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SCHOOL TIME AT TYEF. Yesterday we heard from a TYEF family about their child experiencing cyberbullying this week. It makes this child want to be homeschooled. They don't feel safe. This is scary and painful and involves hate when directed at transgender students (yes! covered specifically). We are mad. Most of all we want you to learn more about your rights and how to be effective.This is a long read but know your stuff.
What to Do If You’re Bullied
There are things you can do if you are being bullied:
Look at the kid bullying you and tell him or her to stop in a calm, clear voice. You can also try to laugh it off. This works best if joking is easy for you. It could catch the kid bullying you off guard.
If speaking up seems too hard or not safe, walk away and stay away. Don’t fight back. Find an adult to stop the bullying on the spot.
There are things you can do to stay safe in the future, too.
Talk to an adult you trust. Don’t keep your feelings inside. Telling someone can help you feel less alone. They can help you make a plan to stop the bullying.
Stay away from places where bullying happens.
Stay near adults and other kids. Most bullying happens when adults aren’t around.
Report the behavior so it can be addressed. Keep a record of who you told, when, what time, what they did in response.
Steps to Take Immediately in cyberbullying:
Don’t respond to and don’t forward cyberbullying messages.
Keep evidence of cyberbullying. Record the dates, times, and descriptions of instances when cyberbullying has occurred. Save and print screenshots, emails, and text messages. Use this evidence to report cyberbullying to web and cell phone service providers.
Block the person who is cyberbullying.
Report Cyberbullying to Online Service Providers
Cyberbullying often violates the terms of service established by social media sites and internet service providers.
Review their terms and conditions or rights and responsibilities sections. These describe content that is or is not appropriate.
Visit social media safety centers to learn how to block users and change settings to control who can contact you.
Report cyberbullying to the social media site so they can take action against users abusing the terms of service.
Report Cyberbullying to Law Enforcement
When cyberbullying involves these activities it is considered a crime and should be reported to law enforcement:
Threats of violence
Child pornography or sending sexually explicit messages or photos
Taking a photo or video of someone in a place where he or she would expect privacy
Stalking and hate crimes
Some states consider other forms of cyberbullying criminal. Consult your state’s laws and law enforcement for additional guidance.
Report Cyberbullying to Schools. It can be dangerous .
Cyberbullying can create a disruptive environment at school and is often related to in-person bullying. The school can use the information to help inform prevention and response strategies.
In many states, schools are required to address cyberbullying in their anti-bullying policy. Some state laws also cover off-campus behavior that creates a hostile school environment.
Look up your states anti bullying and anti cyberbullying laws here: https://www.stopbullying.gov/laws/index.html
a visual helpful image for you. try it.
know your rights while trans
SUMMARY OF SUPPORTIVE FEDERAL LAWS AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FOR TRANSGENDER STUDENTS
First Amendment
The First Amendment protects both freedom of speech and expression.
Schools may not restrain student speech unless it will reasonably substantially disrupt the
school environment or harm others.1
Schools cannot prevent students from expressing their identity or discussing same-sex
families.
Based on a Supreme Court decision, the First Amendment prevents school districts from
censoring or removing books from school libraries “because they dislike the ideas contained in [the] books.”2
Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment
This clause guarantees every citizen equal protection under the law.
This clause is frequently used to protect LGBTQ youth in schools who have faced unfair
or discriminatory school actions.3
This clause was also used in Brown vs. the Board of Education to strike down state-
sponsored racial segregation in schools.4
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
Title IX prohibits schools that receive federal financial assistance from limiting or denying a student’s participation in any school program on the basis of sex.
Based on court cases, this can be understood to prohibit discrimination, including sexual harassment, based on sex stereotypes, sexual orientation and gender identity or transgender status.
For example, courts in Kansas, Connecticut, and New York have ruled that Title IX applies to gender identity.5
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student educational records.
FERPA specifically prohibits the improper disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII) from students’ records.
With regard to LGBTQ students, information relating to gender identity or sexual orientation may constitute personally identifiable information (PII) as an indirect identifier.6 Therefore, school officials should use caution and follow FERPA disclosure guidelines when considering the release of such information.
Disclosure by school staff has the potential to create a hostile environment at school and can negatively impact a student’s life at home if the family is not supportive.
I came across some benches painted like the transgender pride flag today!
“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life, but define yourself.” ― Harvey Fierstein
