Lincoln Educators Learn E-Safety Strategies for Preventing Cyberbullying

Date: October 1, 2009

While cyberbullying has made the Internet a virtual Lord of the Flies, many educators, counselors and parents remain unaware of its impact on today's youth. This is why the ADL Plains States Region held a comprehensive training workshop on the timely subject for Lincoln Public Schools teachers and administrators this month.

Cyberbullying: Understanding and Addressing Online Cruelty equips educators with the tools to create a culture of e-safety for a generation of students that communicates largely through texting, chatting, blogging and IMing.

"Most people are not conscious of cyberbullying and the power of technology," one participant said. "I'm so glad the ADL is doing this type of work."

Regional Director Alan Potash, who co-facilitated the workshop with ADL's education associate, remarked that cyberbullying can be especially hard on its victims because of the technology's anonymous and relentless nature. "We teach educators how to foster empathy among students and think critically about online communications."

ADL Civil Rights Area Counsel Claire Pinkert was also present at the workshop to offer legal advice on a new Nebraska law, which requires schools to adopt clear policies on bullying – in and out of school, and on and off-line.

A school technology coordinator said, "The discussion on the law helped me understand where the line is between concern for the safety of my students and parents who think I'm just being nosey."