My middleschooler is on FaceBook, but I have access to his account and his page. He does not like me watching his back, but that is what momma's do! If I feel he has posted something or someone has posted something inappropriate on his page, he is asked to take it off. Being involved in your kids social life is important. My kids and I talk about bullying all the time. The more they are aware, then they know how to deal with a situation if one ever arises!

Hi Rebecca - has your son ever experienced cyberbullying? Have any of his friends? Do you think it is a common problem?

What I have seen is more indirect. Things he posts and things his friends post. Rude comments, photoshopping photos, inappropriate photos etc... Kids think they are just joking and think it's funny. I ask my kids how they would feel if a picture of them was posted with rude comments? Once I get them to put the shoe on the other foot, they realize how hurtful it can feel. It is very common, especially on FaceBook. This is a great social networking site, but parents HAVE to be very involved on what is being posted. I think a social network site for kids should be created with moderators, etc... :)

If Gwinnett schools were concerned about bullying they would be acting to eliminate it within the bricks and mortar setting of our public schools, not online. Bullying takes root in the day to day, face-to-face interactions of kids. I know from my child's personal experience that GCPS does not take bullying seriously. What they do is stick their head in the sand and hope it (and the parents who require justice) goes away. Bullying is not going away anytime soon because it's as common as the sun rising. It's a problem that the schools give lip service to but ultimately deny because of how they feel they will be perceived if they acknowledge how commonplace it is at even the "best" of schools. Unfortunately, the schools are not pursuing the one solution to bullying that exists.

Suggesting that cyberbullying is their new battlefield against bullying is more evidence of how little interest GCPS has in stopping the bullying epidemic. Cyberbullying may be a problem on college campuses where face-to-face interactions among the students is limited, but the real battlefield begins at the elementary school level where kids interact for 6 or 7 hours each day, for months. At school (especially when the parents could care less) is where kids figure out if they can get away with bullying their peers. If he can, which he most often does, he will persist and carry it on until it leads to cyberbullying, stalking and other heinous endeavors as adults.

I agree that the schools need to do more about bullying. If you aren't in the popular group, life can be unbearable for kids at school. Students need to be taught to be accepting and reach out to others. This is especially need in areas of disabilities. Too many times teachers turn their heads when students make mean comments to other kids. Students who are leaders should be encouraged to help others more.

Bobby, I work at an elementary school and my wife teaches at Dacula Middle.

I get to see and hear of bullying incidents first hand and I have to say that from what I see, the county takes this very seriously. I even know of kids that have been arrested for bullying. I know also that much effort goes into dealing with problems like these. I also know of kids that run to their parents complaining of being bullied when in fact, they are the instigators of the problem.

You are right, kids have been bullies since the beginning of time and there will always be bullies. But to assume that teachers and administrators don't care is totally not correct.

I believe teachers care, but in some schools administrators discourage it. I would just like to see children taught early on to accept each other and for those with disabilities to be included more in classes and be able to interact with others.

I know that the vast majority of administrators and teachers for GCPS have the best interest of the students in mind. Sometimes getting to the bottom of the allegations is difficult, students don't always tell the truth (imagine that) and trying to determine what the truth really is can be tough. And kids are sneaky, they know to wait until a teacher isn't looking to be a bully, I see kids trying to be sneaky all the time and I'm only around K-5 kids.

I do believe bullying has gotten worse over the years, but I blame parenting on that problem. The schools can't fix everything, it's hard enough to educate some of these kids, much less teach them things that their parents SHOULD have taught them to start with. You wouldn't believe some of the things we hear and you can't help but wonder what, if anything, are some of these parents are teaching them.

We have a program at our school called Watch-Dog Dads. It's basically fathers that come to school and spend a day, helping out teachers. It's been very successful and is always an eye opening experience for the dads. They get to come and see first hand what teachers have to deal with in the classroom on a daily basis, and I'm telling you, it's not easy. I worked for DeKalb County School System for 20 years yet never worked in a school. But after working in a school with GCPS, I have a whole new understanding about teachers and their job, and personally, I believe all teachers are underpaid.

