Many stories in the news lately deal with the rise in school violence. Take , for instance, this recent story about teen group violence against a 13 year old student in central Florida.
It was the victim's first time riding the bus. Not one student on the bus allowed her to sit down.Then a group gathered around her, punching and kicking the victim until she passed out. The brutality was so violent, the girl was diagnosed with concussion, severe bruising in the head and muscle spasms.The bus driver had to pull into a nearby school in order to alert officials and get help.
Violence in the classroom is a plague on modern society.Even though schools hire security guards, install metal detectors and video cameras, we parents and grandparents do not feel secure. Why? Until the root problem of outrage in schools is eradicated , these measures will only be temporary solutions to the problem.
Read more in School Violence.
Showing posts with label school violence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school violence. Show all posts
Monday, January 9, 2012
Monday, May 11, 2009
Cyberbullying: The New Online Threat
Cyberbullying is fast becoming a serious threat to young people because it can kill. Cases of adolescents committing suicide because of nameless, faceless online threats are becoming a growing concern. A case in point is that involving a male teenager who was bullied because of his sexual orientation. Another case involved a thirteen year old girl whose suicide was the result of a malicious hoax perpetrated by the mother of the victim's friend. According to the National Crime Prevention Center, cases of cyberbullying are on the rise.
What Do Statistics Tell Us about Cyberbullying?
Over 40% of all teenagers with internet access have reported being bullied online. However, only 10% of children bullied reported the incident to their parents. Only 18% of the cases were reported to a local or national law enforcement agency.
While only 9% of children ages 10-17 experienced online threats in 2000, the percentage has risen to 50% by 2008. One possible reason is the increase in use of the internet as a vehicle for socializing and the increased technical dexterity of teenagers who do use the internet.
The most common virtual sites for cyberbullying are chat rooms, social networking sites and instant messaging systems.These are all online communication sites popular with the younger set today. Cell phones and digital cameras are also becoming a growing concern. An increasing number of teenagers are worried that photos may be taken of them without their consent with the use of cell-phone cameras.
What Can Be Done About Cyberbullying?
The best solution is education. The internet is fast becoming a powerful tool for socializing and dissemination of information. Children must be taught the basics of personal privacy, respect for others and consequences of actions. Very often, children are deceived by the sense of anonymity communication over the internet seems to suggest. After all, they can sign in with a different name or use avatars without revealing their own identities. They think that just because their identities are not obvious to the victim, the crime has been "erased."
Parents need to be more vigilant about their children's use of the internet. How often do we really monitor what our teenager is doing at the computer? Adult supervision, as well as intervention, not only helps to educate our young people about a medium that is becoming more and more explosive, it encourages them discern the difference between using a tool for social benefit and using a tool for social aggression.
Like the car and alcohol, the internet is something we, as parents, must own responsibility for in terms of safe use and access by our children.
What Do Statistics Tell Us about Cyberbullying?
Over 40% of all teenagers with internet access have reported being bullied online. However, only 10% of children bullied reported the incident to their parents. Only 18% of the cases were reported to a local or national law enforcement agency.
While only 9% of children ages 10-17 experienced online threats in 2000, the percentage has risen to 50% by 2008. One possible reason is the increase in use of the internet as a vehicle for socializing and the increased technical dexterity of teenagers who do use the internet.
The most common virtual sites for cyberbullying are chat rooms, social networking sites and instant messaging systems.These are all online communication sites popular with the younger set today. Cell phones and digital cameras are also becoming a growing concern. An increasing number of teenagers are worried that photos may be taken of them without their consent with the use of cell-phone cameras.
What Can Be Done About Cyberbullying?
The best solution is education. The internet is fast becoming a powerful tool for socializing and dissemination of information. Children must be taught the basics of personal privacy, respect for others and consequences of actions. Very often, children are deceived by the sense of anonymity communication over the internet seems to suggest. After all, they can sign in with a different name or use avatars without revealing their own identities. They think that just because their identities are not obvious to the victim, the crime has been "erased."
Parents need to be more vigilant about their children's use of the internet. How often do we really monitor what our teenager is doing at the computer? Adult supervision, as well as intervention, not only helps to educate our young people about a medium that is becoming more and more explosive, it encourages them discern the difference between using a tool for social benefit and using a tool for social aggression.
