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Teacher cyberbullying is a hot topic. I recently had the pleasure (?) of being able to talk about teacher cyberbully on Metro morning, Radio 1, our local Toronto CBC radio station. I talked about why and how kids and parents bully teachers using the Internet and how teachers can protect themselves from cyberbullying.

Just today I got an email from Kevin Phang who is a media associate at on-line schools. He thought I might be interested in sharing the info graphic about cyberbullying with my readers. The info graphic was created using data gathered by Professor Andy Phippen of the University of Plymouth.  I’ve shared it below. Thanks Kevin.

What do you think administrators need to do to protect teachers from cyberbullying?

Courtesy of: OnlineSchools.com

Yes, school starts in a little more than two weeks and just like so many other teachers I’m starting to think (reluctantly ) about preparing for the new school year. Usually I go into school the week before school starts and ready the classroom, organize the supplies I’ll need and photocopy the handouts for the first few days. I’m going to do that but this year I’m also making a conscious effort to protect myself from teacher cyberbullying. I’ve seen and heard all kinds of horror stories about teacher cyberbullying. You probably have too.

Teacher cyberbullying is the deliberate use of information and communication technologies by students, parents, teachers, administrators etc. with the intention of insulting a teacher or teachers, harming reputations, spreading hate or discrimination based on race, colour, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or disability.

How am I going to protect myself from cyberbullying? I’m going to know the law, the code of professional ethics, my school board’s policies, and I’m going to follow them.

I know that teacher cyberbullying is against the law and can have serious consequences for the bully.

Much of my class takes place in cyberspace. I use information and communication technologies as teaching tools for myself and learning tools for my students. I don’t want my students to misuse these tools and demonstrate a lack of respect for anyone, me included. The new technology is really cool but it is a double edged sword. The cameras in cell phones for example can be  used to complete assignments or it can be used for teacher cyberbullying.

Last semester I overheard students  laughing and reminiscing about how a couple of grades ago they’ve deliberately provoked their teacher Mr. Johnston (not his real name)  and then filmed Mr. Johnstones’ reaction. Students know how to push teachers buttons, and since teachers are only human  just like everyone else, they can  loose it at times.  The students shared the video with other students and poor Mr. Johnston was not even aware of it, but here it is two years later and the students are still laughing about provoking Mr. Johnston and filming his reaction, the reaction they were hoping to get. Sometimes these videos end up on YouTube .  There’s even a term for that kind of bullying: you’ve been YouTubed.

Last year, cell phones were banned in school.  This year,  allowing cell phones in the classroom is at the discretion of the teacher.   I’m of mixed minds.  I’m going to  discuss a cell phone policy in my class with my students .  The discussion will be centred around respect for the learning environment and respect for people in the class, including me. Have you had a discussion like this. I’d love to hear how it wen,t and what the outcome was.

Cameras in cell phones are a concern but so are emails. I correspond with parents and students by email. I don’t want to say something in an email in a mindless moment that could cause me grief down the road. I don’t want to be inappropriate even if it is unintentional. So I intend to always

• maintain exemplary professional standards whenever I send a work related email to anyone,
• use a professional voice when communicating with anyone,
• keep a copy of all my emails,
• use a signature that includes my name, my work assignment, and my school,

I will not

• share any passwords with students or colleagues,
• leave my computer on when I’m not at it,
• use my home computer to send any work related emails to parents or students,
• use any cyberspeak ( lol, u, btw),
• post criticism of students, parents, colleagues, administrators,
• allow pictures to be taken and posted without knowing that appropriate safeguards are in place.

 

I realize despite my best efforts I could still be a victim of teacher cyberbullying.  The thought of it makes me shudder. Sometimes there’s not much I can do about it because teacher cyberbullying has moved out of the classroom and school environment.  Students can use a site called Rate Your Teacher to say vicious things anonymously about teachers.  Teachers don’t even know who is bullying them.  Kids are protected by their anonymity. I’ve talked  with  teachers who were victims of teacher cyberbullying on Rate Your Teacher.  Believe me, they were extremely upset and stressed about the situation because Rate Your Teacher wasn’t willing to remove the comments.  I’m told that sometimes Rate Your Teacher does remove the comments, but I personally don’t know of this happening.

