Fleetwood Middle School will be providing an assembly for its students on bullying Oct. 7, focusing on cyberbullying, bullying that occurs through social media.
This is the second year that a Special Agent from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office will provide the program. Two assemblies will be provided: one for students in fifth grade and the other for students in grades six through eight. The program will share common types of bullying, how to handle these situations, and ways to stop it.
The Internet has opened up a new way for children to socialize with one another. Unfortunately, it also provides an easy way for some to put down or make fun of others. The increasing availability of portable devices that connect children to the Internet can result in them impulsively sharing their thoughts. Many times, an initial negative post prompts other students to share critical comments about the same child. The frequency of bullying that occurs through social media continues to increase, particularly during the middle school years.
Cyberbullying can have an even greater impact than face-to-face bullying due to the number of people who see social media posts almost immediately. It can also be difficult to identify the source(s) of the posts and difficult to have the information removed. Comments posted on social media can therefore be accessible for a long period of time. When cyberbullying occurs, it can take the combined efforts of the school, parents, and law enforcement to address the situation and to get the posts removed.
Students who are different from others, including in their physical appearance, are frequently the target of bullying. It is the responsibility of schools to help students understand how diversity benefits our school and community, and how to prevent bullying and how to promptly address it when it occurs.
The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) notes that bullying has been linked to mental health concerns in both the bully as well as the victim. These concerns include anxiety and depression. Bullying has also been linked to increased thoughts of suicide in the victim. It is recommended that “intervening early can help equip students with the social and emotional skills that will help prevent later bullying behaviors and will help set a foundation for healthy social relationships. In fact, bullying programs appear to be most effective in the younger years” (NASP position statement: Bullying Prevention and Intervention in Schools, 2012).
Preventing and addressing bullying when it occurs requires the ongoing efforts of everyone in the school community. Our schools provide programs to teach students about bullying, such as the one the middle school is providing this week. They also promptly intervene when bullying is reported. Students need to report to their teacher when they believe someone is not being treated with respect. Parents also need to work with the school to both report concerns and talk with their children about treating everyone with respect.
Upcoming Events in the Fleetwood Area School District:
October 10 – Teacher In-Service, No School for Students
The Board of Education will hold meetings on October 11th and 18th at 7:00 p.m.
