EASTON – When the final class bell rings and the middle school bully is waiting by your locker with clenched fists and poisonous words, a bathroom stall is no longer a sufficient hideout.
“So much social interaction takes place in the school environment,” said Aaron Kraus, a graduate assistant professor of psychology at the University of Akron. “Today, text messaging, email, and instant messaging have replaced locker talk, lunch room conversations and the informal chatter that used to be prevalent in schools. These devices have created a viral bullying world and hostile education environments.”
According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, students have a much poorer perception of their school culture and climate if they have experienced cyberbullying. In a study conducted by the Center, cyberbullying is defined as “when someone repeatedly harasses, mistreats, or makes fun of another person online or while using cell phones or other electronic devices.”
Although outlets like cell phones, Facebook, and YouTube allow for bullying to be done outside of the school environment, the effects are still prominent in the classroom. Cyberbullying effects student achievement, attendance, and overall student behavior.
“Sometimes it’s not obvious to tell just by looking if someone is being hurt by cyberbullying,” said David Fish, 16, from Bedford N.H. “But I know how hard it can be to focus on school and learn when you read a mean text from someone.”
According to a 2008 study published by the center, middle school students who have been a victim of cyberbullying give their school climate a lower rating while those who have not been bullied perceive a better learning environment. Students in grades six through nine who experienced cyberbullying generally found less enjoyment in school and felt less safe while at school.
“The thing about the Internet is that people think they can say whatever they want to you because the conversation isn’t face-to-face,” said Jessica Silva, 21, from Brockton. “Cyberbully victims are tormented by what’s being said about them even once the incident is passed, taking their focus away from education. I think schools need to be more aware of the cyberbullying distraction.”
The U.S. Department of Education has recently focused in on improving environments in public school systems. The departments’ 2010 Safe and Supportive Schools initiative is working toward advancing conditions that make schools a safer place. According to the department, cyberbullying leads to aggressive and disruptive behaviors which “create a hostile school environment and interfere with the academic performance and mental health of students who are victims or witnesses.”
If an email, social network site, or video contains hateful or threatening messages or even a seemingly mild tease, a student may have difficulty paying attention to other things,” Kraus said. “In a time where students are learning who they are and presenting an image of themselves, cyberbullying will instill the fear of a shattered reputation. Many students will not have the cognitive resources left to focus and process information presented in class.”
In 2009, the Cyberbullying Research Center surveyed 930 students ranging in age from 11 to 18 and found the following data:
- 24.2 percent of students have been a victim of cyberbullying in his/her lifetime
-18.9 percent of students have experienced some form of cyberbullying in the previous 30 days
-18.6 percent of students have cyberbullied another in his/her lifetime
- 9 percent of students have cyberbullied another in some form in the previous 30 days
“Just last month everyone at school was talking about a Facebook group that was made as a joke but ended up really hurting the girl involved,” said Allison Nixon, 17, from Bedford N.H. “The school suspended the students who created the group, but the girl didn’t come to classes for almost two weeks.”
The Department of Education recommends that all school entities implement plans and programs focused on understanding community issues and problems that students face outside of the classroom. Although cyberbullying is more difficult to detect than traditional bullying, school systems need to be aware of the effects it has on victims and on the learning environment.
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