4 Signs Your Children May Be Involved With Cyber bullying

1) They switch screens, close programs, or put away their phones when you’re nearby.
While this behavior can be a result of children wanting privacy, it may also be a sign that they want to hide their communication from you. Use this opportunity to develop codes of conduct with your children about how to maintain respectful and healthy online relationships.


2) They laugh excessively while using the computer or cell phone.
There are times when the tone of someone’s laughter is more sinister than happy. If you hear this kind of laughter from your children, ask them what’s so funny. Even if they roll their eyes and reply, “Nothing,” use this time to talk about your family’s rules for treating others–online and off.


3) They use multiple online accounts or an account that is not their own.
If your children are often on the Internet, check the computer’s browser history to see if they have consistently logged on to free e-mail sites (Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail), as this may indicate they have multiple addresses. The use of more than one address may be a result of their wanting to mask their identity. Make sure to ask your children why they have various accounts, and remind them of the commitment they have made to represent themselves truthfully and to communicate respectfully with others online. (This also applies for screen names children may use to send instant messages or chat online.)


4) They have been involved in prior bullying situations on- or offline.
The roles of “bully” and “target” are fluid and change with each hostile event. Someone who is bullied in the morning may become the aggressor in the afternoon as she retaliates for having been mistreated herself. Speak with your children about cruelty to others and remind them that nobody ever deserves to be treated poorly or attacked. 


Alison Trachtman Hill    

Cyber bullying: Not “Real” Bullying?

While it often feels as if children are the experts when it comes to communication technology such as cell phones, instant messaging, and social networking, it is the trusted adults in their lives who are the experts in helping them navigate the emotional realities which arise from using it. Children need guidance about how communication technology impacts their social worlds, and the best ways to build and maintain respectful relationships with others.

One of the most important concepts to consider when discussing cyber communication is disinhibition—when people say or do things online that they wouldn’t in “real life.” Some kids benefit from this, such as the poet who is too shy to read her work at in-person event. She may instead share her poems via a poetry website. Unfortunately, disinhibition can also manifest in ways that lead children to forget that they are communicating with another person. They may verbally abuse others and act in ways they wouldn’t if they were face-to-face with their targets. This has led to increased cyber bullying among children: insulting, harassing, and even threatening each other through Internet technologies.


While some adults are very concerned about how to stop cyber bullying, there are others who do not understand why it is such a big deal. For these adults, violence that isn’t physical in nature isn’t “real.” They can’t understand why kids don’t just shut the computer off or ignore the mean texts messages. After all, it’s not as if the bully is right outside the door of their home or waiting for them in the school parking lot. However, all adults need to understand that the physical locations that were the center of their adolescent social lives now exist virtually for their children. Asking cyber bullied children to “just log off and ignore it” is like telling them to miss the big game, stay home from the latest party, or avoid the newest hangout. While having children ignore cyber bullies can curtail a particular interaction, it cannot take the place of dialogue about appropriate online behavior.


Adults need to understand that cyber bullying is very real. They need to act quickly when they discover that a child is being cyber bullied—or cyber bullying. An awareness of the behaviors which may suggest that a cyber bullying situation is taking place enables trusted adults to take actions to help children, as well as create longer- term strategies for peaceful conflict resolution.


Alison Trachtman Hill

Socially Responsible Artistry

The private and public sectors of the education and training services industry are failing to provide students with a curriculum in artistic citizenship that will truly inform them about their role in society. Art is often defined as the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination. It is generally claimed to be a personal experience. Therefore, art education and training services focus primarily on the personal experience and growth of the artist. Consequently, the artist's influence on society is considered secondary and often is disregarded in public and private art education environments. The artist's influence in society is exceedingly significant and must be taken into further consideration by administrative figures in the private and public sectors of arts education. 

The public sector includes performing arts schools and universities that provide artistic opportunities for their students. The private sector includes tuition based training services such as dance studios, vocal coaching, summer art training experiences, etc.  If the private and public sectors of art education fail to encourage their students to act as citizens who contribute to the advancement of their communities, we will regrettably continue to produce artists who only use their talent to uplift themselves and fail to consider their value as artistic citizens. 

Unfortunately, art education and training services are greatly affected by the federal and state budget cuts. Due to the current American economy, the amount of after school services, clubs and extra-curricular artistic activities that are available to students has been severely cut. Budget cuts have profoundly limited resources for public school curriculums focusing on drama, art, dance, voice, etc. 

I foresee a further decline in the amount of services provided by the public education system for artists. This long-term decline will ultimately affect those who cannot afford to participate in the private sector of art education. In addition, private art education and training services will continue to drop out of the market due to the competitive nature of the industry and economic constraints. It is only those private training programs that provide unique artistic opportunities for students that will succeed. In order to avoid the demise of generations to come we must train our role models, namely our artists, to think critically about their role in society, the actions they take and the behaviors they display.

