Instructify

With all the hubbub about cyber-bullying going on in schools, it’s easy to forget that face-to-face bullying is still alive and well. Where there’s a cafeteria, there will be a bigger kid demanding a smaller kid’s lunch money. Help crack down on bullying online and offline at your school next week during Bullying Awareness Week 2008, November 16-22.

Don’t let the title fool you — Bullying Awareness Week asks educators to get personally involved in stamping out bullying, as opposed to just being aware of it (which makes sense, since nerds, dweebs and weaklings everywhere have been pretty aware of bullying for some time, and that hasn’t solved anything). The BAW website has several ideas on how you can make a difference, including conducting anti-bullying workshops, involving community leaders, and recognizing/rewarding students who actively work to make their schools safer.

For more information, check out their website, or listen to this public service announcement. By observing Bullying Awareness Week at your school, you can help make it a safer, friendlier place. -BILL FERRIS

Related Stuff:

Teach students Internet safety with iKeepSafe.org

Stranger Danger! Children are taught at an early age how to recognize a stranger in their community and how to respond appropriately. However, in the 21st Century our students are socializing in more communities, on and 0ffline, rather than just with their local neighbor. As many more of our students are becoming active participants in the community of the World Wide Web we need to teach them safe ways to interact without shutting them down.

iKeepSafe is a website full of ideas on how to keep our students safe online. They focus on the three main dangers students will face: inappropriate contact, inappropriate content, and inappropriate conduct. They provide great resources for parents on hot topics such as social networking and cyber-bullies. For educators, iKeepSafe has resources that can be customized to align with your state’s laws. The site also includes game simulations for students to put into practice what they have learned to keep them safe.

This site would be great to introduce to your parents during an open house or a family reading night. So the next time you are teaching your students safety rules, don’t forget the global community. Remember, as parents and educators we have a responsibility to our students to keep current, keep communicating, and keep checking! -MONIQUE ST. LOUIS

iKeepSafe