Cyberbullying

According to an article in the New York Times entitled, Online bullies Pull Schools Into the Fray, cyberbullying has become an ever-increasing problem for students-- especially those in middle school. The article discusses a number of issues, but a few really stand out in my mind. Students are inundated with new forms of social networking. Tweens are obsessive about having friends, labeling them, and feeling included. Unfortunately, one of the major ways some tweens feel included is by excluding others. This used to take place at school, in a real environment that is easily observable. Now, the name-calling and back-stabbing take place in cyberspace and there is nobody who is able to monitor it all. The article quoted one young tween as saying, "It's easier to be mean on facebook". Many people who would not have the gumption to confront somebody in person are using cyberspace as an arena to act in ways that are deeply offensive.

Schools have tried to react to the cyberbullying phenomenon, but some have done better than others. Many schools are already weighed down with the bullying that takes place on school grounds, and might not feel as if they have the resources to address cyberspace situations. The problem is that the people who are fighting online are often the same ones who are doing so at school. Schools that neglect the issue of cyberbullying will eventually have to deal with it. What can we, as educators, do to prepare? Because if we do nothing, we will be in the same boat as BP-- cleaning up a giant mess that could have been prevented with careful planning and precautions.

It is time for us to embrace the era of social networking, to involve ourselves into the intricate media web so that we will better understand how to deal with these situations. The first way, is to educate students about the issues. If we do not become role models for proper social networking use, then tweens will only have each other to emulate. Secondly, schools must set up a way for students to anonymously report instances of cyberbullying. There are many kids who know that cyberbullying is painful and dangerous. It is our educational duty to provide them with a safe place to voice their concerns before they become insurmountable. Finally, we must come up with a consistent understanding for inappropriate behaviors and consequences. The courts haven't been consistent and they need to get with the times. Our students are depending on us.

Hoffman, J. (2010). Online bullies pull schools into the fray. The New York Times. Retrieved July 3, 2010 at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/style/28bully.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&adxnnl=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1278180054-W%20J6LWVlTpLVuvSf2vIglw

What is a tween?

Sheila Anderson, in her book Serving Young Teens and 'Tweens, recommends looking back at our own tween years to better understand what today's tweens are going through. I remember wearing a sweatshirt tied around my waist every single day--just in case my period started while I was at school. I remember my first school dance; my friends all stood in a circle staring at each other as we tried to "look cool" trying to dance in public for the first time. I remember an ever-present fear of embarrassment in from of my peers.

Today's tweens still face the issues that Teri Lesesne refers to in her book, Naked Reading, regarding physical growth, hormonal changes and emotional maturity. Those are experience that tweens have gone through, and will continue to go through, throughout all of human existence. Bodies grow, voices change, and childhood slowly melts away. Transition is frightening and tweens who don't entirely recall the transition from babydom to childhood, feel as if they have never been through anything like the growth that they experience during the tween years.

What is different for today's youth is the prevalence of technology throughout all aspects of their lives. For tweens to be engaged in the library, we must be providing access to technology. Many teens and tweens complain that their education is not relevant to their lives. In the library, we have a unique opportunity to rectify that situation. The library is designed to provide each user with the unique experiences that they most need. It is crucial for librarians to expand our own horizons so that we can help tweens create meaningful library experiences that are personal to them.

I was especially impressed with Anderson's (p. 19) discussion on how to deal with tweens in the library. Yes, they are egocentric, noisy, packs of commotion. But it is our duty, as librarians, to be there for these people who are in a pivotal moment of their lives. If we consistently treat them firmly, but respectfully we are providing them an opportunity to become lifelong library users. How many adults actually visit the library with a pack of friends? This occurrence is an exciting opportunity for librarians to instill an appreciation of the library and a love of books-- helping to create the lifetime readers of tomorrow. Lesesne (p.17) states that 75% of teens would rather never read another book after they graduate. That frightening statistic is the very reason we need to find ways to bridge the cultural, societal, and generation gap between ourselves and the tweens we serve.

Anderson, S. (2007). Serving young teens and 'tweens. Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited.

Lesesne, T. (2006). Naked reading. Maine: Stenhouse Publishers.