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Life after Bully: Teenage star of hit documentary finally escapes his tormentors... and finds happiness in new school

Alex Libby's life has changed since he featured in the hit anti-bullying documentary, Bully.

The highschool freshman now has other students come up and hug him in the corridors, has good friends and gets on well with his teachers.

The unlikely fame has potentially saved him from becoming one of two thousand American teenagers who have committed suicide because of relentless aggression from their peers.

Some 13million schoolchildren in the U.S. are victims of bullying, with 3million absent from class each month because they cannot cope with the torment.

The award-winning documentary by Lee Hirsh follows five kids and families over the course of a school year, including two families who have lost children to suicide because of bullying.

Alex agreed to take part in Bully in the hope that his persecutors would stop tormenting him.

He didn't realise that the brave act would bring him national notoriety, a trip to the White House and a chat with a beauty pageant winner.

Much of the bullying took place on the school bus, on which Kim Lockwood, assistant principal of East Middle School in Sioux City, Iowa, insisted the kids were 'as good as gold'.

Alex knew different.

'Most of the kids on that bus, I knew from elementary school, and we were good friends then,' he said in the documentary.

'But then in middle school, everything changes, and it's all about popularity and who dresses the best and who's the most athletic and who has the best hair. I was not the kid with the best hair.'

The bullies in Iowa called him 'fishface'. They threatened to break his bones, sexually assault him and kill him.

Perhaps, more crucially, the bullies scared away other kids who were his genuine buddies.

'I craved friends. I didn't have any friends. That was all I wanted, some friendship, someone to come over, someone to lift me back up when I'm knocked down. I didn't have that, he said.

However, today things have changed dramatically, reports the Des Moines Register .

A move to a new school, Edmond Memorial School in Oklahoma, has broken the cycle of bullying but Alex is also enjoying his unlikely fame and has become a spokesperson for the bullying cause.

He wears a T-shirt that says, 'I stand for the silent'.

Alex is not the only one: the documentary has already been seen by over 90,000 American schoolchildren and has 97,000 'likes' on its Facebook page .

Watch the video:

Watch the documentary trailer:

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Life after Bully: Teenage star of hit documentary finally escapes his tormentors... and finds happiness in new school

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Alex Libby's life has changed dramatically since he featured in the anti-bullying documentary, Bully. After leaving the school in Iowa he has now settled in a new school in Oklahoma.

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Young people have a unique relationship with the environment: They are often the first affected when something goes wrong, yet the least represented when decisions are made.

They, more than any other generation, have been raised to feel a responsibility toward the environment. And that's important because they will be the first generation in charge of correcting the problems caused by the widespread pollution of the atmosphere and rampant misappropriation of natural resources.

Youth today feel the "clock is ticking in terms of the amount of time we have to deal with the major issues like clean air, clean water and global warming," says Sharon Smith, program director of Brower New Leaders at the Earth Island Institute, a support group for youth environmental campaigns and initiatives.
Growth in activism
Smith has seen firsthand the growth in environmental activism. "I graduated from college in 1999, and right in my first year out of college I went to an eco conference, which at that time was held in the Northeast. It was one of the largest environmental youth conferences held to date, and it had about a thousand people."

Contrast that with a 2009 conference that drew 12,000 young people from all 50 states, she said. "You can really see the growth of the environmental movement even over the past decade by looking at these conferences and the trainings designed and led and initiated by young people."

Canon Envirothon has seen similar growth in youth activism. A nonprofit specializing in the delivery of environmental education for high school students, the program has grown from three states in 1988 to 54 states and provinces in North America today.

Young people are "looking for avenues where they can make a difference and become knowledgeable, and then they can take and share that knowledge and experience," said Clay Burns, executive director of Canon Envirothon in Mississippi. They need to be "willing and prepared to work toward achieving and maintaining a balance between the quality of life and the quality of the environment."
Raising new leaders
But an increase in youth activism is not enough to stave off environmental peril - we need new ideas and new leaders, according to Eban Goodstein, economics professor at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., and co-director of the 2009 National Teach-In on Global Warming, a nationwide network of teachers at all educational levels that, on Feb. 5, engaged more than a million Americans in a "solutions-driven dialogue."

Eban says the U.S. must act aggressively in the next year or so to reduce global- warming pollution and invest in clean energy technologies or "you guys are going to be looking at a very different world in 2050," when the world will be 3 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit higher.

"To put that number in perspective, during the last Ice Age, it was only nine degrees Fahrenheit colder than it is on average today," he explained.

Goodstein says youth need to move beyond being the front lines of environmental activism to being the visionaries. Both the Brower New Leaders and Canon Envirothon have devoted more than two decades training them to do just that.

Earth Island Initiative was founded in 1982 by renowned environmentalist David Brower to support young people who have new strategies for saving the earth. In 2000, the organization started the Brower Youth Awards, which honor six youth ages 13 to 23 each year for their leadership and activism with a gala ceremony, campout and $3,000 prize.

"We felt like young people so often are sort of the workhorses of these campaigns and aren't always recognized, aren't always supported at a critical time in the development of their careers, in the development of their activism," Smith said.

