Week TEN

Sexting - definately not something that I was even aware of in middle school. When I was in 8^th grade my biggest worry was wearing the wrong outfit to school. Kids today face a whole new world especially where media comes into play. Students know more than ever about their peers thanks to Facebook and other social networking activties. It is no longer your close circle of friends that know of the details of your life. In some cases, like the ones we watched in the videos, a large group of people end up knowing a lot or too much about you. I don’t think that kids are aware of the consequenes of their actions in these situations. They probably don’t think that something as simple as pressing send on a cellphone will have that big of an impact. I think this is where the role of schools come in.

The best and most important thing that schools can do is educate students. I think that issues such as sexting could be addressed in either computer science or health education classes.  If students saw how sending an inappropriate text or how bullying can affect someone I think that would make an impression on them. As disturbing as these videos are, giving students examples like these would really put it in perspective. These are things that have happened to kids just like them and at school like their own. This might get the message across of the real and horrible consequences that can happen. I think that "no cellphone" policies at school might decrease these things from happening. If students don’t have access to cellphones all day they will be less likely to communicate throughout the day. It might be like an out-of-sight, out-of-mind effect. Of course, not allowing cellphones in schools does not erase the problem but I think it might decrease it.

These videos addressed not only sexting, but also bullying. Bullying has become a big issue amoung children of all ages. Both topics - sexting and bullying - should be addressed together. Cause and effect. Kids can understand what happens when their peers are bullied. Schools can also provide support systems for those students who are experienceing bullying. If they know they have someone to talk to, kids might reach out to someone before something serious happens.