After recent discussion between the Masuk High School community and the school administration in regards to who should help make Student Code of Conduct Policy, Newtown High School students and faculty mostly feel as if there is a shared responsibility in this process.
For the past year, an unnamed Masuk student has taken to Instagram to share his views on race relations, people with disabilities and gun control. Many of these posts have proved to be controversial and are now causing heightened tensions within the school.
Since the posts have surfaced, Superintendent Dr. James C. Agostine and Monroe Police Chief John Salvatore have been working collaboratively on the case. The student in question was suspended due to a fight that broke out in the Masuk cafeteria. Punitive measures have yet to be taken in direct relation to the social media posts. This brings into question of the role of social media in the education process, both as a distraction and as a direct access to cyberbullying.
A petition, that has over 3,000 signature out of the required 5,000, was created calling for those involved to sanctioned.
“I think that the petition will influence [the school boards] to make a solid decision because a lot of people agree that what he is doing isn’t appropriate. It will encourage them to give him further disciplinary actions,” NHS freshman Danielle Blanco said.
In Newtown, further disciplinary action can only be taken in regards to a school's Code of Conduct Policy which is outlined by the school board and in the student handbook
“You have to make sure that whatever that behavior was, warranted whatever discipline was that you were going to give that person,” NHS Anatomy and Physiology teacher, President of the Newtown Federation of Teachers and a member of the Climate and Culture Committee Tom Kuroski said. “So you can’t make it up as you go along even though you might have passion, you might have this burning desire to do something.”
Even though many students, teachers and members of the community may feel a certain way, the final decision will be taken from the student code of conduct. The Masuk High School and Newtown High School Student Handbook’s clearly states that bullying, and cyberbullying, are disruptive to the educational process and therefore are strictly prohibited.
“Displaying such poignant hatred online is not something most of NHS students are okay with,” NHS junior McKenzie Iazzetta said. “I feel like a lot of the time the school focuses on unnecessary intervention into the online lives of students and I hope that when a necessary one, such as this, shows up they will try their best to fix the issue.”
The Code of Conduct is a document that is evolving because of the change in technology and student behaviors. Cyberbullying was never a problem fifteen years ago because students did not have direct access to the internet.
“Technology has an enormous effect, the divide line is that if a student's action impacts in any way what happens at any of our schools then we own that issue,” ,” Newtown Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Erardi said. “I think the piece that young adults don’t understand, or refuse to acknowledge, is every single keystroke that they play forward and send they are going to own that, and it’s traceable. It’s almost like the DNA of technology.”
“Our school's Safe School Climate Committee, which comprises both staff and students, has developed a BeKindOnline program to encourage positive posts,” NHS Principal Dr. Lorrie Rodrigue said. “We also take seriously any threats or harassment via digital communication - by any member of the school community.”
Now that almost every student has a electronic device with them at all times, cyberbullying has become a more frequent and a common topic at school board meetings.
“I think we are catching up right now, you know what I mean? Because when things are all of a sudden changing so rapidly it sometimes takes people some time in order to get the information out there,” Kuroski said. “Unfortunately what typically ends up happening is usually when something really bad happening that triggers the motivation to do something and get it done sooner rather than later.”
“All of our expectations in all of our schools are policy based and in order for a policy to move forward there are opportunities for public discussion that parents weigh in on at our school board meetings,” Dr. Erardi said.
Newtown High School deals with this on a specific basis.
“Our HAWKS acronym is visible in the building and on our website - which further cites the respect and responsibility we expect. These are universally accepted standards of behavior that are consistent with most schools in our district and beyond.” Dr. Rodrigue said.
The Newtown School Board of Education is composed of seven volunteers from the community who are the voice of approximately 5,000 Newtown students. To make a statement directly to the board is easier than it might seem. They hold open mic nights where any person in the community can share their opinions on any given topic.
“I think that the community has a really important voice. In Newtown there are a couple of ways that parents have the opportunity to hear their voice heard. On my end, it is an absolutely essential voice and it’s a voice that we believe we have different wheels of opportunities for parents,” Dr. Erardi said.
An example opportunity for Newtown parents to have their voice heard would be the 250 people who showed up at the board meeting to discuss whether or not the town should close Newtown Middle School. Furthermore, Dr. Erardi held a community forum in the NHS Lecture Hall on Wednesday January 25, to discuss the daily practice and expectations of Newtown Students.
“There’s a perfect example of the public standing up and saying guess what I want my voice heard and here's the perfect forum to make sure that happen,” said Kuroski, “And hopefully the people in charge make the right decision, and you hope that they do.”
Image Courtesy of WFSB.com