Klinger MS to Host Cyberbullying Forum for Parents

Nationally acclaimed presenter John Halligan will offer a cyber bullying presentation to parents on Tuesday evening, followed by a presentation to students on Wednesday.

John Halligan's son, Ryan, committed suicide on Oct. 7, 2003, after being bullied by classmates both at school and via the Internet. He was 13 years old. In interviews and at talks at schools across the country, Halligan has spoken openly about the tragedy, the events leading up to it and what he found out about his son's online life after his death. Now, Halligan is coming to Centennial, where he will speak on cyberbullying and cyber safety on Tuesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Klinger Middle School. Halligan's son Ryan took his life after being ridiculed and humiliated by peers at school and online. At Klinger, Halligan will take the audience through lessons learned from his family’s tragedy. Halligan believes that holding …

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Scholasticity

Just Unplug It

You have to monitor what your kids (teens included) are involved with online. If you don’t like what you see, pull the plug.

I’m teaching a course in research methods this semester and one of the groups in the class is digging into today’s methods of bullying, focusing on cyberbullying. While reading through some of their review articles, I came across a number of moms and dads that had, unfortunately, lost a son or daughter to suicide, prompted by this particular brand of bullying. When it comes to adolescent suicide, there’s nothing to joke about and it is difficult to gauge the exact role of bullying. However, some parents’ comments include phrases like, “I felt totally helpless” or “I felt I had no control.” As a parent you are in control, you have to be in control and that’s why I really cringe when a parent says, “I am picking my battles.”  You must remain…

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