That sounds like a good program. Parents should always be involved with teachers and in close contact when there is a problem. Taking a field trip is an eye opener.

Bobby, there is no doubt in my mind that administrators and teachers are very concerned abuot the students they are responsibile for, and they are constantly working to make sure that each child is treated fairly.

Parents need to understand that teaching the basic subject material is a full time job. But it is not a teachers job to teach the things that the parents should have taught their kids in the first place. Parents raise kids, not teachers. If kids are bullies it's because the parents have either ignored the problem or brush it off as "they're just being a kid". There isn't enough time in the day for a teacher to teach all the subjects AND teach the kids what the parents haven't. They work in what social skills they can but they don't have the time to correct all of the social mistakes that kids make, and especially as they go up in age.

But there is no cure for bullying, it goes back as far as humans do, you even made the statement that it wasn't going away. But to make the broad statement that teachers and the administration don't care is just not true.

For more information from GCPS about Bullying you can go here. On the left hand side is a menu option you can click on:
http://gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps-imdweb01.nsf#&1~SocialNetworkingandCyberbullying

Wish these things would let me edit so I could fix my typos! :-)

Bullying is a problem in all areas of our children's lives including; school,sport teams,social media,& in the family. My daughter worked with a northern organization called CLIMB Theater. Accepted as an intern, she moved to MN & began as an Actor Educator. Schools hire CLIMB THEATER to address current school issues; bullying,drugs,theft, teen pregnancy,smoking,gangs, & others issues. CLIMB perform creative plays that address the issue & then go into the classrooms & work one on one with the students in need. After the entire school views a performance by CLIMB, teachers identify the bully, the bullied,and those who have witnessed the incident. By addressing the problem from each person involved, a solution is put in place. The plays/skits/performances are creative, thought provoking & age directed.This organization is in house for 1 to 2 weeks so that the problems can be addresses. The programs are costly yet effective. Gwinnett County does not have a program like CLIMB to use as a resource. With morals not being taught in the home & schools, some students have no internal code to know right from wrong. It is a know fact that most bullies are being bullied themselves & then transfer their anger to their victims. CLIMB THEATER teaches those whom become targets how to not become bullied & bullies a BETTER response, & for those whom witnessed the bullying how to be a part of the solution. Do we spend the resources on this or books, or teachers? We choose what is important.

I believe that what is important is learning. In the current economy, we cannot afford these type of programs and it is not the role of the teacher to teach what parents didn't. I do believe, however, that the school should removed those identified and proven to be bullies and put them in to alternative schools, which they have. The vicitm should not be the one punished.

No one is punished. All are educated. Bullies 'CHOOSE" their victims. Children are taught how not be be seen as a "target" for the bully. Those who witness the event are also taught how they can help to stop the event. The bully is taught how to handle their anger. All win. The alternative schools are great for some issues. Bullying can be stopped at a young age. We are in a area that rates in the top economical class in the country in terms of income. What good is it to turn out an educated bully? Or an educated drug user or an educated gang member? The entire community profits from graduating a well rounded educated member into society.

May be a good program, Cynthia, but not realistic in this economy. Schools are to educate in established subjects. No money for these type of things.

There is barely enough time in 180 days to teach what has to be taught and each hour counts. There are a lot of programs that would be nice but money, resources, and time dictate what gets taught and what doesn't.

Other than cyber-bullying, there have been bullies in school since there was school. I remember bullies when I was in elementary school and that a LONG time ago (almost before schools?). My wife teaches at Dacula Middle and has been there for 5 years. I asked her the other night if she had personally witnessed any bullying and she had to stop and think for a minute. She could only come up with one time that she saw something that might be called bullying. Much of the bullying that happens doesn't happen under the teachers eyes. Hallways, bathrooms, lunch, PE, buses, or just walking down the street, are all places it can happen without an adult being able to witness it.

