Technology Responsibility

The news videos on Sexting are so powerful that they make me question why teachers or even administrators in those schools did not speak up to do something about the bullying. I'm sure if those photos have reached the principals that they should have held an assembly about sexting and cyber bullying. I believe that it is the school's responsibility to teach morals and ethics to children. Not everyone at home has the same background and/or the same opportunity to be aware of what is going on. However, at school is when the diverse community of students come together. That is the common location that should address these important and life-threatening issues.

For learning purposes, I believe that cell phones shouldn't be allowed to be used in the classroom. They will only distract students from working on the tasks at hand. In my future classroom, I plan to come up with art projects that have multiple parts to them, which will keep students engaged. I also want to take a day each week to let students discuss any topic or issue they want to talk about with the rest of their peers. I believe that this will allow awareness of problems, opinions, cultures, and differences to surface and be a part of students' knowledge. One example would be cyber bullying. I would ask the students questions to help them think critically, form their own opinions, and present/discuss them in a group. How would the students solve the problem if they encounter it? Have they gone through the experience themselves? How does cyber bullying affect people's lives? What are the consequences? Why is it important for teenagers to be aware of this issue? How can we prevent it from happening in our classroom? These are some of the questions I would ask my students regarding this topic. I think it is important for students to be able to vocalize their thoughts and talk with others who might be have similar experiences to gain new knowledge and ideas. They will not only be aware of what is going on around them, but the different views that people have. These discussions will help students to decipher what they've heard and incorporate how those ideas relate to their own.

It is important for students to see that their school is a safe and open-minded place. We, as future educators, cannot let even one student feel that they are unwelcome in the school and/or unable to talk to teachers and administrators. Teachers are there to help students. If students cannot even trust the adults at their school, how will they know to look for help? As mentioned in the videos, it is crucial to get parents involved as well. We need to be there for the children, at and outside of the house, to prepare, nurture, teach and keep them safe until they have the necessary capabilities to survive on their own and influence others. Not only are skills and knowledge important, understanding and practicing ethics and morals are essential to becoming an ideal individual and community member.