7 Possible Signs of Bullying
- Becoming "school phobic" - morning illness, excuses for not taking the bus, walking to or going to school
- Coming home regularly with clothes or books destroyed or missing
- Unexplained bruises, scratches, cuts
- Continually "losing" pocket money, lunch
- Change in mood or demeanor with no apparent reason
- Refusal to talk about what’s wrong
- Change in school performance
WHAT’S HAPPENING
• Ongoing free parent educational support group meeting Second Tuesday of Month, next meeting, May 8th at 7:30 pm. Bring a friend! Call to register: 856-234-7337.
• Socialization Groups: Fun opportunities for children to interact with peers while developing and maintaining academically relevant skills through play! (Small groups of 5 children, one hour sessions)
• Keep Kids’ Brains Awake with summer fun! Learn more at www.CLEnhancement.com
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BULLYING BEYOND BELIEF
Once again a violent tragedy at an educational institution causes us to stop, shake our heads in disbelief, question why and how? Once again there are no simple answers. What we can do as educators and parents is recommit ourselves to supporting and developing the spirit of students, protecting it and becoming more aware of the daily demise of personhood as it gets picked away at over the years from bullying.
While not all victims lose their physical lives, very many suffer silently from it and sometimes become bullies themselves.
Ronald Stephens, Executive Director of the National School Safety Center, describes bullying as "one of the most underrated but enduring problems in school today." In the U.S. according to Family Education.com, "Surveys show that as many as one in four kids say they’ve been bullied recently in school".
What can you do to help your children protect themselves from bullying?
- Encourage your child to tell you, or another adult at school.
- Explain the difference between tattling and telling. Telling is when you report that you or someone else is in danger. It is not about just trying to get someone else in trouble!
- Encourage a buddy system. Jeanette Collins of the New Jersey Center For Assault Prevention says "parents should encourage their kids to reach out to other kids. That way they can watch out for one another. A child who has friends is less of a target."
- Enroll your child in a self defense course. Contrary to some people's belief, this stresses self esteem, confidence and self control, not aggression.
The National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, a research section of the US Dept. of Education, has released findings of a study on the effectiveness of educational technology on the academic achievement of students. The study was initiated by Congress to provide data to support implementation of the "No Child Left Behind" law of 2002. The study found that achievement scores were no higher in classrooms using reading and math software products than in classrooms without the products. Research involved 132 schools with programs at the elementary and secondary levels using more than a dozen software products, which teachers were trained to use. (Article no longer available at CNN website.)