Bullying comes in many forms, from the schoolyard variety to a more modern version delivered through text messages, social media and online communication. Nearly 70% of respondents to a SmartBrief on EdTech poll on the subject reported that cyberbullying is a problem this year in their school or district.
But how are schools and districts defining their role in managing students’ online behavior? Some 67.5% of poll respondents say their school or district has a specific policy regarding cyberbullying, and about 65% say that policy covers online communication that occurs on- and off-campus.
Does your school or district have a specific policy on cyberbullying?
|
Yes |
67.50% |
|
No |
32.50% |
Is cyberbullying an issue in your school or district this year?
|
Yes |
69.62% |
|
No |
30.38% |
What type of cyberbullying policy is in place in your school or district?
|
Policy regarding all cyberbullying, on- and off-campus |
65.38% |
|
Policy regarding cyberbullying at school, using school devices |
23.08% |
|
Policy regarding cyberbullying that occurs on- and off-campus, using school devices |
11.54% |
These numbers suggest that many schools and districts are taking action to ensure their students are protected from this type of bullying, but it would be interesting to know if these policies are seen as effective at deterring the behavior and how these policies are being enforced. Do schools take action to discipline students for online communication that occurs off school grounds? And for the schools and districts without specific policies regarding cyberbullying, are such policies in the works?
Katharine Haber is an associate editor for SmartBrief, writing and editing content about a variety of topics in education.