What are Marion Schools Doing to Address Cyber-Bullying? Is Your Child the Bully or the Victim?

The suicide of a 14-year-old Primghar boy who endured weeks of bullying in school and on the Internet after he came out as a gay teen has elevated public discussion of cyber-bullying.

Des Moines Register columnist Kyle Munson has been following the story since Kenneth James Weishuhn hanged himself in his family's garage last weekend.

Weishuhn, who before he came out had been a popular teen at South O'Brien Community School in Paullina, was taunted in the hallways, was vilified on Facebook and received threatening messages on his cell phone, said his family.

His school's administrators confirmed one incident, but said they weren't aware the bullying continued and Weishuhn never filed complaints. School Superintendent Dan Moore told Munson, "The biggest battle we fight is with cyber-bullying." 

What can/should schools do to combat cyber-bullying?

Weishuhn's death comes at a time when the documentary "Bully" is showing in Iowa theaters. The film tells several stories of bullying victims, including a 12-year-old boy who lived in Sioux City at the time the movie was filmed. 

What are Marion schools doing to address cyber-bullying?

The Marion Independent School District and the Linn-Mar School District have identical anti-bullying policies on their websites, and while they state that in most cases the bullying has to take place on school grounds or with school equipment, it does lay out a provision that seems to give the school more authority to deal with bullying situations outside of school.

"This policy is in effect... while away from school grounds if the misconduct directly affects the good order, efficient management and welfare of the school or school district."

Additionally, the district treats acts of cyber-bullying as equals to the sort of bullying that pre-dates the Internet. The Linn-Mar School District has an online tool to report bullying (scroll down to page 15).

Several candle light vigils are being held for Weishuhn, including in Iowa City and Cedar Falls.