Guest column

We can win the battle against cyberbullying

Posted

No child should be sad at school.

Now that September has seen the opening of schools on Long Island, students are getting to know one another once again. Sometimes old “issues” return from the previous school year or from the summer break. Either way, it’s important to address them before they become cyberbullying.

A question I am asked quite frequently is, What causes cyberbullying? The answer is anything but simple, but the main reason is growth from past bullying issues. School bullying on the playground at recess, in the cafeteria and in individual classrooms is where it starts.

All bullying is exclusion. Once a child feels left out and alone, he or she could become the ultimate victim. Bullies usually prey on the weak and vulnerable. This gives them a sense of power.

As the new school year starts, we have the opportunity to look and listen to what might be going on between children. Can we always tell? Probably not, but we can certainly be aware of the child who is left out and appears to be sad much of the time. Along with exclusion may come making fun of the child, calling him or her names, putting “labels” on him or her, or spreading rumors or lies. Now we have a sad child.

These days, the bullying doesn’t always stop there. It spills over onto cell phones, pictures, emails, Internet sites, etc. In addition, it is sometimes involved in video games, according to whom they play with and what the goal of the game has become.

During the elementary school years, it is imperative that we help our children understand that they are fine the way they are. Just because a bully thinks something negative about them, tells other people and makes fun of them, this does not make it true. Low self-esteem is created when a child believes the mean things that are said to him or her and spread around to other children.

Parents must be vigilant in watching what is going on with cell phones, computers and video gaming.

If we could spend more time addressing these bullying situations — and there are many — the middle school and high school years would not reflect sorrow, regret and tragedy.

Remember two things: Cyberbullying didn’t come out of nowhere, and no child should be sad at school.

Maureen Florio is an educational business consultant from Valley Stream.