New Website Allows Iowa Parents and Students to Report Bullying Online

Updated
|
New Website Allows Iowa Parents and Students to Report Bullying Online
Learn about a new online service available in Iowa that allows reports of bullying to be made online. The purpose of the website is to provide better tracking of bullying across the state and make it easier to report bullying incidents.

Bullying is a problem that can permeate every corner of a child’s life. While school districts across the country take a “no tolerance” stand on bullying, the reality is that many incidents go by without being properly reported or punished. A non-profit group in Iowa hopes to change the situation through a website that allows parents, students and faculty to report bullying right from the comfort of home. The hope is that by making it easier for people to report bullying activities, fewer incidents will go unnoticed by those who can do something about them.

The Eychaner Foundation Introduces Online Reporting

The Eychaner Foundation is a non-profit group in Iowa with a goal of promoting tolerance and nondiscrimination among all Iowa residents. According to a report at Heartland Connection, the organization discovered that although Iowa law requires incidents of bullying to be reported to the Iowa Department of Education, more than half of all state districts failed to report a single bullying episode during 2011.

“We know that is simply not true,” Michael Bowser, executive director for the Eychaner Foundation, told the Des Moines Register.

While the organization found many possible reasons why reporting was not done, those involved decided to find a solution, rather than play the blame game. The foundation set out to make the reporting process as easy as possible for everyone involved in hopes of uncovering and dealing with more bullying problems in Iowa schools.

“Everything’s online for kids. Parents can go online and find their child’s lunch menu for the month. There is no way to do anything about bullying. So we took the form that was out there and made an online version of that,” Bowser explained.

Iowa Law Supports Safe Schools

The efforts to address bullying more efficiently are compatible with the Iowa Safe Schools Law that went into effect September 1, 2007. According to the Eychaner Foundation’s website, the law states that students and employees are protected from harassment and bullying that involves 17 traits or characteristics. These include physical traits like gender or skin color, as well as characteristics like religion, political affiliation and sexual orientation.

Under the law, harassment or bullying is defined as any “written, verbal, electronic or physical conduct based on an actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the student which creates an objectively hostile school environment.” A “hostile school environment” could entail fear of physical harm or property damage, which might impact a student’s mental health, academic achievement or ability to participate in services or activities at the school.

With this law in mind, the Eychaner Foundation has also provided a reporting form right on their website that can be used by parents, students or teachers.

How to Report Bullying Online

The online form provided by the Eychaner Foundation begins with a pull-down option allowing the person reporting the bullying to ensure the report is sent to the proper school district. There is also a box to list the specific school where the incident occurred and whether it involved students or staff. The form can also be used by district employees who face harassment or bullying from their employer. The reporter is also asked to select the category of harassment that was witnessed or experienced, whether race, gender, religion, or another one of the 17 protected traits under Iowa law.

The form provides space to document the details of the incident, as well as any comments the reporter deems relevant. Anyone who fills out the form is asked to provide a full name, and address, as well as status (teacher, student or parent). However, complaints can be logged anonymously as well. If identifying information is provided, it is not forwarded to the annual report when it is released to the state legislature.

Once the form is completed, it is sent directly to the appropriate school, both by email and postal mail. The sender will also receive a copy of the report at the email address listed on the complaint. The Eychaner Foundation will also track reports in order to release numbers to appropriate parties and discover how well the system is working.

Will the System Work?

Now that the online reporting system is in place, those involved will be waiting to see if the new methodology is effective in reducing the incidences of bullying in Iowa schools. There is little precedent history to reference as this system gets into full swing, since few districts across the country have implemented any sort of online system for this purpose at this time. Careful tracking of the incidents reported and the follow-up provided will be key data in determining whether an online system really is the best way to curb bullying.

Since the online reporting system was up and running on December 7, 2011, 30 cases of bullying have been reported at 20 schools across the state, according to a report at ZDnet.com. However, this article also notes that parents who are truly concerned about bullying incidents with their children may be hesitant to use an online system that doesn’t offer the ability to follow up and see if the concern was addressed properly. At the same time, an anonymous, online reporting system might be the perfect choice for students who are victims of bullying and are afraid to come forward about the problem. Time will tell if this new method will prove effective enough to implement similar systems in other states nationwide.

Questions? Contact us on Facebook @publicschoolreview.

Additional Resources [+]
comments powered by Disqus

Recent Articles

Back to School: Getting Up to Date with Required Vaccinations
Back to School: Getting Up to Date with Required Vaccinations
Stay up to date on the current requirements for vaccinations for school-age children today, as well as some of the problems schools face when parents do not properly immunize their kids.
Teaching in Contemporary Times
Teaching in Contemporary Times
We explore why individuals choose teaching, illuminating intrinsic motivations, the influence of role models, the pursuit of lifelong learning, and the aspiration to impact society.
Public Schools in a Minute
January 27, 2024
Public Schools in a Minute
Explore the diverse world of public schools in a minute! Our brief overview provides a snapshot of the educational landscape, school districts, curriculum, and more. Get a quick glance at the big picture of K-12 education.

Parenting and Learning Issues

10 Reasons Why High School Sports Benefit Students
10 Reasons Why High School Sports Benefit Students
How the Arts Benefit Your Children Academically and Behaviorally
How the Arts Benefit Your Children Academically and Behaviorally
Longer School Days Coming for Thousands of Students Next Year
Longer School Days Coming for Thousands of Students Next Year
More Articles
Read more articles (69)