Parents, Take Charge – What teens have to say…
November 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment
I want to draw your attention to a great site, Take Charge, by Cox Communications: http://www.cox.com/takecharge/.
This site provides info on how to manage what your kids see and don’t see on TV and the Internet. John Walsh is the spokesperson who offers many important guidelines and safety tips for parents to implement. Part of this initiative includes an annual Internet Safety Teen Summit. The teens on the Summit panel agreed that parental involvement is CRUCIAL for teen and child safety online. The teens encouraged parents to talk conversationally and in a relaxed setting about internet safety issues rather than in the “living room” with a formal meeting style. Parents, kids want you to care enough to take charge, but be careful communicate without accusation or a dictatorial style. Visit Take Charge to learn more about what Cox Communication is doing to make the Internet and Media safer for kids.
MySpace and its new relationship with Suicide
November 16, 2007 | Leave a Comment
In the lastest issue (Fall 2007) of Leadership Journal, an article entitled, My Death, chronicles a pastor’s experience of helping his small town and church cope with the very public suicide of a young man with a promising future who announced his suicide online and followed through. This pastor while caring for the young man’s family also recognized the need to respond to the pain of those in the community, especially the students. He talked with the family about it and they agreed that much of what was said at the funeral and in follow-up meetings should be geared to help other students find hope and healing. The pastor and church leaders planned 3 meetings to follow up the funeral and announced them publicly (newspaper, radio, etc.). The first meeting was for anyone to attend. Counselors spoke to the group about suicide, grief, and how to find hope. The second meeting was similar to the first but attendance was limited to students. The third meeting was for parents only. It was all about MySpace.com and other social networking sites. Worried parents were taught how to get to and navigate around sites like MySpace.com.
Little did I know that very soon, this article would have direct implications for my community. On Monday, Nov. 5th, at a local Christian School, a 13-year old boy shot himself with a small pistol shortly before classes began. He was rushed to the hospital and died the following morning from his self-inflicted gun shot wound. Joe Lynn was known as a friendly, outgoing “happy-go-lucky” student who played on the school’s eighth-grade football team. It seemed to most that there were no warning signs. However, as reported by the Times Picayune, “Lynn apparently did broadcast his intentions — online at least. On his myspace.com page, the display name was ‘I WANNA KILL MYSELF. I DON’T DISERVE LIFE” (sic). A message to friends Sunday at 6:17 p.m. said, “R.I.P. JOE LYNN. GONE FOREVER 11/5/07 (TOMORROW).’”
I didn’t know Joe Lynn but I sat grief stricken along with most people in our family-oriented community of Jefferson Parish, LA. As I thought about the Lynn family and the John Curtis Christian School staff and students, I pondered what my response should be as a MySpace educator. Within minutes, I received a call from Bronwyn Piccolo, Mother of a John Curtis Christian School student, my friend, and business colleague. She called me to action and challenged me to step up to the plate and make the connection that MySpace education isn’t just a good idea, but the need of the hour. In response, on Tuesday, Nov. 27th at 7 PM, Michele Louiviere, Director of Trauma Counseling at Celebration Church and myself, Michelle Cullison, Lost in MySpace Seminar Leader, will be available to minister to JCCS parents as they, in turn, minister to their kids through this crisis. Michele Louiviere will provide parents with information on how to talk with your kids about the suicide, how to help them through the grief process, and suicide prevention. I will help parents understand:
- what kids do on social networking sites like MySpace
- what parents need to know about navigation and settings
- the risks and benefits of MySpace and other social networking sites
- how MySpace can be used to strengthen the parent/child relationship and teach values
Please keep the Lynn family, especially, and the John Curtis Christian School body in your prayers.
