Cyber-Bullying Week

Monday, 19th November 2007

Cyber-Bullying Week

As part of Anti- Bullying week, launched by the Anti Bullying Alliance, every form in the school looked at how the internet and modern technology have permeated our homes and personal lives and how they can be a source of bullying. The week addressed two specific focuses: Safety on the Net and Cyber-Bullying.

The pupils watched a film about a fifteen-year-old boy, Joe, who had been bullied by a girl in his year through text, Facebook and malicious phone calls. They debated why this had happened and discussed how they would help themselves or others in a similar case. The older students looked in more detail at the plethora of social websites that young people now use. They considered the implications of an article from ?The Independent? newspaper which described how information put on these sites can leave an electronic footprint that employers and universities may look at and use to make a judgement about whether or not individuals would be suitable employers or undergraduates. They were warned about putting too much information on the web about themselves, particularly dates of birth, addresses and pictures as this can make identity theft a real possibility.

Information has also been sent home to parents outlining the dangers of the net and offering practical solutions to help combat internet bullying.

It was stressed to all pupils that bullies are empowered only as long their identities are kept secret. By telling a parent or teacher that you are on the receiving end of cyber bullying, it is possible to track down the origin of any unkind correspondence and end it.

For more information about cyber-bullying, please go to www.direct.gov.uk/cyberbullying