“What Nurses Should Know About Cyber-Bullying”
School Nurse’s Conference
Chief Logan State Park
November 3, 2011
TERESA PICKENS
RESA 5 SCHOOL WELLNESS SPECIALIST
An Apple a Day…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SJ3T6EM3qU
CAN I HANDLE ONE MORE RESPONSIBILITY?
HELPING CHILDREN BE SUCCESSFUL
EDUCATION IS VALUED ALL OVER WORLD
ARE SCHOOLS PROVIDING A SAFE
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT???
ISSUES STUDENTS MAY FACE…
INTERFERING THOUGHTS IN ED PROCESS
CHILDREN BEING RAISED BY…
Homelessness
FITTING IN WITH SOCIETY’S UNREALISTIC STANDARDS
Hungry Children in WV
158,492 WV students received
Free or Reduced Meal Plans in FY11
21ST CENTURY BULLYING
Physical Activity Break
Additional 15 minutes of physical activity during the school day.
VARIOUS WAYS TO HARASS…

Texting

Sexting

Picture

Video

Email

Chat Room

Blogs

Polls
STOP CYBER-BULLYING, NOW !!!
Harrassment and
http://www.google.com/support/youtube/bin/ans
wer.py?answer=126266
IS CYBER-BULLYING A SCHOOL ISSUE ?
FREEDOM OF SPEECH ???

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The freedom to speak freely without censorship. The
synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes used to
indicate not only freedom of verbal speech but any act of
seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas,
regardless of the medium used.
In practice, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute in
any country and the right is commonly subject to limitations,
such as on libel, slander, obscenity, incitement to commit a
crime, etc.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
recognizes the right to freedom of speech as "the right to hold
opinions without interference. Everyone shall have the right to
freedom of expression."
IS CYBER-BULLYING AGAINST CURRENT
STATE POLICY ???
LEGISLATIVE RULE
WV BOARD OF EDUCATION
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT (Policy 4373)

Scope. -- This rule sets the requirements for the conduct of
students in West Virginia schools in order to assure a nurturing
and orderly, safe, drug-free, violence- and harassment-free
learning environment that supports student academic
achievement and personal-social development.

3.1.1. Students will help create an atmosphere free from
bullying, intimidation and harassment.
House Bill 3225. Passed March 12, 2011
WV Legislation is requiring County Boards and WVDE
to expand definition of prohibiting harassment, intimidation
or bullying; and establish reporting requirements on WVEIS.
SPOILED SOCIETY…
Warning Lights >
Warning Sounds >
Warning Vibrations >
Children don’t have Warning Lights, Sounds or Vibrations…
But they DO display Warning Signs!!!
A child may be a victim of cyber-bullying if he or she...
•unexpectedly stops using the computer
•appears nervous or jumpy when an IM, Email or Text appears
•appears uneasy about going to school or outside in general
•appears to be angry, depressed, or frustrated after using computer
•avoids discussions about what they are doing on the computer
•becomes abnormally withdrawn from usual friends & family members
MENTAL BREAK ACTIVITY
ARE WE SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE ?
ROLE-MODELS MUST PROVIDE A SAFE-HAVEN
Without a support network or having
PROPER coping skills…
Increasing Risky Behaviors…
Seek out ways cope!!!
“Every school-day in America, 171 school buses loaded with
children leave school never to return. That is our daily
dropout rate.”
(National Center for Education Statistics, 2004. Dropout Rates in the United States: 2001)
6,911 students are expected to dropout of school in
West Virginia… this year.
***2.3 miles long
Education Week Diplomas Count 2010
Where Do We Fit In ???
ZERO Tolerance… REALLY !!!
WARNING SIGNS OF A CYBER-BULLY:
A child may be cyber-bullying others if he or she...
•quickly switches screens or closes programs when you
walk by
•uses the computer at all hours of the night
•gets unusually upset if he/she cannot use computer
•laughs excessively while using the computer
•avoids discussions about what they’re doing on
computer
• uses multiple online accounts or using an account
that is not their own
Illuminate Cyberbullying
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2Sg2CbrI34&feature=relmfu
Words Really Do Hurt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2kFVXDzKFc&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxKYU3SIDhI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGt9jAkWie4
DO WE NEED TO MAKE ANOTHER
RULE OR POLICY ?
WVDE POLICY 4373
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies/p4373.html?text=1
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The West Virginia Board of Education recognizes the need for
students, teachers, administrators, and other school
personnel to have a nurturing and orderly, safe, and
stimulating educational environment.
The purpose of these regulations is to provide West Virginia
school districts with a policy of student conduct that will
ensure an orderly and safe environment that is conducive to
learning.
These regulations also require that West Virginia's public
schools respond immediately and consistently to incidents of
harassment, intimidation, bullying, substance abuse and/or
violence or other Student Code of Conduct violations in a
manner that effectively deters future incidents and affirms
respect for individuals.
EXPECTED BEHAVIOR IN SAFE & SUPPORTIVE
SCHOOLS
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POLICY 4373
The West Virginia Board of Education believes further that
public schools should undertake proactive, preventive
approaches to ensure a nurturing and orderly and safe
school environment that fosters learning and personal-social
development.
Public schools must create, encourage, and maintain a safe,
drug-free, and fear-free school environment in the
classroom, on the playground, and at school-sponsored
activities.
Assuring such an educational environment requires a
comprehensive program supported by everyone in the school
organization, as well as parents/guardians, and the
community.
Any form of harassment, intimidation, bullying, substance
abuse, violence, or other policy violation is unacceptable in
West Virginia schools.
LEVEL I VIOLATIONS
Anti-Social Conduct
A
student will not orally, in writing, electronically, or
with photographs or drawings, direct profanity or
insulting, obscene gestures toward another student
that causes embarrassment, discomfort, or a
reluctance to participate in school activities.
LEVEL II VIOLATIONS
Bullying/Harassment/Intimidation

