The Growth Chart: Growing Kids, Growing Parents

What's New Under the Sun? Kids (and Adults) and Social Media, Part V: Voices

All of us have a "Life in the Middle" story to tell. Today those stories can be spread exponentially through social media. And I say, let the Voices be heard.

This week, I listened as some young teachers reflected on some of the names they’ve been called lately. Though their conversation was lighthearted, I know from experience that no matter how many times we shake the dust from our sandals and walk on, we still limp just a little from the words that have been hurled our way.   Instantly, I remembered the words a student wrote in his journal about me some 20 years earlier, when I was a 22-year-old high school teacher: “Mrs. Noble is a skinny, flat-chested b****…” Though I didn’t share that specific memory in the staff lunchroom, I did say to my young counterparts: “Unfortunately, you will probably remember some of those comments 20 years from now. But try to forget what you can. The words don’t…

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Cyberbullying Covered In Updated School Policy

The updated bullying policy will now cover electronic bullying.

Solon Schools has updated its bullying policy to help stamp out electronic bullying and harrassment. Solon Superintendent Joe Regano said bullying is not a straight forward issue, because such harrassment also extends into the now-ubiquitous social media and text messages. The new policy gives the school district the ability to discipline students for cyberbullying. The policy also gives the school district more reach to handle bullying cases that occur on school buses or at school-sanctioned events such as field trips or athletic contests. The primary goal of the policy is stamp out all forms of bullying, from physical aggression to text-message-based harassment. "It's the responsibility of the district to make sure students are treated …

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Moms Talk: How Do You Talk to Your Kids About Bullying?

Whether they are the bully or the victim, tell us how you've address it with your kids.

No matter how old you are or where you went to school, we've all experienced the torment of a bully at one point in our lives. But it seems to be an issue that is getting worse and worse as time passes, especially on the internet, where it is so much easier to say anything to whomever you wish. Even with the higher numbers of online bullying, schools are still a prime hunting ground for bullies. According to scholastic.com, researchers estimate 20-30 percent of children in school experience bullying as victims or perpetrators.  It's a sensitive topic for many kids and parents. Tell us how you handled the bullying discussion with your kids. How did you tell them to respond to bullies? What do you say to prevent them from bullying others?

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