Unit 4: Creating a Bully Free Environment Within Your School

What are schools legally obligated to do in the face of cyberbullying? What are the limitations they face? How can you apply your learning to help create a bully free environment within your school district?

Unit 4 Objectives:

1. Students will be able to interpret NY State's Dignity for All Students Act.

2. Students will be able to analyze their school's Code of Conduct policy regarding bullying and cyberbullying.

3. Students will be able to propose an initiative to their school's principal that they feel will be the most effective in creating a bully free environment based on the needs of their schools students.

What Needs to Be Completed By the End of Unit 4

1. Read the introductory text and then click the link to access NY's Dignity for All Students Act. Read the law.

2. Access your school's Code of Conduct and read through the sections about bullying and/or cyberbullying.

3. Complete the discussion about the Dignity for All Students Act and your school's Code of Conduct based on the guidelines below.

4. Propose an initiative to your school's principal to combat cyberbullying to best fit the needs of their school and student body following the directions below.

5. Submit your proposal in the space below.

Dignity for All Students Act

As of July 2013, only 18 states had laws specifically dealing with cyberbullying while 49 (all but Montana) have traditional anti bullying laws. There currently is no federal anti-cyberbullying law. For more information about this including a breakdown of state by state's bullying laws, visit the following link: Bullying and Cyberbullying Laws

New York State signed into law its Dignity for All Students Act on September 13, 2010. According to the New York State Education Department's Website, the law, "seeks to provide the State’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function." School districts throughout the state were legally required to adjust their code of conduct in accordance with the law.

On July 12, 2012 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed an amendment for the Dignity for All Students Act, requiring schools to develop procedures to deal with cyberbullying specifically even if it occurs off campus, as long as it affects learning. Governor Cuomo said, ""We must do all we can to ensure that every child in New York State feels safe in the classroom, and this new law will help our schools create an environment that is conducive to educational success. Under this new law, schools will play an important role – working with families, communities and law enforcement – to prevent harassment, bullying and discrimination, and to support a student's right to learn."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signing into law the cyberbullying amendment to DASA

The amendment seeks to prevent cyberbullying through the following provisions:

Requiring Schools to Act When Cyberbullying Occurs

The law requires that schools act in cases of cyberbullying, which may occur on or off campus, when it creates or would create a substantial risk to the school environment, substantially interferes with a student’s educational performance or mental, emotional or physical well-being, or causes a student to fear for his or her physical safety.

Ensures Proper Protocols Are in Place to Deal with Cyberbullying

The law requires school districts to put in place protocols to deal with cyberbullying, harassment, bullying and discrimination, including assignment of a school official to receive and investigate reports; prompt reporting and investigation; responsive actions to prevent recurrence of any verified bullying; coordination with law enforcement when appropriate; development of a bullying prevention strategy; and notice to all school community members of the school’s policies.

Sets Training Requirements For School Employees to Help Identify and Prevent Cyberbullying

The law sets training requirements for current school employees, as well as for new teachers and administrators applying for a certificate or license, on the identification and mitigation of harassment, bullying, cyberbullying and discrimination.

Click here to access the complete text of the cyberbullying amendment to DASA

Do not get caught up in all the nuances of the law. It is more important for you to get a general idea of what it entails and requires schools to do to prevent cyberbullying.

Code of Conduct and Discussion Directions

After reading through the DASA, obtain a copy of your school's Code of Conduct. Most can be accessed online through the school's website. If you are not employed by a school district, use your child's school's code or the code of your home district. Skip to the section dealing with bullying and/or cyberbullying. Be sure to note whether or not there is a section dealing with cyberbullying.

Then, begin the discussion in the discussion area addressing the following questions:

Does your Code of Conduct mention cyberbullying specifically or just bullying in general?

What are your schools policies or procedures in dealing with bullying and cyberbullying? It may be helpful to include specific quotes.

Is there any mention of the Dignity for All Students Act within the Code of Conduct?

Do you feel that the Code of Conduct is adhering to the provisions outlined in the DASA? Why or why not? If not, what needs to be included?

As always you are to post an original response and then respond to TWO Of your classmates. :)

Final Project: Proposed Initiative

Congratulations for making it this far in the course! Now your final task requires you to show off all your learning in one final project that intends to create a bully free environment within your school. Read below to understand what is being asked of you for this culminating project.

Your Task:

Now that you have become an expert on cyberbullying and researched your school's bullying policy, you will apply your knowledge to propose a change, revision, or addition to the school policy in the form of a thoughtful, carefully crafted, persuasive proposal to the principal/superintendent/school board.

Write a letter in Microsoft Word that proposes any or all of the following:

A revised school policy that specifically addresses cyberbullying, which may include protocol for reporting cyberbullying, disciplinary consequences, etc.
An assembly or other school-wide function or campaign to educate students and/or faculty about the topic
Anything else that you think should be done to help address this problem

Proposal Content Guidelines:

Be sure to:

Define cyberbullying and outline its negative impact on individuals and the school community (be sure to cite sources where you’ve obtained information)

Reveal your knowledge about your school’s current policy and protocol (or lack thereof) surrounding bullying in general and cyberbullying in particular
* Propose your changes/additions and explain your reasoning behind them

MOST IMPORTANTLY, MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE YOUR REASONING BEHIND YOUR PROPOSALS CITING INFORMATION YOU HAVE LEARNED IN THIS COURSE!!

Mechanics and Format

Address your audience (ie, “Dear Mr./Mrs. ______”) and sign your proposal with your full name
Use proper grammar, punctuation, and mechanics
Keep your audience in mind; maintain a formal and respectful tone
Include a “subject” line
Be thorough yet concise: Your proposal should be between 1-2 pages single spaced.

Persuasive Writing Tips:

Establish yourself as an authority on the topic by providing personal anecdotes and/or research on the topic

Make an emotional appeal, but balance it also with logic; present your audience with both an emotional and a logical reason for accepting your proposal.