A student will not bully/intimidate/harass another student.
According to W.Va. Code §18-2C-2, "harassment,
intimidation or bullying" means any intentional gesture, or
any intentional written, verbal or physical act or threat

(a) a reasonable person under the circumstances should
know will have the effect of : (1) harming a student; (2)
damaging a student's property; (3) placing a student in
reasonable fear of harm to his or her person; or (4) placing a
student in reasonable fear of damage to his or her property;

(b) is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it
creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational
environment for a student.
LEVEL III VIOLATIONS


Hazing. A student will not haze or conspire to engage in the
hazing of another person. "Hazing" means to cause any
action or situation which recklessly or intentionally
endangers the mental or physical health or safety of another
person or persons to destroy or remove public or private
property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or
affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership
in, any activity or organization, including both co-curricular
and extra-curricular activities.
Threat of Injury or Injury. A student will not threaten to injure
another student, a teacher, administrator or other school
personnel.
HARASSMENT & VIOLENCE PROTECTION
POLICY 2421
 Sexual
Harassment
 Racial
Harassment
 Sexual
Violence
 Racial
Violence
 Religious/Ethnic
Violence
INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES !!!
Upon a report/complaint…Investigation begins:
 Entitled to “Due Process”
 Receive a fair Hearing/Interview
 If
a possible Level IV violation…honest effort to
contact parent! *Encouraged on Level II-III.
Immediately take steps to protect all !!!
 Gather all details…establish a history/pattern.
 Investigation must be completed within 10 days
 Final written results must be given to parents.

Facebook for Educators Guide
Creator Linda Fogg. May 17, 2011
Recognizing that social media plays a huge role in the lives of students
as well as teachers, Facebook decided to create a guide that explains
how to properly use the social networking site and how it can be used
as an educational resource.
March 16, 2011
Teachers fired because of Facebook?
NEA HIN has a vested interest in maintaining the safety of NEA members
and students.
***If you’re an educator who’s concerned about having a Facebook page
or any social media page, this article might be beneficial to you.
NEA’s Assistant General Counsel Mike Simpson wrote the following
editorial on what privacy rights you may or may not have as a teacher.
H & S School Law
 Social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter have the capacity to
break down communication barriers between teachers and students and to
enrich students’ educational experience.
 However, we have been involved in numerous personnel matters where
teachers were disciplined or terminated due, at least in part, to
inappropriate communication between the teacher and students on social
networking sites.
 In response to these problems, many school boards nationwide have
adopted policies that attempt to govern how teachers use Facebook and
other social networking websites.
 Legal commentators, including attorneys with the American Civil Liberties
Union, have expressed concern that restrictive policies could run afoul of
teachers’ rights under the Free Expression Clause of the First Amendment.
*School boards can legitimately govern how staff members
communicate with students and parents regarding
school-related business.
“Teachers union files lawsuit against Florida school
district's social networking policy” (Nov’10)
The FL Policy states…
'any inappropriate statements,
documents, or photographs viewed by
the public reflects poorly on the District
as a whole and can negatively impact
the school setting and subject the
employee to discipline.'
As a school system employee…
Should you sign a Social Networking Agreement ???
THINK BEFORE YOU POST!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=HpTGofGizTc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE2Ru-jqyrY&feature=related
NEVER EVER GIVE UP !!!
The Best Motivation Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tjYoKCBYag&feature=related
MENTAL BREAK
*Youth who are regularly active also have a
better chance of a healthy adulthood.*
QUESTIONS ???
THANK YOU !!!
Teresa Pickens
Regional School Wellness Specialist
304-485-6513 ext 142
trpicken@access.k12.wv.us