Students sending a threatening text message, leaving abusive posts on Facebook, or digitally altering a classmate's photo, could find themselves kicked out of school, or even facing criminal charges.
Cyberbullying is now a crime
That's right: the new Student Code of Conduct treats cyberbullying offences with the same severity as burglary, aggravated assault, gang activity, drug use or more traditional forms of bullying. New rules enacted by the School Board on July 28 mean that students who use computers to "stalk, harass, bully, or otherwise intimidate others" will be suspended for 5 to 10 days and could be referred for expulsion. The details will also automatically be referred to Chicago Police, who can hit the students with criminal charges.
Death by cyberbullying
Kudos to the Chicago Public Schools for taking a strong stand on this horrific practice. As Care2 contributor Ximena Ramirez discussed, our nation was shocked in January by the death of 15-year-old Phoebe Prince, a recent arrival from Ireland, who took her own life after incessant bullying and cyberbullying from fellow students.
Around 40% of children are victims of bulllying
Phoebe is in fact one of many young people whose lives have been cut short by cyberbullying. Studies estimate that four of every 10 children are the victims of some kind of bullying. Until now, schools have been reluctant to take action since they are not legally responsible for the actions of their students away from school. Hopefully, the steps that the Chicago Public School are now taking will serve as an example to other school districts. For it's clear that the results of those actions away from school, if they include digitally placing classmates' heads onto other people's bodies, emailing X-rated images, or leaving abusive messages on Facebook profiles, can have a huge impact on the behavior and well-being of students when they are at school.
Where are the parents?
These new rules regulate student behavior off campus and outside school hours as well as during the school day. So we have to ask - where are the parents? Why are they not monitoring what their kids are up to? Parents, pay attention to what your children are doing!
Read more: suicide, education, Cyberbullying, phoebe prince, chicago public schools, chicago student code of conduct
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Bernardette Genovese says
Aug 3, 2010 7:51 AM
Any type of bullying should be considered a crime and treated as such. Bullies target the weak and justice has a duty to protect them. This is a great step forward. Well done to all those who worked towards it.
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Carol B. says
Aug 3, 2010 7:48 AM
Not only school children are victims of cyberbullying. All adults who have ever been terrorized by mail, telephone, stalkers.... all need to have the law on their side even here. It is also a matter of proving the perpetrator.
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Lynne B. says
Aug 3, 2010 7:19 AM
Good work Chicago! Hope it spreads....to all schools everywhere. Then maybe the kids will take up something productive.
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Dianne D. says
Aug 3, 2010 7:13 AM
Where are the parents? They should be monitoring what their kids are doing. I hope the parents get fined if their kids are doing this.
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Katie V. says
Aug 3, 2010 6:54 AM
Definately think it should be a crime...these kids are not even getting a break from it when they are home. It is horrific for these kids.
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Alisa C. says
Aug 3, 2010 6:50 AM
"Where are the parents?" Working multiple jobs to make ends meet, with no after-school or summer programs for teens available, let alone affordable. Others aren't tech-savvy enough to know how to monitor the content of their kid's cyber-communications. If they're never home, they have little chance to discuss respect or kindness or the value of thinking for yourself instead of following the herd with their kids. Some don't realize that the kid who behaves at home can be a little monster in another context. Some don't care, but more don't realize that a "nice" kid who is quiet & on the computer might be part of the equivalent of the taunting circle of earlier generations, nor that the victim can't run away. That doesn't excuse them - not at all - but not all are neglectful. Some are clueless, or ignorant of the invisible, or simply overwhelmed. Me? My son has autism & so is a likely target. I am watching like a hawk, & encouraging him to tell me about troubling things. I also have the luxury of being home for him.
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Ginger Trampus says
Aug 3, 2010 6:22 AM
I agree that something NEEDS to be done, but I have a BIG problem with giving the schools any more power over our children than they already have. I am a parent that does take care of my business and am extremely active in my childrens lives, but over the past few years, the school system here in Texas is taking more and more power away from the parents and getting involved in issues that do not happen on school property, during school hours, or in any association with the school at all!!! Yet, they feel the need to punish children, when the parents are already do that themselves. I see this getting out of hand VERY quickly!!!! I do not need the school to tell me how to raise my children, when my children are not the ones causing any problems in their school. I think they have opened Pandoras Box, and they don't even know it yet!!!!
I don't need a teacher telling me how to raise my child, when they are not causing problems in school, and I am afraid this law is going to cause more problems than the intended help and prevention it was set up to prevent!!!!!
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Bon L. says
Aug 3, 2010 6:14 AM
Thanks for the info.
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Liz Thompson says
Aug 3, 2010 5:46 AM
This is certainly a step in the right direction, hope it can be enforced...
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Mrs Shakespeare says
Aug 3, 2010 5:44 AM
It is your daughter, your life of course, Jo, but dont you think if she was in a real school, among real kids, even getting a little bullied she will learn and develope better?
I was bullied for a while in school, and as much as it hurt back then, it made me stronger and much more confident. Sure, not every child responds well to bullying, or tries to learn from it, but I know many kids who used these expirences to form the person they are today
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