Like the car and alcohol, the internet is something we, as parents, must own responsibility for in terms of safe use and access by our children.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
School Violence: A Case of Empathy Deficit
According to Dr. Venus Nicolini, society is suffering from a bad case of empathy deficit. This, she states, is the reason for the increasing incidents of family assaults and school violence.
The whole emphasis on competition, self-serving materialism, the ME generation of the past forty years has taken its toll. What value does western culture place on empathy?
Consider these factors.
a) The Internet has lessened social interaction. Social networking sites have made possible online interaction which by its very nature is only skin deep. How deep can conversations be when they are published for all to see? Social networking sites are geared more towards sharing recent photos and the latest downloads - activities that reinforce the self indulgent mindset of the Me generation.
b) Until the recent economic crisis, western culture has been immersed in the cult of the material things. The "good life" in western society is making money (tons of it) and buying things (toys). Compare this to many eastern cultures where the community itself is a social value. The good life is living in balance with oneself, others and all life-forms.
c) The cult of the self and self-actualization has made us narcissistic: everything revolves around living our dreams, pursuing our dreams. The point is not that we should stop trying to achieve our dreams; the point is that we should ask ourselves this question: at what expense? It is a question we all need to examine. What price have we paid for wanting it all?
d) Empathy deficit is creating a "tsunami of societal violence,"says expert Mary Gordon. Empathy is the basic step we have to take before we can understand the true meaning of altruism. Without empathy, there is no altruism, no volunteer work, no donations to the needy. Without empathy, children tend towards bullying, fighting and self-serving manipulation.
e) School violence is a sad reflection of the larger society. And we adults are largely responsible for what is now becoming an epidemic of violence worldwide.
What can we do about it?
We can live by example. We can treat everyone we see with more respect, love and genuine empathy. We can choose to look at the "big picture" rather than fuming over what are often inconsequential slights.
We can teach our children and grandchildren the importance of feelings and how they can be attenuated by changing our thoughts. We can help them see perspectives from another set of eyes, get them involved in acts of altruism - donating toys to children who have none, making them aware of children in other countries who are often homeless and starving.
It is up to us - the parents, grandparents and teachers - to help our children cultivate a sense of caring. Even caring for flowers in the garden or a family pet are steps towards a culture of empathy.
The whole emphasis on competition, self-serving materialism, the ME generation of the past forty years has taken its toll. What value does western culture place on empathy?
Consider these factors.
a) The Internet has lessened social interaction. Social networking sites have made possible online interaction which by its very nature is only skin deep. How deep can conversations be when they are published for all to see? Social networking sites are geared more towards sharing recent photos and the latest downloads - activities that reinforce the self indulgent mindset of the Me generation.
b) Until the recent economic crisis, western culture has been immersed in the cult of the material things. The "good life" in western society is making money (tons of it) and buying things (toys). Compare this to many eastern cultures where the community itself is a social value. The good life is living in balance with oneself, others and all life-forms.
c) The cult of the self and self-actualization has made us narcissistic: everything revolves around living our dreams, pursuing our dreams. The point is not that we should stop trying to achieve our dreams; the point is that we should ask ourselves this question: at what expense? It is a question we all need to examine. What price have we paid for wanting it all?
d) Empathy deficit is creating a "tsunami of societal violence,"says expert Mary Gordon. Empathy is the basic step we have to take before we can understand the true meaning of altruism. Without empathy, there is no altruism, no volunteer work, no donations to the needy. Without empathy, children tend towards bullying, fighting and self-serving manipulation.
e) School violence is a sad reflection of the larger society. And we adults are largely responsible for what is now becoming an epidemic of violence worldwide.
What can we do about it?
We can live by example. We can treat everyone we see with more respect, love and genuine empathy. We can choose to look at the "big picture" rather than fuming over what are often inconsequential slights.
We can teach our children and grandchildren the importance of feelings and how they can be attenuated by changing our thoughts. We can help them see perspectives from another set of eyes, get them involved in acts of altruism - donating toys to children who have none, making them aware of children in other countries who are often homeless and starving.
It is up to us - the parents, grandparents and teachers - to help our children cultivate a sense of caring. Even caring for flowers in the garden or a family pet are steps towards a culture of empathy.
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