Middle schoolers suspended for sexting

ROCKFORD, Mich. (WOOD) - Four East Rockford Middle School students were suspended two weeks ago after a 13-year-old girl texted a photo of herself topless. The incident happened on a weekend, but once the picture was brought to school, the district had to step in.

"It's just wrong. I don't know any other way to say it. It's just wrong," said Rockford Public Schools Superintendent Mike Shibler. He said sexting has to stop.

24 Hour News 8 obtained the middle school principal's summary of events from the district via the Freedom of Information Act.

It reveals the girl was called by a boy who asked her to send him a picture of herself topless. She did. According to the report, what was sent to one boy was passed along to at least two others. It was soon circulating the student population.

The girl and three boys were suspended, but Shibler is worried about the other consequences.

"The suspension from school or any other discipline is mild compared to what the student is going to deal with on a personal level," he said.

He said snapping those types of photos can follow people forever, harming their reputation and causing emotional distress. And those who coerce or bully others into participating in sexting can face legal consequences.

The superintendent said this is the first time a sexting incident has come across his desk, but that it's naive to think it doesn't happen much more often than he's aware of.

"I'm sure it's happening," Shibler said. "Obviously if it wasn't, this wouldn't be an issue that public agencies would be dealing with. It's something that I think we take very seriously, but how often it's reported that's a tough question. I don't know."

Shibler said stopping sexting has to be a team effort involving parents, schools and other organizations like churches.

The Rockford School District will hold an electronic safety session covering sexting and Internet safety Jan. 17, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Rockford High School auditorium.