Employers Can’t Afford To Ignore Workplace Bullying – by Rodger Dinwiddie
The headlines in Business Week declare “Employers Can’t Ignore Workplace Bullies.” Yet, a Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) survey indicates that in 62% of cases, when made aware of bullying, employers worsen the problem or do nothing. According to the WBI survey, 37% of American workers, an estimated 54 million people, have been bullied at work. […]
Social Networking: Every Word Matters.
Two days ago netiquette was the subject on this space. This morning I read the Tennesseean’s home page and see the story about a student at MLK who has been expelled because of cyber threats posted on his Facebook page about his coach. What a tragic story for everyone involved. When we kicked off our […]
Ten Steps To Stopping Cyber Bullying – by Rodger Dinwiddie
“Being bullied over the internet is worse. It’s torment and hurts. They say “stick and stones may break bones, but words will never hurt me.” That quote is a lie and I don’t believe in it. Sticks and stones may cause nasty cuts and scars, but those cuts and scars will heal. “Insulting” words hurt […]
Do You Practice Netiquette? – by Rodger Dinwiddie
We’ve all been taught by our parents and teachers there are basic rules for good manners in everyday life. But, most likely our teenagers haven’t had manners lessons on the internet or netiquette. There are some serious challenges facing young people and adults as both access to and advances in technology increase. It is […]
With One In Three Teens Cyber-Bullied, It Is A Big Deal – By Rodger Dinwiddie
From a webpage of a 14-year old girl, “It’s great! Over the internet you don’t really see the faces and they don’t see you. You don’t even have to look at their eyes and see their hurt.” We’ve seen the funny TV spot where a teenager and her mother are communicating in code. If […]
Two Teen Deaths Proves Cyber Bullying Should Be Taken Seriously – By Rodger Dinwiddie
The St. Charles Journal reported “the suicide death of 13-year-old Megan Meier was due to MySpace taunting by adult neighbors rocked St. Charles, Missouri. In a parent’s worst nightmare, the mother of a neighbor girl that Meagan Meier was no longer friends with set up a fake MySpace account and proceeded to hound her to […]
There is Hope for Bullying … Young People Want To Step Up!!! by Rodger Dinwiddie, Executive Director, STARS Nashville
“I had really hoped that we could resolve this without a lawsuit, but if that’s what it takes to make the district take this seriously and change the way they handle these sorts of problems, we are ready to take it to that level.” (A parent of a bullied child) Lawsuits, tragic and senseless deaths, […]
Bullying A Big Deal? You Decide. By Rodger Dinwiddie, STARS Executive Director
After being bullied at school and attempting suicide, the Anchorage School District and its insurance company paid $4.5 million to settle a lawsuit with the middle school student’s family. In another news story from Kansas, education groups say more and more parents are taking school officials to court for failing to stop other youngsters from […]
Thick Textbooks Can’t Protect Against Bullying – by Rodger Dinwiddie, Executive Director
Thick textbooks should be placed under every student’s desk to be used as self-defense during school shootings according to a recent candidate for state superintendent of schools in the Midwest. This was a real news item just a few years ago! The problem is most school violence does not take the form of school shootings. In […]
Emotional Bullying A Top Concern For Our Youth – by Rodger Dinwiddie, Executive Director
A recent survey of children in grades five through 12, conducted by researcher Tonya Nansel et al, found America’s youth are more concerned about emotional abuse than physical violence. Unfortunately and ironically, most schools in America are described as “safe” if there is no violence. In a truly safe school, all students feel like they belong, […]
