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Community Corner

Cyberbullying in Cherokee County Schools

How are we protecting our children?

Georgia lawmakers are busy at work on House Bill 310, better known as the End to Cyberbullying Act. If it becomes law, it will allow school officials to discipline students who cyberbully their peers on and off school property.

Cyberbullying can take many forms: nasty or threatening e-mails; repeated messages to cellphones; even stealing someone's screen name.

It was just last week that President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama held a national conference on the matter at the White House.

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Facebook also announced it is updating its reporting system and safety center to better protect everyone from cyberbullies.

Q: What would you do if your children were cyberbullied? Have your children ever been victims of cyberbullies?

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A: My teenage daughters have never been cyberbullied to any extreme, but the threat worries me constantly. They are always on their phones and computers.  I also read that girls are more likely to cyberbully than boys. And while I try to monitor what they and their friends are saying, I also have to admit it's a difficult task to keep up. I just got on my oldest last week for posting something I thought was inappropriate. Her post wasn't hurtful toward someone else, but I still have to keep a close eye on things. My "watchdog" girlfriends are also a big help. They will  alert me when they see something not quite right. 

Leslie Olejnik, mother of two

A: My children are 10, 8 and 6. While they are allowed on the computer, it is heavily monitored. They have never been in a position to be cyberbullied. My children have never experienced any form of any kind of bullying. When I asked them, to better answer this question, they told me that their school is a bully-free zone and they do not have any problems with it.

I do not have any children in middle or high school, so I am not sure what precautions they have set to control the problem.

I look forward to hearing from parents of older children who would have an opinion on the topic.  

Tammy Bester, mother of three

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