Cyber Bullying: Legal Obligations and
Educational Policy Vacuum SHAHEEN SHARIFF AND DIANNE L. HOFF · 2011
On a seemingly normal Tuesday a¯ernoon, an eighth grade girl walks out of school and steps into her mother’s car, ashen and visibly shaken. Unsure of how to proceed, her mother waits-she does not ask, and she does not move the car. Finally, her daughter speaks, saying she received the following cyber Introduction 359 Bullying: Its Forms and Conditions 362 Cyber Bullying as an Extension of Bullying 363 Anonymity, Lack of Supervision, and an Innite Audience 365 Lack of Rules and Supervision 366 Prevalence of Sexual and Homophobic Harassment 368 Roles and Responsibilities: Schools or Parents? 369 Legal Obligations 370 e Educational Policy Vacuum 373 Freedom of Speech and Expression Rights 373 Student Privacy and Cyber Bullying 380 Tort Law and Negligence 382 Canadian Human Rights and U.S. Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Law 383 Conclusion and Implications 385 Policy Development 386 Research, Teacher Education, and Professional Development 387 Interactive Online Educational Programs 387 Student Empowerment and Critical inking 387 References 388 message during class: “Bitch, I know where you live. You’d better sleep each night with one eye open, on your knees. If you don’t . . . I’ll be there to be sure you do! —e Avenger.”