Journal #8(NETS IV) Should Schools be Held Responsible for Cyberbullying?

Bogacz, R. (2011, Marth/April). Should schools be held responsible for cyberbullying?. Learning and Leading, 38(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-march-april-2011.aspx

This article was quite short but devulged a great amount of information. This article gives a two way rebuttal to the question presented in the title. The first author, Renee Bogacz, was for schools being held responsible for cyberbullying. She believes that all educators should "learn what cyberbullying is and address it." (Bogacz, 2011) This is not something that just educators should be educated in, Bogacz believes that teachers, school administration, parents and students are a collective unit that need to come together in order to make a difference in this issue. "If all these stakeholders take a role in combating cyberbullying, then we will have the benefit of seeing it diminish." (Bogacz, 2011) The rebuttal to Bogacz's arguement was done by, Miguel Gomez Gordillo. He is of the view that schools should not be held accountable for cyberbullying. It is of his belief that it is not the school's fault and therefore not the school's problem, "This is not the fault only of parents, but also of society." (Gordillo, 2011) He puts a large amount of emphasis on blaming the family for the cause of cyberbullying. He believes that those who children who come from healthy families will be prone to not being a part of cyberbullying and that those children who come from "broken" families are more likely to be a part of cyberbullying.


1. With which side do you agree?

- I agree with Renee Bogacz's view, that schools should be held responsible for cyberbullying; especially in this day and age. In the 21st century our students are growing up in a world where technology is involved in practically everything. They on constantly surfing the web, socially networking or utilizing the internet on their phones. Since the students lives, now revolve around the technological world it is imperative for educators to discuss and educate their students about the dangers of the internet. It is also a great way to teach students about respect and tolerance, so its not just incorporating the bullying aspect but it teaches children about character building.


2. Why don't you agree with the opposite view?

- While Gordillo brings up good information I do not agree that it is merely society's and the family's faults that cyberbullying exists. As long as there is technology children will find a way to access it regardless of what the family's standards are. We live in an age and time where technology is vital to survival. Therefore society does have a role in the effect of cyberbullying but in order to put an end to cyberbullying, it is the role of the educators to teach students the danger of using the internet.