In the wake of an H.L. Bourgeois High School student being arrested and charged with cyberbullying earlier this week, authorities and school officials say they're doing what they can to crack down on an issue that isn't always easy to spot. Terrebonne Superintendent Philip Martin said cyberbullying, which state law refers to as the harassment of anyone under age 18 through digital means such as social media platforms or texting, is difficult to address because it often happens outside the classroom. "Generally speaking; 99.99 percent of the cyberbullying happens when kids are at home and not at school," he said. When the issue is brought up by a student to a teacher or school administrator, schools take it seriously, Martin said. "If it's brought to our attention and it involves school, we will investigate it and take the appropriate action," he said. Such action was taken against a male student at H.L. Bourgeois High in Gray Monday after Terrebonne Parish School resource officers and detectives who specialize in investigating incidents involving minors found that he had sent "threatening and malicious texts to another student, said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Dawn Foret. The student's name is being withheld due to his age, police said. The student was charged with cyberbullying, the penalties for which include up to a $500 fine and six months in jail. The incident is one of several that have been investigated by the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office since classes began Aug. 11, Foret said. Martin was unable to comment on the investigation but said cyberbullying is an important part of the district's bullying-awareness program.
Whether it's an invasion of privacy, or outing, or some other form of cyberbullying, such as defamation, impersonation, or just plain being mean, cyberbullies can inflict mental anguish that can hurt worse than physical wounds because a cyberattack can reach a vast audience, and it can haunt the victim forever.