Does Sherwood HS have a cyber bullying problem?

[Anonymous]

When the Bullying and Harrasment form is submitted to a principal and multiple children are victims, bullies, and witnesses, what responsibility does MCPS have to inform the parents? I am saying this from a perspective of a parent who took screen shots of cyber bullying posts, filled out the form and met with the principal. Even though the students in the group chat were all identified and their words were in black and white, the principal said it doesn't fit the definition of bullying because the posts were not on school grounds.

No parents informed. Nothing done by the school. This is why bullying is out of control in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When the Bullying and Harrasment form is submitted to a principal and multiple children are victims, bullies, and witnesses, what responsibility does MCPS have to inform the parents? I am saying this from a perspective of a parent who took screen shots of cyber bullying posts, filled out the form and met with the principal. Even though the students in the group chat were all identified and their words were in black and white, the principal said it doesn't fit the definition of bullying because the posts were not on school grounds.

No parents informed. Nothing done by the school. This is why bullying is out of control in MCPS.

What about telling girls they weigh too much to sit with them at lunch? Does that equate with bullying? (These are boys BTW.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All schools and communities have this problem. It is insidious. Please understand this

I don’t disagree with you. However, does that mean it shouldn’t be addressed? Chalk it up to, “It’s everywhere. That’s just the way things are today with social media” ?

To quote from the older sister’s FB post, “ Unfortunately, this story is not one that is revolutionary or unheard of. Cyberbullying like this cannot be tolerated any longer. We as a society need to demand that people who participate in deliberate acts of hate be held accountable, regardless of their ‘promising athletic careers.’ Our schools, our sports teams, and our communities at large cannot let this go on.”

At the very least, the school should address the situation, as the hateful posts began months ago when school was in session. If the parents fill out the bullying form from the MCPS website, there is a protocol the school must follow to address the complaint.

If the hateful posts began months ago, and lasted for so long, what stopped that girl from unfriending/blocking the offenders and making her social media private?
Honest question. You can block anyone on any social media these days, especially if offensive comments are coming from just one account (bullying from multiple unknown accounts is another story but it also can be curbed by restricted access). Why didn't she?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just found out that it has been ongoing and that police might have been notified. It is terrible, happening for months. It might be only bully, not three, absolutely appalling.

The sister said in a FB comment that the police said they couldn’t do anything. I only know what I’m reading online, so maybe something more has happened since her comment. According to my child (Sherwood HS student), the IG account that posted the comments targeting the girl was a joint account shared by 3 boys (which has since been deleted, but not before the family got screenshots of the comments)

Of course, the police couldn't do anything! It's perfectly legal to casually insult anyone unless certain groups are targeted and the insult can be classified as a hate crime. Threatening someone is a slippery slope, although hard to prove. But anyone can go on Instagram and leave a comment telling a stranger or an acquaintance to f--k themselves and calling them fat; SVU will not send a squad to cuff the perpetrator.

[Anonymous]

To the PP who suggested that the girl blocks posts, blocking posts would not stop the comments from being spread throughout the school. Sherwood should be doing more to educate children as to what is considered cyber bullying and what are the consequences for participating in cyber bullying. If the perpetrators are athletes, they should be benched. If the coaches know and don't bench athletes for bullying, then the coaches should not be rehired the next season.

[Anonymous]

If MCPS isn't doing anything to stop repeated bullying, perhaps contact the Montgomery County Council.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/moco-students-call-on-county-council-for-help-fighting-bullying/

[Anonymous]

Of 1,312 cases of bullyingreported last year, only 934 were confirmed by MCPS. That means in 30% of cases reported (cases in which a victim filled out the Bullying and Harrasment form), principals did not confirm that bullying occurred. 30% is a large number of cases in which the schools are ignoring what students reported.

This article has the data:

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-creating-online-bullying-reporting-form/

[Anonymous]

Im sorry, but at that point I'd have to take the issue into my own hands & have a little chat with mommy & daddy.

I grew up in the Bronx and it would take everything I had in me not to beat the living shit out of those little f$ckers myself... and then I'd slap the sh!t out of their parents, not only for good measure, but for raising these kids to be hateful animals.

What a nightmare for this poor girl... this is going to traumatize her.

There is absolutely NO way I'd be able to sit on my hands and do nothing...

Guaranteed the boys parents are well aware of what's going on... and if they weren't, I'd make them aware.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Im sorry, but at that point I'd have to take the issue into my own hands & have a little chat with mommy & daddy.

I grew up in the Bronx and it would take everything I had in me not to beat the living shit out of those little f$ckers myself... and then I'd slap the sh!t out of their parents, not only for good measure, but for raising these kids to be hateful animals.

What a nightmare for this poor girl... this is going to traumatize her.

There is absolutely NO way I'd be able to sit on my hands and do nothing...

Guaranteed the boys parents are well aware of what's going on... and if they weren't, I'd make them aware.

Wow, aren't you a brave little keyboard warrior, from the Bronx, no less!
What if the parents you want to slap the shit out of are members of law enforcement themselves? That'd be battery against a police officer, and there you'd go to the nearest correctional facility for the loongest time possible.

[Anonymous]

While bullying is a problem in MCPS, I have also heard students say they were going to fill out the bullying report falsely just to get another student in trouble. Then I had to fill out the form.

[Anonymous]

Any school community that includes children whose parents haven’t taught them civility will have a bullying problem. Bullying behaviors are 99.999% learned at home. There’s very little schools can do to address bullying except punish bullying that occurs at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the PP who suggested that the girl blocks posts, blocking posts would not stop the comments from being spread throughout the school. Sherwood should be doing more to educate children as to what is considered cyber bullying and what are the consequences for participating in cyber bullying. If the perpetrators are athletes, they should be benched. If the coaches know and don't bench athletes for bullying, then the coaches should not be rehired the next season.

When should that be done? during "down time" in English classes? at an assembly?

No one kids are graduating with no skills. When is there time to actually instruct?

You fail to mention parents and kids' home lives. . .

[Anonymous]

I finally asked my son about it.

It was reported to the school.

He said that the boys are in a lot of trouble. Talk of being expelled and one already had his college offer rescinded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I finally asked my son about it.

It was reported to the school.

He said that the boys are in a lot of trouble. Talk of being expelled and one already had his college offer rescinded.

good

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I finally asked my son about it.

It was reported to the school.

He said that the boys are in a lot of trouble. Talk of being expelled and one already had his college offer rescinded.

good

I agree. But I won’t gloat about it.

But this is Olney so lots of shaming.. like most small towns.