Cyberbullying in Maryland Schools

Cyberbullying in Maryland Schools

Using a computer or mobile device, some Maryland students are using technology to bully.
Read more.
Remembering Grace

A viral campaign has taken shape to remember Grace McComas. The campaign, referred to as #blue4grace, spread to popular social media and networking sites, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube. Track the campaign online.
The First Lady Speaks Out

Following the death of Grace McComas, The First Lady of Maryland, Katie O'Malley, met with her family and friends. O'Malley spoke at-length to CNS about bullying in schools. Watch the video.
The South River Insults Page

At South River High School in Edgewater, numerous students were bashing their classmates with comments that were anything but appropriate for school. The bullies were masked from behind a keyboard and monitor. Read more.

About this Project:

Bullying is no longer confined to the classroom and the playground. At Maryland schools, "cyberbullies" are increasingly using computers and mobile phones to torment students, using popular social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Capital News Service investigates how anti-bullying advocates are leading their own online campaign against cyberbulling.

Resources on Cyberbullying:

Cyberbullying Research Center

Information on cyberbullying laws, policies and research in the United States
Maryland State Department of Education

The division of Student Services and Alternative Programs Branch conducts annual reports on bullying in Maryland
Grace K. McComas Memorial Web Page

Established by the McComas family, this Facebook page serves as a memorial to Grace after her death

Cyberbullying in Maryland Schools

Howard County school administrators have spent the last decade training teachers and students to identify and report cases of bullying, and some education officials consider the county to be a state leader in bullying prevention.

But the suicide death of Grace McComas, a 15-year-old high school student from Glenelg, has raised questions about the effectiveness of the county's bullying prevention efforts.

Remembering Grace

In April, Howard County student Grace McComas, committed suicide after documented cases of cyberbullying from her peers. After her death, the same social networks used to bully her turned into outlets of support.

A viral campaign, #blue4grace, spread to sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube. The campaign was named after Grace's favorite color.

The First Lady Speaks Out

Maryland First Lady Katie O'Malley has often spoken out against bullying and cyberbullying in Maryland schools. In the weeks after Grace McComas' death, she met with the McComas family and spoke at anti-bullying rally in Howard County in May.

She encouraged students to be "brave soldiers" against bullies and to stand up for victims of the attacks. O'Malley spoke at-length to CNS about bullying in schools.

The South River Insults Page

At South River High School in Edgewater, numerous students were bashing their classmates’ appearances, intelligence, sexuality and more.

Unlike their counterparts of the past, who affronted victims face-to-face, these bullies were masked, tearing down fellow students from behind a keyboard. The abusers remained unidentified, targeting victims with anonymous posts on a Facebook page.