We are not talking about bullying that happens in front of the teacher. The assumption (and a big one at that) is that the teacher who sees bullying will do the right thing. Bullies know instinctively not to bully when teachers are around. The problem is that many teachers and adminstrators deny it when it happens out of their presence and treat the victim as the "bad guy". I understand your need to stick up for the schools because you earn your living teaching. The fundamental difference between people like Dacula Weather and me is seen in how we approach these conversations. Dacula Weather, you use a pseudonym when you write your comments and I use my full name. You can hide behind all sorts of rhetoric, but it does the kids no good. If you want to accomplish something be the leader not the follower who conforms to peer pressure. We all WANT to be men. But, there aren't very many around.

Two of my children are teachers. One teaches 6th grade & has 3 "Mamma's" in her class. That is right, "knocked" up in the 5th grade & a baby in the 6th grade. She has had one student that ask to come home with her each day because his daddy smokes & while strung out takes his abuse. One wrote that he wanted to go to jail as his 5 year plan. When asked to write a REAL 5 year plan, he commented , "My daddy is in jail, my brother is in jail, my uncle is in jail, and grand daddy is in jail, I'm lonely & want to go be with them." I do not want to hear how our teachers are not caring people & just turn their heads. Her Iphone & Ipod was stolen. Students told her who did it, the administration just said, "pick your battles!" She leaves the house at 5:15 am & returns home around 7pm because she tutors FOR FREE to catch up her student because they are years behind. Then she begins to grade papers, make up test, do lesson plans,& emails to parents. But GUESS WHAT...All her parents support her because she cares about their children. Most of her students are from single family homes,live with their grandmother,or in hotels on assistant. She teaches in a large, southeast inner city system. She cares about her students. I want her to come home & get a life. If you receive the Dacula Patch, YOU ARE BLESSED! IF YOUR CHILD IS BULLLIED-GO VOLUNTEER AT SCHOOL& MAKE A DIFFERENCE.Children can't learn if they are afraid. Yet, teachers are overwhelmed &over worked with cuts on the way!

Cynthia , I agree , Alot of different issues and needs to be solved just to educate them . Your children sound like great dedicated teachers .

I agree Cynthia. Thank you.

And Bobby, I don't hide behind anything. The Patch actually did an article on me and my weather site and it even had a picture (and a name), hardly what I would call hiding.

I was a leader, for 4 years I served as President (or VP) of Dacula Athletic Association, a year as communications director, and another year on the baseball board. I worked a full time job and performed another one, all for the kids. 5 sports, more than 2500 kids. I have served my time Bobby. And you?

And by the way, I've also made it clear that I don't teach. I just get to see it first hand from an outsiders point of view, just like any one else would that would come to volunteer.

I'm very sorry you had a bad experience with your child. I don't know all of your details so I can't speak for what happened to you, but I can tell you this, the vast majority of the 26,000 employees DO care about the children and do their best to educate them in a safe and fair environment.

As a member of the Dacula Elementary School PTA some 20 years? ago, I was the Cultural Arts Chairperson. Each year I would attend a "Rally" that consisted of any organization that wanted to go into the schools as a cultural event. I could view about 50 companies at one location, pick up information,and make connections with the organizations. In the past, I have booked animal groups and "green" groups. I would have loved to book CLIMB Theater. Our funds came from the PTA fund raising event of that year. We sold candy, wrapping paper or what ever that year to raise funds for our projects. Parents may now consider a program like this more valuable than an animal show. Yet, not having children in the PTA anymore they may not even have cultural arts anymore. I think that if you are receiving a check from the government you should have to give 20 hours to the community to receive that check. Maybe we can have those on the dole make our schools safer. Maybe our parents without jobs could ride the busses and just WATCH! Maybe they could grade papers or put up boards in the classrooms. Each school would be notified as to how may manpower hours they would be getting each quarter and place them accordingly. Those without work would feel a sense of purpose. Our schools would be better and our students would profit from the extra man power hours and eyes. There are solutions to our issues. We just have to be forward thinkers and work together. Just Saying!

I like your thinking cynthia