Sidney Public Schools, in an effort to work with our school community members, will provide a seminar on cyber bullying and sexting for parents Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sidney Middle School auditorium.
The presenters are Debra Silk, general counsel for the Montana School Boards Association, and Andy Sever, a forensics specialist and personnel director for the Montana School Boards Association.
There is little doubt that computers, cell phones and other forms of technology have had major impacts on society. However, all of the impacts are not good, and there is a downside to how technology is misused. Schools across Montana are faced with a new dilemma: how to deal with issues of cyber bullying and sexting. Unfortunately, students and adults alike use these new technologies to express criticism of others, to harass others, and to forward or send completely or partially nude pictures.
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The fact of the matter is that parents and schools alike are dealing with behaviors that can escalate overnight with the simple pressing of the “send” button. The statistics are sobering and are cause for parents and schools to work cooperatively to end behaviors involving cyber bullying and sexting.
Schools officials are often limited in their response to these situations when they arise. All too often the behavior occurs off school ground and during non-school hours limiting the school’s response unless the school can show that the behavior caused a substantial disruption at school as noted in many recent court cases nationally.
The presentation on Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sidney Middle School auditorium is intended to provide parents with the realities associated with these behaviors and to offer insight as to how we can all respond to cyber bullying and sexting before and when it happens.
If you think your child can’t be a victim or that you don’t need to attend this seminar, more than 50 percent of students nationally will tell you that your are dead wrong – It happens daily!
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