CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An effort to prevent bullying among West Virginia Virtual Academy students is underway this week.
The academy is partnering with online educator K12 to help create a safer learning environment for students.
Doug Cipoletti, executive director of West Virginia Virtual Academy, told MetroNews Wednesday the goal is to promote kindness and support in and out of the classroom. He said students can still experience bullying in a virtual setting.
“Obviously there’s cyber bullying and social media. Students can be bullied outside of school which seems to be a very common problem,” he said. “At a virtual school, we get a lot of students coming to the virtual environment where they feel more comfortable as a result of bullying.”
Part of the campaign includes talking to students about how to treat others.
“One of the things we’ve done at our school is really talk to the students in the different classrooms and had them take some ownership of the topic,” Cipoletti said.
A 5th grade student, for example, helped his teacher and other classmates detect bullying on their computers and tablets.
“One of her students created an error message, like one that you would get on your computer, and it’s got a little frowny face. It says ‘ut oh, your PC detected cyber bullying’,” Cipoletti explained.
Recent data from the Pew Research Center shows bullying can lead to an increase in mental health issues with 4 in 10 U.S. parents with children under 18 expressing extreme or significant worry about their children’s potential struggles with anxiety or depression.
K12 is hosting a Draw a Line Against Bullying Move-A-Thon through Sunday that encourages communities to walk, run, swim or take part in any other form of physical activity.
Cipoletti said the funds raised throughout the month of October will go to support Rachel’s Challenge, an organization dedicated to fostering kindness and compassion in schools.
“Rachel Scott was a victim of the Columbine shooting many years ago, which was a result of bullying. The website rechelschallenge.org and the whole movement is to raise awareness and put a stop to bullying,” he explained.
More information about the Move-A-Thon can be found here.