Cyber Conduct: A reality Check (CTF Report)
New technologies have had a tremendous impact on learning. They have brought many benefits to students and teachers. But they have also led to some destructive behaviours.
Cyber bullying has been much in the news recently. As an educator, you may have either witnessed firsthand or heard news reports about the misuse and abuse of communication technologies such as email, cell phones, text messages, instant messaging, and social networking websites (Facebook and MySpace). They are sometimes used to anonymously spew out hateful, derogatory, and disrespectful images and messages to students and teachers. These are deliberate, hostile behaviours intended to harm other people.
In the spirit of creating a positive learning and teaching environment, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) has decided to tackle the issue of cyber bullying head on. A newly established CTF work group is exploring all possible ways of promoting and protecting the rights of individuals with regard to communications technology in the educational environment. The first issue the work group will address is the lack of a comprehensive policy that defines, supports, and promotes appropriate cyber conduct in our schools and communities. Currently, there is no national policy on this emerging challenge. Very few Canadian school boards have adopted policy on what constitutes appropriate conduct in cyberspace.
The work group will develop a well-articulated policy as it works with member organizations like ETFO, parent groups, educational organizations such as the Media Awareness Network, law enforcement agencies, policy makers, and legislators.
Other teacher organizations around the world have expressed an interest in working with CTF through Education International. The overarching challenge is that the Internet has no geographical boundaries. The laws of the land have limited effect on the conduit that transmits the cyber bully’s poisonous messages and images. We are currently sailing in unchartered waters. However, I truly believe we will find solutions at the global, national, and local levels through our collective efforts. We need to regain some control over the negative impacts of technology so that our teachers can teach and our children can learn in an environment safe from bullying, including cyber bullying.
For more information on latest developments on this issue as well as others related to the teaching profession and education, I encourage you to visit the CTF website at www.ctf-fce.ca and to subscribe to any of our free online publications, including Vision, CTF’s monthly electronic newsletter.
