Counselors sponsor cyberbullying event
Published 12:00 am Saturday, October 22, 2011
With the rising concern of cyberbullying, counselors from across the state along with community members, will have another opportunity to see “Lost in Cyberspace: A Social Issue.”
Opp Middle School Counselor Margaret Fox, who is a member of the Alabama Counseling Association, said Troy University Chief Security and Technology Officer Greg Price, will once again visit Opp to present an “eye-opening” program.
The workshop will provide education to counselors as well as public participants about online safety; inform them of the dangers of the Internet, how children and adolescents participate in the Internet and how to effectively change to protect everyone in cyberspace, Fox said.
In a four-hour format, Price will utilize a face-to-face teaching method that will provide an awareness and prevention workshop that will include a history of the Internet, the dynamics of social networks, a compressive overview of cyberbullying, the psychology and implications of sexting and a history of the Cyberkids Program.
Fox said the event is an ACA community outreach.
“If you missed it the first time, we are offering a second time for those (that missed it the first time),” she said.
Fox said it’s a very concerning issue for school counselors.
“Just in the last three years, I have had issues with students dealing with cyberbullying,” she said.
“Though it doesn’t initially begin here (at home), it flows over to here (at school). We can’t ignore it just because it didn’t happen here. We have to try and resolve it.”
The event, which is free to the public, is being held in conjunction with the ACA business meeting.
Fox said there is a $15 charge for counselors, and they must sign up by Oct. 24.
The event will be held Oct. 28, from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the OMS Multipurpose room.
For more info, call Fox at 493-6332.