D38 School Board Priority 1 is to ensure safe and healthy schools where students feel secure and supported in their learning and growth. Safety is a top priority for both parents and the district. The board policy on bullying prevention and education can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/d38-policy-JICDE. It defines bullying as a form of intimidation that includes spreading false information.
Bullying is not just physical; it can be verbal, in person, or online. There is an increase in cyberbullying on social media. It’s not just kids who are dealing with this but adults as well. We need to remember, kids see how we behave and what we tolerate. What are we teaching as a community?
I have experienced bullying as a kid and still see it as an adult. To make sure my son knew how to stand up to bullying, I enrolled him in martial arts at the age of 3. He built confidence, self-defense skills, respect, and discipline. Once he was old enough to have online access, I leveraged school and community resources to teach him about being cautious about sharing personal information online and to use critical thinking about how to spot falsehoods, conspiracy theories, and cyberbullying.
We set and periodically review our security settings on social media to a level of privacy that is right for our family. As an IT professional, I recommend good cybersecurity practices.
Whenever I see bullying, I choose to stand up, not stand by. I speak out at board meetings, online, and in person. I stand between bullies and their victims. As a School Board or community member, I will always stand up. I hope that more community members will join me.
Here are some good resources for kids and adults: https://www.safewise.com/resources/internet-safety-kids/
Jackie Burhans
D38 School Board candidate
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