Meet the modern high schooler
Aug 26, 2010
from the article by Joanne Laucius in The Ottawa Citizen:
....Meanwhile, it's hard to be angst-ridden when you are the product of anti-bullying and self-esteem initiatives. Many high schools have a part-time addictions councillor and a gay-straight alliance. Programs like restorative justice, peer mediation and Online Safety Week bring a sense of justice and consequences to students on a day-to-day basis.
"We heard a presentation on cyberbullying and heard stories about a kid who had committed suicide over bullying," says Purdon.
"I have never been bullied," adds Roberge.
...."The boundaries are grey where bullying starts and stops," says Brooks. "A lot of people don't consider themselves to be bullies if they're just standing by. They'll just hit send and pass on a mean and nasty e-mail about a girl in their class."
Technology is a big part of the shift, she says. Even though texting is banned in many schools, it has become the modern equivalent of passing a note in class when the teacher's back is turned, just more subtle. The electronic network allows kids to reach out to the world, but stay tethered to their friends, even past high school.
Document Actions
