The challenge for raising awareness: Cyber Bullying (Part 2)
In this section - Solutions for Cyber Bullying
Too busy to read. Watch the short video instead by clicking the image below !!
In the previous article about cyber bullying only the channels through which it happens and the warning signs when they became a victim have been mentioned. Here the article continues with the awareness for parents and educators to get rid of the major threat cyber bullying.
“Delete cyber bullying - Never write or forward cyber bullying message”
Before going to the awareness part, here are some serious examples of cyber bullying where they have committed suicide Ryan Patrick Halligan who was an 13 yr old boy committed suicide
http://www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org/
Here are some more videos on cyber bullying cases
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyvCEGkroT4&feature=related
Know now -Is your child cyber bullying someone
Ask yourself whether there have been any recent changes or negative events in your child’s life.
- Discuss consequences of bullying with the school regarding specific episodes and the response from staff.
- Reinforce your rule that bullying must stop.
- Help your child understand how bullying affects others.
How to react when your child is bullied?
Instantly whatever child may have done support your child. Bullying is not the fault of the child.
- Parents need to discuss cyber bullying with their children as part of their regular discussions about Internet Safety and appropriate use of technologies.
- Parents should encourage children to speak out against cyber bullying they witness and to report it to the appropriate person.
- Tell them to avoid giving their name, email address or mobile phone number to people outside their circle of friends and family.
- Tell them to show you any abusive or offensive messages they’ve received and keep a record of them like messages or pictures.
- Strongly encourage your child not to respond to abusive messages or calls
- Change email address or telephone number if the abuse continues.
- Report any abuse to the police, your child’s school, the internet service provider, the website manager/moderator or the mobile phone company.
- Install computer software to ensure that you only receive emails from people you have chosen and to block unwanted images.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCMKr4lJi24&NR=1
Best Practices for schools to Prevent Bullying:
- Focus on the social environment of the school
- Assess bullying at your school
- Garner staff and parent support for bullying prevention
- Form a group to coordinate the school’s bullying prevention activities
- Train your staff in bullying prevention
- Establish and enforce school rules and policies related to bullying
- Increase adult supervision in hot spots where bullying occurs
- Intervene consistently and appropriately in bullying situations
- Focus some class time on bullying prevention
- Continue these efforts over time
Archana Shekar
www.8falcons.com