Enter your email address to receive our FREE weekly parenting newsletter
|
Oct
13
|
|||
 In this technically savvy generation, cyberbullying is on the rise. We have recently learned of several instances where the relentless cyberbullying of specific teens has led the victims to commit suicide. The internet provides a sense of anonymity for children who may find it easier to say something they would never dare to say in person. The messages may be sent from phones or computers and have the intent of hurting someone with information that is emotionally embarrassing, humiliating, or hurtful. But the one aspect that many kids don’t consider is that these postings on the social media can be forever documented. While the kids may be acting impulsively, the results can have long term effects. College professionals, employers, or individuals whom the kids meet in their futures, may research this information and find the inappropriate postings, photos or texts. Such information could become a liability. The growing trend has caused states to enact legislation that makes electronic communication intended to coerce, intimidate or harass a federal crime. Legislation takes particular aim at cyberbullying over cell phones and the Internet. According to research, over 42% of teens say they have experienced bullying online. The relentless taunting has become intolerable for some and caused fatal consequences, including the suicides of too many young people. | |||
Archive for the ‘Bullying’ Category
Blog Posts by Ann Gatty
|
Oct
05
|
|||
Phoebe Prince. Tyler Clementi. Seth Walsh. Jessica Logan. Asher Brown. Billy Lucas. All of these kids committed suicide after being bullied online (and in some cases, also in person) by classmates. Just how many more names have to be added to the list before we realize that cyberbullying has become a threat of epidemic proportions? | |||
|
Sep
13
|
|||
The weekend morning is quiet; the boys are sleeping in. But if today is like most mornings I can bet on what will soon happen. My eight-year-old son will wake up first. He will wander in and say good morning or head to the television. He will find some cartoons to watch or he may even help himself to some cereal. | |||
|
Aug
24
|
|||
It seems bullying happens at every school, in almost every grade. Even the most proactive schools with anti-bullying education programs have trouble with bullying. I also have noticed that over generations, the easiest kids to pick on for bullies are special needs kids: the ones who are less able to defend themselves. Even children who are non-verbal can recognize that they are being teased. I’ve seen the tears streaming down these kids’ faces with my own eyes after they were harassed by other students. Now that I have special needs children myself, I feel hyperaware of the bullying that goes on. I’m afraid my children will be picked on for those wonderful differences that make me love them so much. During the past school year, I noticed my oldest son has more of an issue with bullying than my youngest son. The only problem is, it’s my son doing the bullying! I can’t tell you how shocked I was. | |||
|
Jul
20
|
|||
The principal at my son’s school and I are on a first name basis and it’s not because I am the president of the PTA. No, it’s because my son is a bully. I wonder whether other parents — parents of non-bullies – have ever given much thought to my position. | |||
|
Mar
24
|
|||
Lately, my seven-year-old son has been complaining about having mysterious stomach aches. He’s also been going to the nurse’s office at school a lot and begging to stay home. The other day, he even suggested I home school him. When I reminded him of how much he used to enjoy first grade, he mumbled, “I used to like it before kids started bothering each other and being bullies.” Uh oh. I very casually asked the words every parent dreads getting a “yes” response to: “Is anyone bothering you at school?” Long pause. In a small voice he said, “The Mean Kid.” | |||
|
Oct
22
|
|||
As a parent of two children who have gone through a bullying episode, I can tell you that the emotional, mental and physical stress can be overwhelming for both children and parents. After all, as a parent your natural instincts tell you loud and clear to protect your children against the forces that cause them pain — whether it’s mental, emotional or physical. | |||
|
Aug
27
|
|||
I haven’t put my kids on a school bus for the past six years. The bus picks up students right next to our house at 8 o’clock. At 8:10 a.m. I load my children in the car and drive them to school. Some mornings we pick up a friend or two and cart them to the drop-off zone at the local elementary and middle schools. Sometimes we sit in traffic right behind the same bus that picks up the neighbors. | |||
