The Middle School Parent Resource

Grieving couple finds comfort in Facebook

Losing a child at any age is devastating. At a mere 21 years of age, life had nearly began for Andrew when it abruptly came to an end. Overwhelmed with grief, Andrew's parents attempted to reach out to his friends.

Many adults find it difficult to approach the parents who have lost children, so it was no surprise that visits to us from Andrew’s friends were few. They too were struggling to come to terms with what was probably their first loss of a friend their own age.

However, comfort came from an unexpected source – Web 2.0 or to be more specific, Facebook, instant messaging and tagging.

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Social Networking found to have Benefits for Today's Teens

With social networking sites, teens can learn more than what their friends were up to last night, according to a University of Minnesota study. The teens who participated in the survey -- all from urban households with median-or-lower income levels -- said sites like MySpace and Facebook teach tech skills, creativity, diverse viewpoints and communication skills.

Amidst the usual slough of negativity a positive article arises. Read on.

Kids bully teachers using social network sites

A group of school boys used the social networking sites Facebook and Bebo to abuse and threaten their teachers.

The police were called in after the discovery of the web pages devoted to harassing teachers at Forest School in Horsham, West Sussex.

The school has accused the pupils of causing "hurt and distress" to members of the teaching staff.

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How to Argue with Your Child - Step One

Wondering about to argue effectively with your child? Take a look at this article. Thanks Sarah for sharing.

One of my favorite quotes, "Remember the end goal- when their 25 it would be nice if they come over for dinner once in a while, perhaps Christmas, and you have a chance to hang out with the grandkids."

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Bullying victim takes life at 13 years old

When will it end? I wonder if 13-year-old Stephen Patton wondered as I do about when bullying might come to an end. In many youth suicide cases, the victims don't see an end other than taking their own life. Sadly enough bullying has reached nearly epidemic proportions. Some surveys report bullying percentages as high as 75% for kids in the range of 12-18. When three out of four children can say they have experienced bullying, immediate action must be taken.

The Patton's home state of Kentucky signed a bullying bill into law this past April after the state recognized the growing need for legislations. Twenty-six additional states have made the move to create bullying legislation. With the growing percentage of bullying incidents occurring online, the job of bringing bullying to an end has grown more difficult.

Cyberbullying (the use of electronics to bully) extends a bully's reach beyond the school walls and into cyberspace. The anonymity of a text message, email or post on a MySpace page provides bullies with an easy access point to inflict continued harm whereas the bullies of old waited until situations arose where physical punishment could be administered.

If you suspect your child or any other child has fallen prey to the work of bullies don't hesitate to contact the administration at your school site. Principals and counselors now view bullying as a high priority item, and are ready to respond. Gone are the days when tough kids could push their weight around without disciplinary measures from the front office.

Additional information and resources on bullying:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9962375-7.html
http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/index2.html
http://mainstreet.com/protect-your-child-online-dangers-cyber-dad-way
http://www.opheliaproject.org/main/index.htm