What can I do if I’m a victim of teacher cyberbullying?  I can defend myself  by

• making copies of all messages/web postings or other related data including the URL,
• telling the sender to stop the behaviour and tell the sender such conduct is inappropriate and unacceptable,
• not  discussing the situation beyond tell the sender to stop becasue the conduct is inappropriate and unacceptable,
• seeking  support from my employer and local teachers’ federation,
• advising  My Occupational Health and Safety Committee if my safety is threatened,
• get in touch with my federation if things aren’t resolved effectively or if I need more information

 

It seems that a teacher’s life is getting more and more complicated.  It’s not just about the 3 “R’s” anymore.

Do you have any things to share about teacher cyberbullying?  I’d love to hear how you plan to protect yourself or deal with it if you are a victim.  Have you been a victim of cyberbullying?

 

Resource:

Cybersafety- important information for OSSTF/FEESO members

 

I believe parents and teachers need to work together to support students so they can do their best and achieve their potential. As a special education behaviour specialist, I support students who are troubled, troubling and troublesome. Sometimes parents will ask me for parenting advice because they don’t know what to do with their out-of-control children. I’m reluctant to give parenting advice.  My training as a behaviour specialist has been how to help students control their behaviour at school, not at home.

In the past when parents have asked me for parenting advice, I’ve  usually suggested  they seek help  from a therapist for parenting their out-of-control kids. Often, though,  parents were reluctant to go that route and didn’t seek help.  I’m not sure why. I know that some parents, especially sole parent families can’t afford the therapy. Therapy can be very expensive and some families just don’t have the money for therapy.  Some parents asking for parenting advice have told me  they have gone the therapist route but have found it didn’t really help much. I didn’t know what to say to them and always felt frustrated because I believed there must be a way to help parents develop effective parenting skills.  It’s amazing that we get such little training about how to be an effective parent when being a parent is such an important job.

Happily, now when parents ask me for parenting advice I can  recommend a parent training program that’s effective and affordable- Dr. Andrew Gibson’s Parenting Angry Children and Teens (P.A.C.T.) Training Program”.  After speaking with Dr. Gibson, reading his book Got An Angry Kid?, reviewing his program and his newsletter,  I believe that  parents of families who  live in conflict and have kids who have psychiatric labels like

• ADHD,
• oppositional defiance,
• conduct disorder,
• bi-polar disorder.

can learn effective parenting skills. Over 500 families have gone through Dr. Gibson’s program, and the success rate has been high.

I’ve never been excited enough about a parent training program to endorse it, but I’m excited about the P.A.C.T.  parent training program. What Dr. Gibson says makes so much sense to me as a behaviour specialist, special education teacher and parent.  Dr. Gibson has agreed to offer my readers a special free one month trial membership, a month free trial membership in Spike Club as well as  his book  ” Got An Angry Kid? Parenting Spike: A Seriously Difficult Child”. You only need to pay a $7.95  shipping and handling fee for his  book.

You can see and hear  Dr. Gibson tell you about his program in more detail, and the 8  benefits you will get from the program. I’m know you’ll be as impressed as I am about the level of support his program gives parents.  If you know anyone who might find the  the P.A.C.T. program useful, please tell them about it.

I believe our task is to give every girl, every parent, and every teacher a shared , public language to address girls’ conflicts and relationships. A world that acknowledges the hidden culture of girls’ aggression would empowers girls not only to negotiate conflict, but to define relationships in new healthier ways. (Rachel Simmins, p.261)

I’ve accepted the challenge of doing what I can using my blog to help give a shared, public language to address the issue of girls bullying girls. Often girls bullying girls isn’t taken seriously at all. There isn’t a good general understanding about the issue of relational aggression, the form of bullying most common with girls.

I came across this video that helps begin to explain the phenomenon of girls bullying girls and want to share it with you. I found it amazing to think that 5% of girls skip school on any given day because they’ve been bullied. Come to think of it though, I’ve had students like that. They were bullied in school and stopped coming to class or even to school to the point where social workers and counseling had to get involved to try to get to the bottom of the issue and give support to the victim as well as the bully. Both the victim and the bully need our support.

If you know of any other resources that would be useful, please leave the link as a comment. We need to get the word out.

Reference
Simmons, Rachel. (2002) Odd Girl Out Orlando:Harcourt,Inc.
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