More than 50 Chicago schools were recommended for closure this year, but one of the four schools that won't close isn't closing because of its strong, successful social-emotional learning program, Education Week reports. Marcus Garvey Elementary School "is recognized for helping children develop empathy and problem-solving skills." SEL is "problem-solving with dignity," as teacher-songwriter … [Read more...] about Social literacy up, social problems down in Chicago Schools
cyberbullying
Stop using the word ‘bullying’ in school, researchers say
"Bullying" is a loaded term to say the very least, and not using it could not only defuse a lot of fear and harmful overreaction when it happens, it could save lives. I'll get to the life-saving part in a minute, but first the problem with using the word. Because of all the (certainly well-intended) awareness-raising and media attention lately, "bullying" has come to mean every imaginable mean … [Read more...] about Stop using the word ‘bullying’ in school, researchers say
Less bullying & fear at school: Fresh federal data
Do people ever consider the possibility that, if they're exposed to increased reports about a social problem, it's the reporting that has increased rather than the problem? It's increasingly clear that this is the case with school bullying: Only news reports about it have increased, not the behavior itself. In fact, both bullying and fear of it are down among US middle school students (the grade … [Read more...] about Less bullying & fear at school: Fresh federal data
Social cruelty on Ask.fm & the whack-a-mole tendency
Remember Formspring.me? Three years ago some terrible trolling that reportedly involved teens in New Jersey made the site, which announced it was shutting down* last month, a national news story in the US. Teens' viral adoption of Formspring and its format (ask a question, get an anonymous answer) reportedly took the site by surprise. Disturbing news coverage and letters sent home by school … [Read more...] about Social cruelty on Ask.fm & the whack-a-mole tendency
Bullying: How an ‘authoritative’ parenting style can help
When my friend and colleague Jason Brand, a Berkeley, Calif.-based family therapist, points an article out to me, I pay attention. He and I were discussing resilience as a protective factor in children's use of social media, and Jason pointed out an article in Scientific American by psychologist Abigail Baird at Vassar College. She wrote it in 2010, when emotions around the tragic case of … [Read more...] about Bullying: How an ‘authoritative’ parenting style can help