With the quick and easy access to the internet and the popularity of social media, cyberbullying is a growing problem for school age children. Cyberbullying, also known as electronic bullying, is bullying through electronic devices. Cyberbullying can be described as “An aggressive, intentional act carried out by a group or individual, using electronic forms of contact, repeatedly and over time against a victim who cannot easily defend him or herself” (Smith, Mahdavi, Carvahol & Tippet, 2006. p. 376). In 2011, nine percent of students in middle and high school reported being cyberbullied (Robert, Kemp, & Truman, 2012). Cyberbullying can lead to mental health issues, drug abuse, and suicidal ideation (Davison & Stein, 2014). The seriousness
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The ecological theory best explains cyberbullying as it considers the complexity of an individual’s characteristics such as aggression and how it is influenced by the social environment that an individual is exposed to (Hong & Espelage, 2012). Prevention efforts against cyberbullying should focus on the whole student by considering all the systems in which students are connected. Unfortunately, interventions are only being implemented on a school level, instead of a holistic level, which does not complement the ecological theory. House Bill 4207 was passed in order to protect youth and address rules for schools to follow when addressing …show more content…
• What professional development trainings are available to you to learn more about cyberbullying?
• How big of a concern is cyberbullying to you?
• What is your role in handling cyberbullying issues that are brought to your attention?
• What rules have the school established in regards to cyberbullying? Are these rules followed?
• What laws are you aware of related to cyberbullying?
• How well do you feel students are educated on cyberbullying?
• How do you feel that cyberbullying affects a student’s learning and/or mental health?
• What changes should be made to manage cyberbullying more effectively? Thirty- one surveys were distributed to employees in their mailboxes. Employees included teachers, teacher’s aides, school social workers, and nurse. Participants were informed through a short description about the study, confidentiality and their right to choose to participate. Participants were asked to put the completed survey in the school social workers mailbox.
The ecological theory best explains cyberbullying as it considers the complexity of an individual’s characteristics such as aggression and how it is influenced by the social environment that an individual is exposed to (Hong & Espelage, 2012). Prevention efforts against cyberbullying should focus on the whole student by considering all the systems in which students are connected. Unfortunately, interventions are only being implemented on a school level, instead of a holistic level, which does not complement the ecological theory. House Bill 4207 was passed in order to protect youth and address rules for schools to follow when addressing …show more content…
• What professional development trainings are available to you to learn more about cyberbullying?
• How big of a concern is cyberbullying to you?
• What is your role in handling cyberbullying issues that are brought to your attention?
• What rules have the school established in regards to cyberbullying? Are these rules followed?
• What laws are you aware of related to cyberbullying?
• How well do you feel students are educated on cyberbullying?
• How do you feel that cyberbullying affects a student’s learning and/or mental health?
• What changes should be made to manage cyberbullying more effectively? Thirty- one surveys were distributed to employees in their mailboxes. Employees included teachers, teacher’s aides, school social workers, and nurse. Participants were informed through a short description about the study, confidentiality and their right to choose to participate. Participants were asked to put the completed survey in the school social workers mailbox.