WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) — A social media account that encouraged students at John Muri middle school to share rumors about their peers is being investigated by the school district and has Wausau Police asking parents to talk with their kids about good online etiquette.
“Cyberbullying happens more often than anybody would think,” Captain Ben Graham with Wausau PD told WAOW TV.
The now-deleted “John Muir Secrets” account only made eight posts at the time News 9 obtained screen-grabs, but that was enough to catch the attention of both school officials and the Police, who do have protocols in place to handle these issues with the district.
“What we do is we work hand in hand with counselors, teachers, administration, and then with parents and students to help resolve these issues to the best of our ability,” Graham said.
The account encouraged students to send secrets or confessions with the option to stay anonymous. Some posts claimed students use racist language and assumed another student’s sexual orientation.
School district representatives declined an interview with WAOW, but did give a statement confirming they have opened their own investigation and that they “prohibit bullying, hazing, discrimination, and harassment or the threat of such activities in any form it may take.”
Both the district and police are hoping to use this situation to educate.
“Our encouragement is for parents to have open and transparent conversations with their kids about what’s appropriate and what’s not appropriate. Where should you go on the internet, and what you shouldn’t and should you not say,” Graham said.
The district also says in its statement that any student who engages in bullying behavior will be disciplined, which includes possible suspension.
