In light of the emergence of cyberbullying, the Seattle Public Schools district takes a step outside into the digital world. Upon parental request, the local school administration will review the online comments posted by said bully, and the decision whether or not to take action upon such defamatory or threatening comments or messages to the victim.
As I am an outspoken individual, I feel that my privacy is threatened to some extent as my messages on various social networking sites may offend some. I would not like to be punished for my digital actions that take place whilst away from school grounds. Although they are usually never directed specifically towards one person, I fear that the school district may often overstep it’s duties. This is because these digital incidents are reviewed on a case by case basis.
There isn’t a strict policy that clearly outlines what the school district will be able to do, and thus provides much wiggle room for defining what exactly would constitute a punishable offense towards other individuals. As of this moment, I am against schools that will take action on school grounds for actions outside of the school. Previous news stories of people giving up their own lives over cyberbullies are simply outrageous. Those individuals clearly were too weak and wasted their so-called precious lives over a petty assault on them.
At most, I believe the school district can have the ability to attempt to resolve the situation upon school grounds via talks, but not have the grounds to incriminate anyone and place them under detention or any other form of school bound punishment. They should simply contact the parent or legal guardian of the bully and have them deliver their own punishment. It’s an issue at home, and should be resolved at home.
It’s a compromise, but it keeps the issues and resolutions at home, and not at school. There are probably a good number of parents who are or are basically computer illiterate, and a notice from school is the best way to keep them in the loop while letting schools properly take care of issues outside of schools.
[KOMO News via Schoolsover Forums]
