This is part four of the series on "Changing Technology". And the part that I'm most concerned about in this wonderful new world of miniaturization and hand held technology: e-books, wireless phones, i-phones, ipods, etc. Along with the entertainment, social networks, instant communication, comes the ability to reach out and hurt. In part III of this series I pasted a Facebook link where you can read and join a discussion of bullying. It is based on the case of Phoebe Prince, who in January committed suicide after three months of bullying by her high school classmates.
That was the topic of Dr. Phil's program last week (4-8-2010 "Bullied to Death Dr. Phil") if you missed it you can click on the link and it will take you there. It was a chilling hour. My wife DVR'ed it for me and it and I had to watch it in two sittings.
I was especially taken back by one parent of two beautiful senior high school girls who had to remove her daughters from a school district and transport them to another district. When she complained to the police they told her they couldn't do anything until one of the girls was harmed.
Cyber bullying has become an integral part of the bullying going on today. But it is only one component. I don't need to repeat them all here. You can click on the web site on this blog to see the things to look for and affects the bullying begin to have on your children.
One guest on the Dr. Phil show worked with the staff and students of Miss Prince's high school. She reported that when she went into that school the days after Miss Prince's suicide some of the students were joking about it and mocking it by pretending to hold a noose above their heads.
Maybe it is time to use our new technology to re-release the 1971 Stanley Kubrick movie Clockwork Orange his view of the "near future". I think his vision has finally arrived.
No comments:
Post a Comment