New Draft Definition for Cyberbullying

We are working on a new free school safety resource and we have developed a first draft definition for cyberbullying.  We welcome any feedback on this definition before we finalize it.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying involves the use of information technologies to intentionally communicate information that will have a harmful effect on others when the communications are either repeated or are conducted in a manner that will cause the information to be disseminated or received repeatedly.  Cyberbullying can involve posting of embarrassing photographs, audio recordings or video recordings, written communications or other forms of electronic communications.  Cyberbullying can involve the dissemination of harmful, threatening or embarrassing information via social media, text messaging, websites, blogs and other forms of technology-based communications methods.

Amish Grace – How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy is a Powerful Read on the Deadly Nichol Mines School Shooting

While presenting for a college in Pennsylvania a couple of years back, I was given a copy of the book Amish Grace – How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy by Donald, b. Kraybill, Steven M.  Nolt and David L. Weaver – Zercher.  This excellent book explains why and how the Amish community moved quickly to forgive the killer after one of our nation’s most horrific school shootings. 

The authors provide a powerful insight into Amish culture and how central the theme of forgiveness is to it.  This well-written book helps the reader understand how people could be so quick to not only forgive the killer of innocent school children but  to reach out and provide comfort to his widow as well.  This is an excellent read for the school safety professional.   

Frederick Flowers, 66-year-old School bus Driver Arrested for Driving While Intoxicated after Crashing Bus into Residence in Long Island

Police have charged a 66 year-old school bus driver in New York with aggravated driving while intoxicated after he crashed his school bus into a house while he was driving his route in Long Island.  According to police, Frederick Flowers was injured and had to be transported by medical evacuation helicopter to the Nassau University Medical Center.

Police report that there were five students on the bus at the time of the crash but that none of the children were injured.

Flowers faces numerous additional charges.