Casey Heynes Video Interview with A Current Affair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-5jktFu4iE

Video Details
  On March 14, 2011, 15-year old Australian Casey Heynes fought back against his bully and it was all caught on a mobile phone video which has since spread like wildfire across the world. This YouTube video is a copy of the Sunday March 20, 2011 broadcast of the show, A Current Affair. The broadcast shows the first interview with Casey Heynes and his feelings on the world wide attention this altercation has received. Heynes told Australia's A Current Affair that years of being a victim finally caught up with him, and he just snapped. This bullying started in elementary school and he had hoped things would change when he got to high school, but instead, they got worse. After his friends left him, he was alone and isolated and contemplated suicide. Now, even though he was suspended for a few days, he has no regrets because this torment is finally over.
Review
  I admit that I was one of the millions who copied the YouTube video and placed it on my Facebook page. I was proud of Casey for standing up against years of bullying. As an educator and a parent, I don't condone fighting, but in this case, I see nothing but self defense. Of course, now the bully is an easy target for hate mail, taunting, as the tables have turned and the vicious cycle has begun. Where were the administration, the teachers, and the parents all of these years, and why was nothing done? Without education and positive role models, bullying will be pushing so many kids over the edge. This is a great video to share with tweens as they can see the true story and the affects it has on all those involved.

xEtHaNzz. (2011, March 20). Casey heynes full interview on aca. [ Video File ]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-5jktFu4iE.

Stop Cyberbullying Website

Website Details

  This website was created by the corporation Wired Kids and is headed by Parry Aftab and the Wired Kids Inc. boards and committees. Parry Aftab is a security, privacy, and cyberspace lawyer, as well as an author and child advocate. She is considered a world wide leader in the area of online safety and child Internet education. This group was awarded the President's Service Award from the White House and Points of Light Foundation. Stopcyberbullying.org provides children ages 7-17 years old and parents and caregivers information on cyberbullying. Sections offer details on what cyberbulling is, how it works, why people cyberbully, how to prevent it, how to take action, and what is the law against cyberbullying. There are also different icons that have information divided into age groups, parents and caregivers, educators, and law enforcement. Kids can also download a game called Alex Wonder Kid Cyberdetective to help stop cyberbullying.

Review

  This was such an easy to use website and it had a great simple interface with little distraction. All of the information was updated and factual as well as witty and appropriate for the different ages. I loved that aside from the important bullet points, sections were also broken down by age group. This allowed each age group to obtain information that was at their level, received information that pertained to them, and subject matter than interested them. Both parents and their children can search this website together and have starting points to engage conversation. Some subjects offer short quizzes and scenarios that open up kids and parents to conversation in a non threatening way. The icing on the cake was the downloadable game that appeals to the tween group and my daughter found it fun, easy to use, and got important points across about the dangers of cyberbullying.

Interest Age/Reading Level

7 years old- Adult/ 7 years old-adult

WiredKids Inc. (2011). Stop bullying. Retrieved from http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/contact_us.html.

We Want You to Know: Kids Talk About Bullying by Deborah Ellis

Book Details

  Author Deborah Ellis collected more than 30 personal accounts of bullying taken straight from the mouths of children ages 9-13 years old. These kids have overcome being bullied, know someone who has been bullied, or have been a bully themselves and have shared their stories in this book as a part of an anti-bullying campaign in Canada. Bigger questions are asked such as why do educators and parents just stand by and let the bullying continue, and what makes a bully start bullying. The writing in this book is great for kids and for adults, and both will feel a deep connection to their stories. 

Review

  Katie stays home, Adam is beat up all the time and Amanda hides in the school closet during lunch to hide from a group of girls who call her ugly and fat. All of these first hand accounts are written about in this book created from author Deborah Ellis. The scenarios have real names, ages, locations, and pictures posted which gives readers a sense of intimacy. Readers will find at least one story that they can relate to and this book would be a great resource in classroom and library discussions. Although these stories are disturbing and distressing, it is a great book to share with children who are being bullied or are in fact, bullies themselves. 

Interest Age/Reading Level

9-12 years old/tween

Ellis, D. (2010). We want you to know: Kids talk about bullying. Canada: Coutea Books.

Love is Louder

Website Details
Created by actress Brittany Snow,The Jed Foundation and MTV in support of the many tragic teen  suicides in September 2010, #Love is Louder shouts out that love and support are powerful weapons.  Brittany, who herself was bullied and mistreated in middle school, offers encouragement to speak out against bullying. The website includes pictures, shirts, and videos that support the Love is Louder campaign. While many celebrities from Pink to Kellan Lutz from Twilight have made love is louder videos, anyone can join in by uploading a brief video (30 seconds or less) at http://your.mtv.com/ or by joining in the conversation on Facebook and Twitter* . 

Review 
Sometimes you can not stop the internal and external voices that bring you down, but remember love is louder! Included on the website are many valuable resources that can help you deal with harassment, depression or thoughts of suicide.

Interest Age/Reading Level
Suitable for more mature tweens, grades 6-8.

Love is Louder. (2010). Love is Louder. Retrieved March 18, 2011, from http://www.loveislouder.com/