Disturbing event in Florida

You may have heard about the recent incident in Florida where a high school boy allegedly tracked then beat an 8th grade girl over text messages. As more information is released, it actually becomes more disturbing. It is easy to judge the Florida school & its community environment, but the incident speaks to us on a different level. My 5th grade students continue to tell me that texting is harmless and chat rooms are fun. They say cyberbullying is not an issue, adults over-react. Many of my students have Facebook or My Space pages despite the age requirements. We can all point fingers, wring our hands, and admire the problem. What is our role in all this? How can we contribute to the solution?
When we look to the ASCA Model, there are more than a few ways we can help. Infusing cyberbullying, safety, and anti-bullying strategies into our curriculum is necessary no matter what our intended topic is. We can educate teachers on ways to empower bystanders in addition to providing them tools to identify and speak with students of concern. By providing workshops, speakers, attending PTO meetings, and updating our web sites we reach parents.
I suspect that the alleged perpetrator had demonstrated signs of his inability to cope. He belonged to a class, a counselor, and a family.
We ca think of our influence as a minor replica of Pay It Forward. If our actions help one child, educate one parent, empower one teacher, we have used my skills to chisel away some of the ills that plague our society.
On behalf of all school counselors, we extend our sympathy, empathy, and support.