parents use frequently and most of the time they are coming into the school demanding that actions be taken against the bully. I believe that there is importance to making students and parents aware of what bullying is and how to handle bullying situations, but like many of us said in class today, it sometimes feels like we are promoting bullying accusations.
We have spent some time in other classes looking a discipline policies and student handbooks that are now including cyber bullying and I believe that adding it is necessary. When adding the policy in the handbook many schools have not only added the definition of cyber bullying, but they have gone above and beyond by explaining that it has to be intentional, repetitive and hurtful to the victim. Many people do not understand that bullying is an ongoing issue not just an isolated incident.
I understand as an administrator that it is important to take any and all accusations seriously, but I also feel that we have gotten too far away from the days when parents would say "kids will be kids" or would want their child to "toughen up" and be able to defend themselves. I worry about how we are making life to easy in school for these kids!
I completely agree with your assessment of bullying, including your comments regarding "kids will be kids." There's a reality to the fact that children will bully others by use of whatever means is easiest and most readily available. This doesn't make it right nor excusable; however, it's suffice to say that students are becoming ultra sensitive to even the smallest of situations that might be construed as bullying by definition.
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