Sisters schools take hard line on cyberbullying

Last updated 9/26/2006 at Noon

Bullying has expanded from its traditional stomping grounds on the playground and moved into cyberspace. Sisters schools have moved along with it, adopting policies against "cyberbullying" just this month.

According to the Sisters policy, "Cyberbullying is the use of any electronic communication device to convey a message in any form (text, image, audio or video) that defames, intimidates, harasses or is otherwise intended to harm, insult or humiliate another in a deliberate, repeated or hostile and unwanted manner under a person's true or false identity."

Schools superintendent Ted Thonstad said Sisters is responding to a statewide movement to adopt such policies rather than any particular problem in local schools. So far, he said, he's not aware of any significant problem with cyberbullying.

"It's addressed in the classroom, and it's addressed at the beginning of the year," he said. "The whole goal is to make people aware, so if it happens they bring it to our attention."

The policy states that, "The district will take any report of cyberbullying seriously and will investigate credible reports promptly. Students are encouraged to report an incident immediately to a teacher or principal, who will take appropriate action.

"Students whose behavior is found to be in violation of this policy will be subject to loss of privileges, discipline, up to and including expulsion. Staff whose behavior is found to be in violation of this policy will be subject to discipline, up to and including dismissal."

Thonstad said the policy is directed at activity taking place in school, using school equipment. However, much cyberbullying takes place outside of school.

"Kids using their own (computers) at home - I don't think there's a lot we can do about that," Thonstad said. "I don't think taking away Internet access at school would necessarily stop that."

If incidents starting outside school come to the attention of school staff, however, Thonstad said he thinks the schools should at least "make parents aware."

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.