Another case for the “cyber-space cop” has been reported by Bridie Smith in the Age Newspaper. This time on 15 March 2007, on page 3 under the heading “Parents under fire for cyber-bullying”.
The Age article claims that an “anonymous blog was set up by parents upset at changes to the Essex Heights Primary School’s arts, sports and after-school programs” Searching for "Save Essex Heighs Primary School" I have come across this site (http://saveehps.com/Error.html?aspxerrorpath=/2007/02/15/before-and-after-school-care.aspx on Quickblog - with an error message, obviously the site was closed down soon after (or before) the article appeared in the newspaper. .
According to the article “A sustained campaign of cyber-bullying by parents at a Mount Waverly primary school has forced the principal to take extended leave because of the relentless harassment”. Jim Watterston, Education Department eastern region Manager is quoted as saying “It’s quite bizarre that it’s been done in such a public way”. I agree with the statements made in the article by the Victorian Principals Association president Fred Ackeman about the blogsite “a landmark of the worst kind. This is making judgements in the public domain ….you can’t go any more public than this…” He obviously believes that many people in the school community will be “blog” readers.
What I find particularly interesting is that no where in the article is anyone – journalist or quoted experts – prepared to offer a “solution” to the problem of cyber-bullying.
The headline states that “Parents are under fire”, the journalist states that “Some parents have described the outcome as a victory for the people” so my question is who is putting the “Parents under fire”? Another case for the “cyber-space cop”??
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Indeed, as we prepare our students to take a more active role in the participatory culture of learning in these social learning environment, we need to take into serious consideration the ethics challange accompanied with it. This can be taken together with values education or considered by itself in the design of participatory learning activities.
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