Question 1
One of the most important factors to consider in Sarah’s case is disclosure. If I were in Sarah’s shoes, I would ensure that I inform either the school or my parents of the disturbing email immediately once it was sent. Isolation, as Sarah did, is not the answer to this situation.
Question 2
If I were Sarah’s parent, I would have done things differently. This is through following up on her relationships in school. This may include asking her close friends what is happening in school since she is not sharing her troubles.
The warning signs demonstrated by Sarah of cyber-bulling include the fact that she stopped spending time with her friends, she spent too much time on her computer and her grades started dropping drastically in school. She also demonstrated symptoms of depression. Other symptoms of cyber bullying include mood swings and nightmares (Jacobs, 2010).
Question 3
Sarah’s parents can set up the family computer in the family room as opposed to letting have too much time on her computer in her room (Vitali and Brouillard, 2007). The school should set up parent-child awareness forums to enable parents to be able to know how to cope with cyber-bullying. The school curriculum should include sufficient teaching on the risks that come with cyber-bullying to encourage students not to hide or be afraid to share with relevant authority when they are bullies online (Kohut, 2007). Students should understand that the internet is not sufficiently safe for people to share personal information (Shariff, 2009).
Question 4
References
Shariff, S. (2009). Confronting Cyber-Bullying: What Schools Need To Know To Control
Misconduct And Avoid Legal Consequences. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Vitali, K., & Brouillard, A. (2007). Bullyproof Your Child. New York: Skyhorse Pub.
Kohut, M. R. (2007). The Complete Guide To Understanding, Controlling, And Stopping Bullies
& Bullying: A Complete Guide For Teachers & Parents. Ocala, Fla: Atlantic Pub. Group.
Jacobs, T. A. (2010). Teen Cyber Bullying Investigated: Where Do Your Rights End And
Consequences Begin?. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Pub.