A Global Citizen Within The Nation State

In the midst of our declining economy and subsequent budget cuts, my family as well as many others have been effected, particularly in the areas of education and disability assistance.  My brother was diagnosed with autism in 2003, and the budget cuts across my home state have greatly effected the amount of attention and education he receives daily. The budget cuts trace back to the never-ending cycle of debt we've fallen into which was created by a vast amount of government spending. My concern, in particular is government spending and the usage of tax payer dollars to fund wars. We spent over 800 billion dollars in Iraq and almost 500 billion in Afghanistan. With these figures in mind, it's evident that our parents' tax dollars are re-directed to the fueling of wars, not towards the education of disabled individuals and educational programs for youth in need. 

If I could ask today's candidates a few questions, one of them would be,  "how are you going to prevent future wars so that in a few years my tax dollars won't be falling into the figures listed above?". Not only are those figures robbing us of needed services in this country, they are creating an inheritable cycle of debt. Now that we are in a recovery period, I would like to know what proactive measures these candidates are going to take to make us look better in four years? 

Another concern is fueled by our reputation as "Ugly Americans". PeaceMaker has really taught me to think about the gravity of civil relationships. If other countries see Americans through civil practices, international relations may change gradually and lessen the chances of war. Being part of the UN I am always inclined to consider how we can improve our relations with other countries. We've come to the conclusion that instilling a sense of cultural diplomacy in young individuals will create a reverent nation of older citizens that are empathetic and sympathetic towards members of other nation states. Therefore,  I would also inquire about "how today's candidates are going to improve our relations with other countries."

By: Nicole Johnson

Be responsible! Make a difference!

Be responsible!  Make a difference!

As we move into the 2012 elections, political candidates and parties will begin to reach out to youth – voting age and even younger.   Young people bring energy and, frankly, cheap labor to campaigns.  It is a two-way street, however.  Real life political work is an enlightening experience – far more important than what is taught in political science classrooms or books on government.  The world of politics can disillusion as well as inspire.  As youth about to become involved, make sure that the price for your work is high – not in dollars and cents, but in your candidate’s commitment to what you believe is right.

You are here today because you have made some level of commitment to civility and peace in the streets.     


Your job is to make sure that candidates in 2012 make the same commitment.  Youth can make this happen.  You can make candidates understand that the bullying that everyone talks about in schools and on our streets is a reflection of the ugliness that we hear in the Congress, in our campaigns and on the airways.  How can kids be called upon to respect fellow students who are different from them when leading politicians use hate speech to slander their opponents, demean women and abuse minorities?  If hate is the language of the powerful, who should be surprised when it raises its ugly head in your communities and classrooms?

Youth has the power to make a difference.  Work for candidates who share your ideals.  The price of your support and energy is their commitment to the goals of the Peacemaker Corps.  Don’t compromise your belief in decency and peaceful dialogue just because they have lost theirs.  Work for the best that is out there and help bring about change – one step at a time.  The tone of this year’s campaign may already be fixed in place, but don’t sell yourself short – if change doesn’t happen in the dialogue of 2012, it will happen eventually.  Promise!!  

Written By: Pat Johansen

And Away We Go…

The Peacemaker Corps are re-announcing themselves to the world. Not that they need to. The Peacemaker Corps have been around the block, a few times. Each time they circle the block, they spread their message of peace further and further. They've done so over 15 years and show no signs of slowing down, and with the track record they have, why should they?  The Peacemaker Corps, a 501(c)(3) and NGO at the United Nations was created in 1997 to educate vulnerable youth in the principles of non-violent conflict resolution and civilized behavior in order to make our world more peaceful, tolerant, and safe.

From the beginning, The Peacemakers Corps have had one main goal, to positively impact large numbers of vulnerable children and youth populations, as well as the communities in which they live. They've furthered impacted the communities by forming an alliance with Franklin/Covey, the internationally acclaimed leadership development and training firm, that has enabled the Peacemakers to increase their capacity to deliver training through schools, community and faith-based channels many fold.

"Peace in the Streets" is their new mantra and the Peacemakers are literally taking their message to the streets and bringing peacemaking skills to urban and inner city schools. Armed with a theme song and a newly designed website the Peacemakers are announcing themselves like never before. They've also partnered with Everloop.com, the ground-breaking social media site for kids under 13. Together the online partnership will empower future generations to come together and encourage peace, compassion, safety and tolerance.

Civility is at the center of the message. "It’s time to bring civility back into our communities, our workplaces, our government… and Everloop can help us do that," says Carole Sumner Krechman, Founder and President of Peacemaker Corps. "It can only happen if we help the next generation learn how to de-escalate conflict."

"Peace in the Streets" is meant to empower not only children under 18, but the adults around them. Find humility in others, and remember in order to make change in our lives, we all need to take to the streets at some point in our lives. Humility, understanding, and peace come together with the Peacemakers new campaign, "Peace in the Streets."