School News

By Sara Bruestle

The Beacon

These days, children are more tech savvy than ever: They send e-mails, create their own Web sites and blogs, and chat via instant messaging on the Internet and cell phones.

Interactive technologies give children the opportunity to join in on conversations that extend farther than their neighborhoods or schools but it also gives them an easy way to bully their peers.

Cases of cyberbullying when a child uses the Internet and other technologies to bully another child are on the rise. Because of this, the Edmonds School District wants staff, students and parents to be aware of the issue of cyberbullying.

I encourage parents to become part of their child's online life to be aware of wonderfulcommunication and information possibilities as well as warning signs, said Steve Goodwin, library support in the districts Instructional Media department. Everyone should realize that harassment or bullying in cyberspace is as real as other forms of intimidation.

The district Web site provides resources for students, staff and parents on cyberbullying and Internet safety, including prevention tips.

Melissa Oliver, principal of Edmonds Elementary, is doing what she can to prevent cyberbullying at her school.

A few weeks ago, Oliver interviewed students about their use of social networking sites because she was concerned that some may be using them to embarrass or harass others.

Through her interviews, she discovered that several students go on Facebook. Most of them use the site as is intended, but a few use it inappropriately.

Students told her that It's easy to talk inappropriately on the chat linein Facebook because it doesn't show up on the wall and that It's easy to set up a fake e-mail account and Facebook page.

Oliver said more than a few students admitted to posing as someone else through MySpace or Facebook.

She notified parents of specific concerns.

As a parent and an educator,I am concerned about children's safety whenusing the Internet and try to learn as much as I can to stay informed, she said.

Social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook are blocked by district Internet filters and student use of computers in classrooms and labs is supervised to prevent misuse.

The districts Web site also reminds students about safe use of the Internet, and that its harassment and bullying policies apply to online forms of threats and intimidation.

Even so, like other out-of-school conflicts, cyberbullying can sometimes find its way to school.

Goodwin remembers a case where a group of students was spreading rumors about another student via the Internet. The school got involved because it was clear the cyberbullying was affecting the classroom.

The student in this case was visibly upset, he said. She didnt feel safe [at school] because of what she perceived was bullying.

He suggests students use Kidlink, a kid-friendly social networking site, as an alternative to Facebook or MySpace.

Anyone with an e-mail accountcan get on MySpace or Facebook, despite age requirements of both systems, Goodwin said. Basically these areopen adult environments that should not be used by children who may not understandthe implications of Internet social activity.

Children 15 and under can use Kidlink. Most of its users are 10-15 years old.

Users must provide their real names to access the Web site, and conversations on the site are moderated anything posted in the way of hate or disrespect is removed.

Its like a kids MySpace, Goodwin said. But this is a virtual space where kids can converse and not be worried about the bullying issue or harassment issue because its not tolerated.

To see the districts resources on cyberbullying and Internet safety, go to http://staff.edmonds.wednet.edu/imd/cyberbullying/.