Taking A Stand On Bullying

     It seems like there is a lot more bullying going on in schools and on the internet than there used to be. When I was a child, I did not have to worry about getting picked on when I went to school, now most children do. Samuel B. says, "To This Day Project is a project based on a spoken word poem written by Shane Koyczan called “To This Day”, to further explore the profound and lasting impact that bullying can have on an individual." A group of artists decided to take a stand against teen bullying. They put a bunch of twenty second segments to demonstrate what a community of caring individuals are capable of when they come together. "2 out of 3 teens are verbally or physically harassed every year," says dosomething.org. I do not understand why people feel the need to bully. Why would you want to harm someone who has done nothing to you? I wish bullies would realize that some of their victims end up taking their own lives because of the bullying.
     There are tons of antibullying websites and programs. "International STAND UP to Bullying Day is a special event in which people across the world who have signed a special “pledge shirt” join together in wearing them to: Send a loud, non-confrontational message of resistance to bullies, identify themselves to victims as a source of support willing to help raw attention to the effects of bullying, and stimulate passive bystanders into action." This day is quickly spreading across the world whereas it used to be only in the USA. Each participant wears the shirt all day. "160,000 students stay home from school every day for fear of bullying." -National Association of School Psychologists. That number is way too high, no one should have to be scared about being picked on. Bullying is everywhere but there is no need for it to happen. All we have to do is come together and treat everyone with the respect they deserve.



http://sourcefednews.com/artists-take-a-stand-against-teen-bullying/
http://www.standupday.com/08/participants/index.php?target=pages&page_id=intro
http://stand4change.org/
http://www.dosomething.org/issues/bullying?gclid=CNua0o2R0rUCFQWxnQodCFwA8w

Do You Talk To Strangers On The Internet?

     Parents should constantly be monitoring their child's internet use-age. "Some 71% of parents stop supervising Internet use by their children after the age of 14, yet 72% of all Internet-related missing children cases involve children who are 15 years of age or older." Parents are not a cautious as they should be because they do not understand how dangerous the internet actually is for children. Children do not get that it is never a good idea to give anyone your personal information over the internet, even when the parents have told them multiple times not to. "Supervise your children on the Internet just as you would monitor what movies and TV shows they watch and the places they go with their friends." Parents care so much about the TV shows and movies their children watch, why do they not care about their child's internet activity? Is it because they just do not think about it? Giving out personal information over the internet is just the same as getting in the car with a stranger, in my opinion.
     Recently, I watched the movie "Megan Is Missing," which really opened my eyes. "Online predators can pretend to be anyone. They target one-in-every-ten teenagers through social networks, mobile apps and gaming systems." Megan from "Megan Is Missing" is based on a true person, she was one of those teenagers. Teenagers and children can be so naïve when it comes to talking to people they do not know. "Young victims are just a click away and what begins as an online relationship, can quickly move offline. 16-year-old Brooke thought she found her first love online, but instead what she found was a very dangerous man posing to be a 16-year-old." Brooke Sabatino thought she met a sixteen year old boy online but he turned out to be twenty-one, she was only thirteen. You don not need to talk to strangers online, and definitely do not need to get involved in a relationship with them.


http://www.sdcda.org/preventing/protecting-children-online/facts-for-parents.html

http://www.katiecouric.com/on-the-show/2012/10/10/online-predators/