Comments on: Facing the realities of bullying in our schools and communities http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/ Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:43:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: » Dear Wes, Cathy Nelson’s Professional Thoughts http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-44385 » Dear Wes, Cathy Nelson’s Professional Thoughts Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:19:11 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-44385 [...] thanks for posting about this today. As you may have read in Twitter, I am slated to give three 20 minute sessions for [...] [...] thanks for posting about this today. As you may have read in Twitter, I am slated to give three 20 minute sessions for [...]

]]> By: Julie MS http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43973 Julie MS Fri, 23 Nov 2007 17:25:52 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43973 Hello! I think that cyber-bullying is equilvant to bullying at school, and also much more accessible. Esecially with sites like myspace and facebook. I believe that schools need to educate students on tolerance and diversity to prevent situations like these from happening. It is so sad that now-a-days words hurt just as much as physical violence. Hello!
I think that cyber-bullying is equilvant to bullying at school, and also much more accessible. Esecially with sites like myspace and facebook. I believe that schools need to educate students on tolerance and diversity to prevent situations like these from happening. It is so sad that now-a-days words hurt just as much as physical violence.

]]> By: Wesley Fryer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43915 Wesley Fryer Thu, 22 Nov 2007 19:39:24 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43915 Larry: I am very glad to know about your work (thanks Liz) and will definitely check out your book. This message of taking a less reactionary, more reasoned (and yet safe) approach to online social networking is REALLY needed. I have been seriously considering writing a book about online social networking, digital discipline, digital dialog, etc... It will be good to read your book and hear your take on things, as well as see if there are other perspectives/ideas to address that are outside of the scope of what you cover. I think just the issues around discipline with your kids and media access devices (TVs, cell phones, computer technologies, etc) are very important to discuss and explore. We don't typically take any parenting classes before becoming parents, and the array of issues facing parents today have increased in complexity. It is true many of these issues are the same-- they have a new digital face in some cases-- but I think the core principles about how to address challenges via open communication, clear boundaries, logical consequences, etc. are pretty timeless. Still, parents need ways to learn more about what students/kids are doing, where the potential danger areas or problems are, and what options they have to encourage safe and responsible use. I'm sharing several presentations on this topic in upcoming months and have been asked what books to recommend-- I'll definitely check out yours, and will post a review here after I read it. It's amazing to me that you found this blog post and commented-- even though I'm regularly blogging and commenting the connections which are now possible still continue to amaze me regularly..... Larry: I am very glad to know about your work (thanks Liz) and will definitely check out your book. This message of taking a less reactionary, more reasoned (and yet safe) approach to online social networking is REALLY needed. I have been seriously considering writing a book about online social networking, digital discipline, digital dialog, etc… It will be good to read your book and hear your take on things, as well as see if there are other perspectives/ideas to address that are outside of the scope of what you cover. I think just the issues around discipline with your kids and media access devices (TVs, cell phones, computer technologies, etc) are very important to discuss and explore. We don’t typically take any parenting classes before becoming parents, and the array of issues facing parents today have increased in complexity. It is true many of these issues are the same– they have a new digital face in some cases– but I think the core principles about how to address challenges via open communication, clear boundaries, logical consequences, etc. are pretty timeless. Still, parents need ways to learn more about what students/kids are doing, where the potential danger areas or problems are, and what options they have to encourage safe and responsible use. I’m sharing several presentations on this topic in upcoming months and have been asked what books to recommend– I’ll definitely check out yours, and will post a review here after I read it.

It’s amazing to me that you found this blog post and commented– even though I’m regularly blogging and commenting the connections which are now possible still continue to amaze me regularly…..

