Long Neck Elementary students learn about cyberbullying
Long Neck Elementary students are superheroes with the power of choice, said guest speaker David Carter, who addressed students during a cyberbullying assembly April 3.
Carter, who is also the assistant principal at Indian River High School, told students whatever they put out in the world is connected to them. For example, he told children in grades three through five, you can choose how you respond to people and whether to put your best effort into taking tests.
“Each and every single one of you has the power of choice, which makes you superheroes,” Carter said.
Carter told children that if they don’t have cellphones now, they will, and they will be able to reach across the world with them. Whatever you send out from your phones, he said, is out there forever, even if you delete it.
At times, he said, high school students have come to him in tears because they put something on social media and the college they wanted to attend has now informed them that their acceptance has been withdrawn because they are not good representations of future students.
People can trick you online by pretending to be your age, he said. They can even get you to tell them your address, when you're not home and your parents’ credit card number.
“All these things have happened before,” he said.
The assembly was sponsored by Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club, which also purchased 685 copies of the book “The Technology Tail: Teaching Your Child How to Navigate Social Media” for each student at the school. Books were supplied at cost by Browseabout Books for $4,822.
Carter told students that the book will discuss their digital tail on any electronic device. Make sure what you put out there, whether it’s on Google Docs, text messages, Snapchat or a PS4, make sure it’s something you can be proud of, he said.
In presenting students with the book, Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club representative Sharon Marshall said helping children and families is important to the club, and that students need to understand the risks and benefits of using technology.
