News & Trends – October 10, 2012

Education Trends

Why Educators Instead of TV News Anchors  Should Define Bullying

Stacey DeWitt
Connect with Kids Founder and President

The viral video of Jennifer Livingston, a Wisconsin television morning news anchor, who called a critical viewer a “bully,” raised quite a stir in Connect with Kids offices. A colleague who was moved by the story forwarded it to me with the subject Line: “Next Blog?” So I opened and watched. (You can, too. Just click here.)

As a television anchor and reporter in my previous life, the first few moments struck a compassionate chord, bringing back unpleasant memories of letters from harsh critics. While those criticisms come with the territory, they are never easy to take.

Yet, as I continued to watch, my empathy was rivaled by other concerns:

• How did this anchor turn a critical viewer comment into a four-minute soliloquy on bullying?

• Did anyone in the newsroom ever stop to research the definition of bullying?

• Was there any debate about whether this anchor’s decision to make herself the story might be cause for concern?

• Bullying is a repetitive power play. Who has the power in this story?

It is important that we elevate the national dialogue on issues like caring, kindness, compassion and acceptance.  In fact, that is one of the primary goals of Connect with Kids programs.

But criticism and bullying are not the same thing and we do a disservice to children, educators and society as a whole when we make the two synonymous. I question whether an offended television personality who has the power to use broadcast television as a platform should share the same spotlight as the truly helpless victims who suffer loneliness, depression, even suicide due to the repetitive and cruel power plays of real bullies.

Defining and understanding bullying is the first step to solving the problem. Clear definition is even more critical now as schools face new responsibilities and liabilities related to the issue.

Children must also develop the discretion that helps them decide when to ask an adult to help with bullying, when to ignore or accept hurtful criticism, and when to resolve conflict on their own. If we teach them that every unpleasant exchange is an act of bullying, we rob them of the opportunity to develop important social skills.  We risk making them weak and less inclined to stand up for themselves and the true victims of bullying who need their help.

Click here to watch the Connect with Kids video to help define bullying  and to download a complimentary Bullying Prevention Lesson Plan.

CWK News

CWK Supports Bullying Prevention in
Socorro ISD

The Socorro ISD in El Paso, Texas has implemented Connect with Kids WebSource district-wide as part of an effort to prevent bullying. The reality-based videos support a district goal to change the norms around bullying behavior and restructure the school setting itself so that bullying is less likely to occur or be rewarded.

The multimedia resources help launch classroom discussions that allow kids to talk about the topics that matter most. “It starts the conversation and builds the relationships that help stop the bullying,” says Elva  Torres, SISD associate director for state and federal programs. Click here to learn more about WebSource.

This Week’s Video and Blog: Bullying Defined

As schools and society grapple with the bullying prevention challenge, it is important to first ask and understand: Just what defines bullying?

Click here to Download a Complimentary Bullying Prevention Lesson Plan

Create a Culture of Caring with by Using CWK Bullying Prevention DVDs

Kids see themselves in the real stories shared. Resource Guides with discussion questions and lesson plans continue the learning. Click here to learn more about Connect with Kids Bullying Prevention programs.