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Schools (Special thanks to Parry Aftab for her input. For further information, go to netbullies.com, internetsuperheroes.org, )
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| When schools intervene in
cyberbullying, they are often on fragile legal ground.
This is because the cyberbullying often takes place outside the school and outside of school hours and schools have very limited authority to react to things that take place off school grounds, outside of school hours and don’t directly impact the school itself. Many schools taking disciplinary action against the cyberbully have found themselves defending a lawsuit brought by a civil liberties group or irate parent. And the school often loses or is required to settle on onerous terms. In this way, the school gains some legal clout in getting involved in cyberbullying incidents involving its students. Even then, it may be a matter of local law and what constitutional decisions exist in the Federal circuit and district where the school is situated.
(See
internetsuperheroes.org for more on school legal authority) |