ERIC Number: EJ809984
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Sep
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1537-5749
EISSN: N/A
We Hate Ashley
Willard, Nancy
District Administration, v44 n10 p53-54, 56 Sep 2008
Two Oregon students create a racist profile on a social networking site, with cartoons about lynching and racist language. Other students link to the profile and post ugly, racist comments. Teachers report that many of the school's minority students are frightened. In another instance, several high school students create a "We Hate Ashley" profile online that includes crude sexual innuendoes and poking fun at her weight. Ashley no longer attends school. Her grades plummet. Her parents say she is under psychological care and on suicide watch. Do school officials have the authority to impose discipline in response to harmful off-campus online speech? Should they? This is a major challenge facing school administrators today. In this article, the author discusses the harmful effects of cyberbullying to the students, cites court cases involving off-campus online speech, and offers some important steps to ensure that the administrative response is legally justified when cyberbullying occurs.
Descriptors: Internet, Minority Groups, Social Networks, Web Sites, High School Students, Racial Discrimination, Administrators, Bullying, State Legislation, Civil Rights, School Safety, Crime Prevention, Crime, Social Bias, Aggression, Violence
Professional Media Group, LLC. 488 Main Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851. Tel: 203-663-0100; Fax: 203-663-0149; Web site: http://www.districtadministration.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Oregon; Washington
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A