HORSHAM – A new educational program focused on preventing cyberbullying was launched today by the Office of Attorney General at Keith Valley Middle School, Horsham, Montgomery County, during an assembly with more than 800 middle school students.
Attorney General Tom Corbett said the program known as “Sticks and Stones: Cyberbullying” will educate students, parents and teachers across the state on the dangers of cyberbullying and the lasting effects it can have on teens and kids.
Corbett explained that cyberbullying is a growing trend among middle and high school students who use the Internet, their cell phones or other forms of technology to send text messages or post images that hurt or embarrass their peers.
“Bullying is no longer a shove on the playground or a whisper in the hall,” Corbett said. “It has moved to cyberspace, where chat rooms, social networking sites and cell phones can be used to spread rumors and send vicious attacks on innocent victims.”
“Everyday, students across Pennsylvania are afraid to go to school,” Corbett said. “Not because of a big test or the homework they didn’t do, but because of time spent on their computers being tormented by peers using hateful words to bully.”
The Sticks and Stones program addresses the growing epidemic of cyberbullying. The program includes a DVD, which shows the harsh realities and consequences of cyberbullying through candid interviews with a victim’s mother, law enforcement and a young girl who was arrested for cyber threats.
“Cyberbullying may not leave physical bruises or marks, but the effects can last a lifetime,” Corbett said.
The new cyberbullying program can also address the growing trend of sexting, or sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically.
Corbett explained that the “Sticks and Stones” program is being rolled out in communities across Pennsylvania to promote a sense of awareness about the consequences and tragedies related to cyberbullying.
Presentations are available, free of charge, by contacting the Attorney General’s Education and Outreach Unit at 1-800-525-7641 or by emailing education@attorneygeneral.gov.