Student Reactions to the Legislation Fighting Cyberbullying
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: July 10, 2012
Some say we live in a cyber world, and for students, this also means cyberbullying.
Under this legislation, school employees who witness or learn of online harassment must notify the school's administration within one school day. I spoke with some middle schoolers who say cyber bullying has become one of the biggest problems in the classroom
"In real life, like not on the computer, they wouldn't do that. But on the computer, they think that there safe and can't get in trouble," says Salena Rhinehart, 6th grader.
Salena Rhinehart is 11 years old - She says she started experiencing cyberbullying 2 years ago.
"On Facebook, she would write mean stuff to me on my wall and stuff and tell me I was retarded and stuff. It made me feel sad," says Rhinehart.
The Governor's office says a 2011 survey of New York high school students showed nearly 18% were bullied on school property and 16% bullied electronically. One middle school teacher says with easier access to technology, cyberbullying has taken off - both inside and outside of the classroom.
"The first year I was teaching I didn't see it at all and I don't even know how many cases of it happened this last school year. It's one of the biggest problems in the schools these days."
The new legislation will require schools to take action. But one seventh grade student doesn't think a new legislation will end the cyberbullying he witnesses everyday.
"I don't think it's gonna help at all because people just do it no matter what, they just don't care if they hurt someone else's feelings," says Vicente Valdivia, 7th grader.
Research has shown links between cyberbullying and low self esteem, academic problems and in some highly publicized cases, suicide.
"People who are getting cyberbullied just want it to end - it's horrible that people do that just because people look different, or act different or are different," says Valdivia.
Under the new legislation, school districts will be required to establish protocols to curb cyberbullying. Other steps will include training programs for teachers and administrators. The legislation will go into effect on July 1, 2013.
Under this legislation, school employees who witness or learn of online harassment must notify the school's administration within one school day. I spoke with some middle schoolers who say cyber bullying has become one of the biggest problems in the classroom
"In real life, like not on the computer, they wouldn't do that. But on the computer, they think that there safe and can't get in trouble," says Salena Rhinehart, 6th grader.
Salena Rhinehart is 11 years old - She says she started experiencing cyberbullying 2 years ago.
"On Facebook, she would write mean stuff to me on my wall and stuff and tell me I was retarded and stuff. It made me feel sad," says Rhinehart.
The Governor's office says a 2011 survey of New York high school students showed nearly 18% were bullied on school property and 16% bullied electronically. One middle school teacher says with easier access to technology, cyberbullying has taken off - both inside and outside of the classroom.
"The first year I was teaching I didn't see it at all and I don't even know how many cases of it happened this last school year. It's one of the biggest problems in the schools these days."
The new legislation will require schools to take action. But one seventh grade student doesn't think a new legislation will end the cyberbullying he witnesses everyday.
"I don't think it's gonna help at all because people just do it no matter what, they just don't care if they hurt someone else's feelings," says Vicente Valdivia, 7th grader.
Research has shown links between cyberbullying and low self esteem, academic problems and in some highly publicized cases, suicide.
"People who are getting cyberbullied just want it to end - it's horrible that people do that just because people look different, or act different or are different," says Valdivia.
Under the new legislation, school districts will be required to establish protocols to curb cyberbullying. Other steps will include training programs for teachers and administrators. The legislation will go into effect on July 1, 2013.
