Facebook Or Face To Face
“K.” That is my daughter’s response when I send her a request using a text message. I guess it was too much of a strain on her index finger to type the “O”. Adults are also getting into this habit of truncation; things like “you are” are now “ur.” Many years ago, the digital watch came out and all you had to do was view the numbers on the face to be able to tell someone what time it was. That was all well and good, provided you still knew how to tell time by reading the hands on a clock. The same thing is true regarding the invention of calculator. It should only be used for convenience, not to bypass a necessary life skill like multiplication. In this digital age, our students are losing their communication skills. They now interact with the use of Facebook and text messaging. Having an intelligent conversation or writing a “thank you” note is considered old fashioned. Sending an email, a text, or a Facebook post is now the preferred method. What does all this have to do with bullying? Kids today no longer confront in a face to face manner. A healthy confrontation is necessary in life to draw boundaries and express emotions in a constructive way. This is the skill that needs to be taught first, before texting and Facebook-ing. Begin to focus on writing, speaking, and communication as much as possible with your students. Make it a daily exercise. My fear is that if we don’t we will lose our students to the digital abyss.
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