opinions please -- possible debate -- school issue

[jennyanydots]

the school board posted a letter on its website this week about an incident that involved the students at one of the middle schools in our district -- not the one my dd attends, though.


apparently one of the students created a website, and several others posted nasty stuff about classmates. apparently the comments were serious enough to warrant intervention by our local police department.

what struck me, though, is that the student who created the website faces discipline from the school -- even though the website was not created during school time and did not use school resources. the only connection between the student's activity and the school was the subject matter of the board -- the student's classmates and peers.

on the one hand, I understand the seriousness of a student posting a message board full of nasty stuff concerning his/her classmates. last year my younger dd was subjected to harassment over the internet when she was at odds with a clique of girls who used to be her friends, and it wasn't very pleasant -- it brought the kind of bullying that previous generations dealt with at school right into our home. In "queen Bees and Wannabes" the author devotes considerable time dealing with internet bullying because it is such a serious matter.

but on the other hand, I wonder where the school derives its authority to discipline a student for conduct that did not take place in school and did not invovle school resources.

thoughts? opinions?

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Was any mention made in the posts about the school or this student doing anything during school hours to the other students?

If so I think the school has a right to step in and get involved.

 

[jennyanydots]

the letter was somewhat vague -- it referred to "slander" but not to "threats".

 

[Mermaid02]

After Columbine I guess I'd be upset if this wasn't dealt with by the school in some way.

 

[Pugdog007]

It is likely that schools have become much more sensitive to this following the Columbine incident. I believe those kids had websites about their plans for the school. I'm going to have to fall on the school's side in this one and say the kid's safety is the #1 concern, and it should probably be dealt with swiftly & severely by the school and local authorities if warranted.

 

[jennyanydots]

I'm all for safety...that the school became aware of the situation and reported it to the police is certainly a plus. that the school reported it to the parents isn't an issue.

but should the student be disciplined by the school for conduct that only tangentially related to the school?

 

[Mermaid02]

When the kids are at school it is up to the school to protect them so if they feel there is/was ANY type of threat they must deal with this.

 

[gr8tpanther]

 

[Wishing on a star]

I would think that this is bullying and harassment, which are probably against school policy (they should be!). I am sure the comments posted on this nasty web site involved things that happened at school, things that were said at school, threats or suggestions as to what would happen at school, etc... Therefore, it would be proof positive of harassment and bullying and threats and slander that have indeed taken place at school, or at school functions like sports or extracurricular activities. I would assume so, since who knows what another kid does in the privacy of their own home???

If so, the school district is right.

 

[SoonerKate]

There's court precedent for the discipline; I can't remember the specific case now, but I'll dig it up.