Testimonials:

by: Sarah Moody, Seventh Grade Counselor

Cyber Bullying has become more prominent now that today’s technology has expanded. As counselor, I often see students in tears because they received a mean text message or a comment about them was posted on myspace.com. Although most of this cyber-bullying occurs outside of school, students often bring their conflicts and frustrations back to the school level.

Cyber-Bullying must be combated through-out the school community, using a “school-wide” approach. Interventions implemented to reduce cyber-bullying at my school include:

* Classroom bullying presentations
* Peer mediation
* Individual counseling and assertiveness training
* Utilization of school-wide bully boxes (these bully boxes located around campus where students can anonymously report a bullying incident that they were either involved in or witnessed)
* District workshops for parents regarding cyber-bullying are put on by counselors
* Bullying posters are located in classrooms and around campus
* Increased adult supervision on campus
* No use of cell-phones on campus

Any additional curriculum or video that can be utilized to help reduce cyber-bullying would enhance any school-wide approach in combating cyber-bullying. My school’s goal is to promote positive relationships and interactions amongst the students, while teaching them to assert themselves in an appropriate and safe manner.

by: Erika McElroy, La Entrada, 4th-8th grade counselor
As a counselor I see students in my office that are affected by cyber bullying, It is usually the girls. Most of the times I talk with students that are in a conflict, and try to use instant messaging as a method of resolution, but this method escalates the conflict. Girls will bring me in their instant messages, because they are so upset and unsure how to handle the situation. Even though they are tech savvy, they are not emotionally savvy. Communicating online allows girls the freedom to send messages that they would not normally say to the other person face to face. This drama affects there emotional, psychological and physical health, which then in turn affects there families and their academic lives.
Currently, we deal with each situation differently. In the 6th grade, all of our students attend an Internet Safety workshop. We do not have a specific program that works with students on how to navigate communicating with their friends in a positive way that encourages inter personal connections rather than sabotaging them.
          There is a need for prevention and intervention programs that deal with cyber bullying. Having a video program to educate students on cyber bullying would be a great tool. Videos definitely appeal to the middle school audience, and the topic is so relevant to their experiences. I can see our students really benefiting from a curriculum and video.