Children and teens today are entangled in consistent and alarming social and emotional bombardment on Social Media. The fixation is addictive, encourages and produces inappropriate social skills in our youth, and is environmentally dangerous. The minds of children and teens are in the developmental stage. Therefore, they are easily drawn to and influenced by what they experience, hear, and see on Social Media. Their Social and Emotional Mindset and Social Emotional Learning Skills easily become critically flawed.
Many school districts are not allowing students to have cell phones in class. Although there are objections by students (of course) and even some parents, school administrators remain steadfast with their no-cell policy, as they should. However, Social Emotional Learning for children and teens will continue to be slanted because students are more intense and fixated on their cell phones after school, “bent on” making up for the lost time without access to their devices. There will still be up to 12 hours of cell phone access. The Social Emotional Learning they receive can be (and often is) inappropriate, negative, hateful, racist, and malicious.
To promote needed social skills, respect, responsibility, and moral qualities, we must offer enticing and positive alternatives that are comprehensive, interactive, and sustaining. The Bullies Be Gone Project (BBGP) – www.bulliesbegoneproject.org, 501 © (3) is the ONLY anti-bullying and Social Emotional program offering an 18-module curriculum that is literacy, ELA, and Common Core-based. This includes critical thinking, critical discussion, creative writing, role playing, and empathy, which are core components of BBGP. Original Poetry and music, social learning activities, positive mental toughness, and keen street awareness are vital ingredients of BBGP’s comprehensive training.
The children are our future. We must do all we can as superintendents of schools, principals, teachers, and parents to ensure our children are safe, emotionally stable, and are enthusiastic while learning positive academic and environmental attributes. An existing anti-bullying policy and program may not be enough to ensure the positive outcomes we seek. With the addition of enhanced and proactive training skills and programs within the Bullies Be Gone Project, the outcome for desirable Social Emotional Learning will be magnified.
Al Johnson
M.A. Special Education
Bullies Be Gone Project
Creator/Founder