]]> By: Larry Rosen http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43913 Larry Rosen Thu, 22 Nov 2007 19:15:35 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43913 Thanks for finding my work. I do think that the "moral panic" over sexual predators is misplaced and now with the major flap over the girl who committed suicide because of someone she met on MySpace is just adding to that. Granted what happened to the girl was disgusting and awful and the people who played the cruel joke on her are responsible, parents are now going to say, "See, I told you that MySpace is dangerous. You can't be on MySpace anymore." That is not the point. This could have happened many other ways and you can't blame the messenger for the message. Sad, very sad. I hope that you will all take a look at my new book when it comes out in a few weeks. It is called "Me, MySpace and I: Parenting the Net Generation. and it is full of solid research data and sound parenting advice from a psychological basis. No moral panic. Just advice on how to let your kids be on MySpace (or anywhere) and have a successful growth experience. Thanks for finding my work. I do think that the “moral panic” over sexual predators is misplaced and now with the major flap over the girl who committed suicide because of someone she met on MySpace is just adding to that. Granted what happened to the girl was disgusting and awful and the people who played the cruel joke on her are responsible, parents are now going to say, “See, I told you that MySpace is dangerous. You can’t be on MySpace anymore.” That is not the point. This could have happened many other ways and you can’t blame the messenger for the message. Sad, very sad. I hope that you will all take a look at my new book when it comes out in a few weeks. It is called “Me, MySpace and I: Parenting the Net Generation. and it is full of solid research data and sound parenting advice from a psychological basis. No moral panic. Just advice on how to let your kids be on MySpace (or anywhere) and have a successful growth experience.

]]> By: Wesley Fryer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43838 Wesley Fryer Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:11:09 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43838 I hadn't seen those reports from Dr. Rosen Liz, thanks SO MUCH for that reference link! I will check out those materials. Also thanks for the MySpace-connecting youth authors link! Wow! I hadn’t seen those reports from Dr. Rosen Liz, thanks SO MUCH for that reference link! I will check out those materials. Also thanks for the MySpace-connecting youth authors link! Wow!

]]> By: Liz Kolb http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43789 Liz Kolb Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:34:57 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43789 Wes I'm so glad you posted on this topic. Have you read the recent reports by Dr. Larry Rosen from California State University? His Studies found at: http://www.csudh.edu/psych/lrosen.htm Basically he found (from 1500 MySpace users) that only 7% of them were approached by a stranger and they mostly ignored the stranger. His conclusion was that the media focus on how many predators were online in social networking sites such as MySpace was vastly overblown. He also found that in general parents were fairly unaware of what their kids were doing online (and 50% of the youths were using the internet in their bedrooms). Again concluding that there is a NEED for more parent and student education on how to use these resources appropriately. I completely agree with you on introducing tweens to "safe" social networkings sites such as the Disney or imbee sites. I think social networks have a very poor reputation in the media and educators have an opporunity to demonstrate "positive" uses of these sites (and teach them safety while doing it). One idea is to allow them to connect with their favorite youth authors on MySpace. Here is a huge list of youth authors with MySpace pages to connect to their readers. http://www.yalibrarian.com/yalib_wiki/index.php?title=Teen_Author_MySpace_Index Wes
I’m so glad you posted on this topic.

Have you read the recent reports by Dr. Larry Rosen from California State University? His Studies found at:
http://www.csudh.edu/psych/lrosen.htm

Basically he found (from 1500 MySpace users) that only 7% of them were approached by a stranger and they mostly ignored the stranger. His conclusion was that the media focus on how many predators were online in social networking sites such as MySpace was vastly overblown. He also found that in general parents were fairly unaware of what their kids were doing online (and 50% of the youths were using the internet in their bedrooms). Again concluding that there is a NEED for more parent and student education on how to use these resources appropriately. I completely agree with you on introducing tweens to “safe” social networkings sites such as the Disney or imbee sites. I think social networks have a very poor reputation in the media and educators have an opporunity to demonstrate “positive” uses of these sites (and teach them safety while doing it). One idea is to allow them to connect with their favorite youth authors on MySpace. Here is a huge list of youth authors with MySpace pages to connect to their readers.

