The school-yard bullies that I knew stayed in the school yard. Now the territory reaches much further. The bully is likely to attack via a social networking site, possibly via instant message or email, and sometimes through the cell phone. Some experts are calling the bullying via cell phone 'textual harassment'.
The questions stand – What do we do about it? Who is accountable?
Dr. Elizabeth Englander suggests the answer to both questions. I particularly like her suggestions of how to work with school administrators. Too often, I read about parents who are blaming the schools, the schools saying they can't be responsible for things that happen outside school grounds and the child in the middle wondering how to get back to a sense of sanity in his/her world.
The fact is the responsibility is on the bully. Learning how to deal with the school-yard bully is hard, both on the victim and on the parents who want to help. It is also hard on the school who wants to help. There is no easy answer that fits every situation and we can't expect one. As a parent, you are in the best position to help your child because you know them best. You can help your child with the tips given by Dr. Englander and tips previously posted here.
Have you had to deal with a bully who has used technology to further harass your child? How have you coped?
Textual Harassment
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