Bullying is once again the subject of social media after an American boy’s video on him getting picked on at school went viral this week, reaching more than 16 million views.
School District 57 has responded, stating it has policies in place through its student code of conduct for in-person situations.
However, Board Chair Tim Bennett says cyber-bullying is a more complex issue.
“The world of social medias is changing by the day. Our staff is working very hard to make sure that they understand what students are facing each day in our buildings, educate around digital citizenship, and ensuring opportunities for professional development.”
Bennett explains teachers and staff are taught on a regular basis to recognize the signs of a bullying victim.
As a parent, he says it’s important for kids to simply speak up.
“Whether it’s your parents, or a teacher, or the school principal, we need to ensure that if you’re not feeling safe in our schools that somebody does know about it so the issues can be addressed.”
Bennett says school board trustees are also involved in taking social media-related courses, educating them on the trends of kids and the internet.