http://www.yalibrarian.com/yalib_wiki/index.php?title=Teen_Author_MySpace_Index

]]> By: edh http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43748 edh Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:22:09 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43748 I agree that it's important to make more parents aware of tween-appropriate social networking sites like you mentioned above. The only problem is that when a majority of your RL friends are NOT on such sites, then you must turn to friending people you've never met in order to have a reason to use such a site. It's a sort of catch-22 - the majority of users in your social circle will set the trend of site choice. This all contributes to the problems many parents have staying "involved" with their kids online. I agree that it’s important to make more parents aware of tween-appropriate social networking sites like you mentioned above. The only problem is that when a majority of your RL friends are NOT on such sites, then you must turn to friending people you’ve never met in order to have a reason to use such a site. It’s a sort of catch-22 - the majority of users in your social circle will set the trend of site choice. This all contributes to the problems many parents have staying “involved” with their kids online.

]]> By: Danny Rose http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43740 Danny Rose Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:51:06 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43740 Wes, not to come across as a complete noob, but I do have a few observations/comments about this. I have to admit that when I heard the word "legislation", I winced just a tad. I can't say I've ever seen an ordinance that didn't cause just as many problems as it prevents. Also, along the cyber bullying issue, how is this type of thing different from the standard schoolyard encounter? Bullying has been around for years, but it seems like when it goes online the rules change. Are we not able to just teach our kids to walk away, even in a virtual world? I agree it's despicable behavior and needs to be dealt with firmly, but how has it changed moving online? Finally, my prayers go out to the Meier family. I don't have kids of my own yet, but I can't imagine what they are going through now. -D Wes, not to come across as a complete noob, but I do have a few observations/comments about this.

I have to admit that when I heard the word “legislation”, I winced just a tad. I can’t say I’ve ever seen an ordinance that didn’t cause just as many problems as it prevents.

Also, along the cyber bullying issue, how is this type of thing different from the standard schoolyard encounter? Bullying has been around for years, but it seems like when it goes online the rules change. Are we not able to just teach our kids to walk away, even in a virtual world? I agree it’s despicable behavior and needs to be dealt with firmly, but how has it changed moving online?

Finally, my prayers go out to the Meier family. I don’t have kids of my own yet, but I can’t imagine what they are going through now.

-D

]]> By: Cory Plough http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43678 Cory Plough Tue, 20 Nov 2007 04:11:13 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43678 My assistant principle and I recently spoke at the Virtual Schools Symposium about this topic. We proposed using social networks in schools as a method of reaching students where they feel comfortable. At a place where like to hang out. There are so many wonderful benefits to using social networks but there are some pretty hardy concerns. The audience reflected many of the questions you bring up and there are not a lot of great answers yet. Ning has the wonderful capability of administering your own networks and if you are using it in an educational setting they will remove the Adsense so it is a completely walled garden. However, that does not eliminate the students need to test boundaries and discover their identity which they can do on an open network with few restrictions. https://wiki.odysseyk12.org/vss2007 My assistant principle and I recently spoke at the Virtual Schools Symposium about this topic. We proposed using social networks in schools as a method of reaching students where they feel comfortable. At a place where like to hang out. There are so many wonderful benefits to using social networks but there are some pretty hardy concerns. The audience reflected many of the questions you bring up and there are not a lot of great answers yet. Ning has the wonderful capability of administering your own networks and if you are using it in an educational setting they will remove the Adsense so it is a completely walled garden. However, that does not eliminate the students need to test boundaries and discover their identity which they can do on an open network with few restrictions.
https://wiki.odysseyk12.org/vss2007

]]> By: Wesley Fryer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43674 Wesley Fryer Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:48:12 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/11/19/facing-the-realities-of-bullying-in-our-schools-and-communities/#comment-43674 Test comment. Some have reported not being able to comment on this post, so I am testing to make sure commenting is open and working. I think I've fixed that problem now and comments should be open. Test comment. Some have reported not being able to comment on this post, so I am testing to make sure commenting is open and working. I think I’ve fixed that problem now and comments should be open.

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