Cyberbullying: a sign of the times

Cyberbullying is any kind of threats people make against each other on the computer. We do have this problem at North Greene. I have seen it and worked on it for a few years now. I cringe when I hear the words "My Space." People think that they can say things on the computer that they wouldn't say in person. They think people cannot connect them to what they have typed as easily as they could have in person. Actually once you post something you never know what will happen. The situation is out of your hands and out of your control. You can be tracked down easily on the computer, more easily than you think. They are several good websites that can show this.

WebSmartz.org - This site has a video "Tracking Teresa." It shows just how fast a person can find you through internet posts. It is shocking. This website also has lesson plans for teachers either at the junior high level or high school level. There are many resources on this site. There are whole presentations that can be downloaded about cyberbullying.

meganmeierfoundation.org & ryanpatrickhalligan.org - shows the consequences of cyberbullying.

lingo2word.com - translates the computer lingo that is used so you know what's really being said.
Want an example? Try to translate these:

I 1ly av 1 lyf lll neva av 2 bt as lng as am aliv i wana spnd it wive u

yr wrk s hrd coz kdz ch@ n act %-) sumtyms

teenchatdecoder.com - also translates text acronyms. Know what POS or PAL means?

Know what your kids are doing on the computer. Talk to them about cyberbullying. This is a real problem that's probably only going to get worse and can have dire consequences. Psychological impacts can include poor academic performance to suicide. More schools are including statements about cyberbullying in the school codes and more states are coming out with laws against cyberbullying.

Presentation about cyberbullying given by: Dr. Karen Slovak, Associate Professor of Social Work at Ohio University on 10/25/08.

training

Illinois School Social Worker's Conference
Peoria, IL 10/24 & 10/26

Getting Past Angry

Many students state that they have anger control problems. Some do, but some do not. Getting angry is not an anger control problem. We all get angry and anger is a normal emotion. There is no way to avoid anger. However; how we deal with anger can be a problem. Hurting someone else, ourselves, or property is not a way to deal with anger. There are some simple ways to help a person get past anger. Not all people want to move past it though. They like the attention they receive when they get mad and those people have a very difficult time moving past anger. For those who do want to move past it:
Get your mind off what is making you angry. Dwelling on it only makes it worse.
Talk about it. Keeping angry feelings inside will make you "blow like a volcano" eventually. Talking about it does not mean yelling at someone. Use I messages. (ex. I feel angry when you talk about me behind my back, I feel upset when you blame me for things I don't do...)
Do something you enjoy doing. For younger students this can mean playing or drawing. For older students video games or listening to music. Keeping a journal seems to be especially helpful for teenage girls. Read a book, go for a walk, talk to a friend or clean out a closet. It's all better than trying to hit a wall. Learn to manage your anger before your anger manages you. Many people who do not learn to manage their anger end up paying for it in the end. Teach your child to use their words, not their fists. You can't fight your way out of every situation in life that makes you angry.

training

Attending Social Work Ethics Training on 9/18/08 at Four Rivers Special Education District.

Welcome

Welcome to the social work department of the North Greene School District.