TEACHERS’ ROLE ON CYBERBULLYING

ADORA P. SANTOS

As advancement and modernization invade the diversified planet, different things had begun to change. The rotation and revolution of our world has become more “techy”. With a snap of a finger, everything can be done without a single sweat. Likewise, with only a click, everything can be learned and comprehended through the help of the internet. In the field of education, it has been seen by many how technology had been a great help not just to students, but also to the teachers.

Various transformations on the said field were seen by the mass public. First, teachers can easily access to learning tools for they are already available in the internet. Second, lectures and discussions become paperless because teachers’presentations can already be seen uploaded and at the same time, downloaded by their students. Third, online teaching has already been the field’s one of the great channels in imparting knowledge. These are some of technology’s wondrous benefits to both teachers and students.

However, some things cannot seem to change. One of these is everyone’s adversary, bullying. But this time, with the use of the technological platform, it is now named as “Cyberbullying”. According to stopbullying.gov, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website, cyberbullying is a type of bullying that takes place over digital devices. It can occur through SMS, texts, and apps, or online in social media.

In the Philippines, the said type of bullying has been rampant. Cases of cyberbullying increase from time to time. These incidents are the things that one cannot ignore, most especially teachers. But the burning question is: What can a teacher do to reduce, or even prevent, occurrences of cyberbullying?

Based on Education World, Inc., there are six ways a teacher can do to lessen the cases of cyberbullying. First, discuss bullying in the classroom. Let the students share insights on bullying and let them come up with rules against bullying. Give them opportunities to involve themselves in determining that bullying is and will always be unacceptable by providing activities related to bullying. Second, teach cooperation. It educates the students how to give and take with their fellow students. Third, Develop a plan to ensure that students know what to do when they observe a bully-victim confrontation. Fourth, Take immediate action and deal directly with the bully for adults support both the victim and the witnesses. Fifth, confront in private. It is for a reason that if the bullies are challenged publicly, their status may be actually enhanced and may further lead to aggression. Sixth, involve the parents of both the bully and the victim. By notifying the parents of both sides, necessary and appropriate school action may be taken.

School is known to be the students’second home and as teachers and second parents, it is our role to do our very best to keep it way.

— oOo—

The author is Teacher III at Sindalan Elementary School