Can schools take legal action if the bullying happens to students off campus?
When schools try and get involved by disciplining the student for cyberbullying actions that took place off-campus and outside of school hours, they are often sued for exceeding their authority and violating the student’s free speech right. They also, often lose. However, schools can be very effective brokers in working with the parents to stop and remedy cyberbullying situations. In one instance in Arkansas, as reported in the New York Times, a group of kids had created a Facebook site called, “Everybody Who Hates Billy Wolfe.” The Wolfes took the matter to the school district and the principal contacted all the student’s parents who were involved. The parents were shocked to learn their children were involved, and took measures to have the site taken down. Prevent cyberbullying in your community Create a way for kids to anonymously report cyberbullying. If given an anonymous method of reporting cyberbullying Web sites, profiles and campaigns, kids can help put an end to cyberbullying