The Canon Envirothon also honors young environmentalists in a yearly competition that engages more than 500,000 high school students throughout North America. The Envirothon works in partnership with local conservation districts, forestry associations, educators and natural resource agencies to organize and conduct competitions on the local, regional, and state and/or provincial level. This year's hands-on problem-solving competition is Aug. 2-6 at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where local finalists will compete for recognition, scholarships, and prizes.
Issues addressed
While recycling clubs abound at all age levels, more and more youth are expanding their efforts in other directions. In Massachusetts, young people involved in Gardening in the Community promote organic gardening and bicycle use. In Florida, a young man developed an interactive curriculum to educate youth about the plight of loggerhead turtles. In California, youth helped pass a bill requiring cosmetic companies to alert the Department of Health if their products contain carcinogens.

These are just a few examples. Youth across the country are cleaning up local wetlands, shutting down toxic waste sites, promoting clean energy and combating landfills. They have educated their peers, parents and the public on carbon emissions, reusable goods and conservation of resources.

Brower New Leaders have dealt with many such issues, and the Earth Island Institute currently oversees 60 projects, ranging from "Project Coyote" to the "Sacred Land Film Project," in 26 countries worldwide.

Students involved in Canon Envirothon pay special attention to natural resources, specifically those related to soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry and wildlife.

"Conservation is the big thing that we're involved in," Burns said, explaining that such work is more grassroots, and thus a more viable venue for youth activism.

And while most youth activism is local, many are entering the political realm to effect long-lasting change.

"There's a recognition that this is a time when we need major action from government if we're going to sort of lay the foundation and give you guys the tools that you're going to need to transform the world," Goodstein said.
New worldview coming?
Goodstein envisions a day soon when people automatically think about the environmental impact of their actions before they act. "We'll move on to a phase where we just sort of naturally mimic nature and create things that are in harmony with nature and don't produce waste and pollution."

Smith shares his optimism because she's seen the changes enacted by the youth involved in her program. "Just this year we were looking at the past 10 years of awardees, and at least 87 percent of our award recipients are still in leadership roles in the environmental movement. So it's a great sign that these young folks were committed when they applied to do this work and that hopefully the support we provided ensured they could stay committed and rise as leaders," she said.

The presidency of Barack Obama gives more reasons for hope. "It's rejuvenated the environmental movement in a number of ways," Smith said. "People have been really hitting their heads against the wall for eight years trying to push forward environmental initiatives."
Click here to read these Y-Press profiles:
Grind for the Green, San Francisco, CA
Urban Roots, East Austin, TX
West Oakland Urban Students Uprising against Pollution, Oakland, CA
Click here to read how students at two high schools are recycling and promoting environmentalism.

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Researchers from the United Negro College Fund went to West Virginia last year and asked 62 high school dropouts in the federal Job Corps program a simple, open-ended question. ¨What was it about school,¨ they wanted to know, ¨that caused you to quit?¨

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Animal Population Control - American Humane Society

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All cats and dogs adopted from animal care facilities should be spayed or neutered Pet “overpopulation” encompasses two primary factors: (1) allowing cats and dogs to reproduce with little chance to find homes for the offspring and (2) pets being relinquished by owners who can no longer keep their animals, or who no longer want […]

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Jaylens Challenge - Surprise from The Ellen Degeneres Show!

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The international community has developed a prevention, protection and prosecution framework for combating human trafficking

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Looking at the statistics of human trafficking.

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Queensland passes laws banning 'killer' single-use plastics

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Environmentalists hail 'fantastic news' for the state's turtles, whales and seabirds

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Understanding key terms in the gun control debate

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Gun regulations can vary from state to state

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PRO/CON: Is it time to pass tough gun control laws?

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For or against stricter gun control laws?

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Students vote: views on gun laws

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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Data and statistics on children's mental health

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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Medical system can't meet demand for teen mental health services

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Help can be hard to get for teens suffering from mental illness

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For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your web browser.

CommonLit is a nonprofit that has everything teachers and schools need for top-notch literacy instruction: a full-year ELA curriculum, benchmark assessments, and formative data.

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CommonLit | No, Mobile Phones Should Not Be Banned in UK schools

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For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. CommonLit is a nonprofit that has everything teachers and schools need for top-notch literacy instruction: a full-year ELA curriculum, benchmark assessments, and formative data.

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School violence and the resulting intense media coverage bring school safety issues to the forefront for all of us. However, children, in particular, may experience anxiety, fear, and a sense of personal risk. Knowing how to talk with your child about school safety issues could be critical in recogn…

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Every child deserves to live free from violence. Our nation's kids pay an enormous price for our weak gun laws. We must do better.

From 2015 to 2018, more than 35,000 American children were shot before their 18th birthdays. This trauma and suffering shouldn't be a normal part of growing up.

Young people face threats of mass shootings in schools, armed domestic violence at home, and community violence in neighborhood parks and streets. They are at higher risk of firearm suicide and unintentional shootings than older Americans.

Living every day in fear takes a terrible toll on young people. We can do so much more to combat our epidemic of gun violence and stand up for our children's right to grow up healthy, safe, and without fear.

Why This Matters

Thirteen-year-old Brooklynn was president of her elementary school, an honor roll student, violinist, runner, and award-winning gymnast. She loved animals and frequently rescued stray dogs, giving them the care she brought to everything in her life.

On June 4, 2013, Brooklynn went over to her best friend's house after a half-day at school. When Brooklynn's father arrived to pick her up, she was struggling for air, choking on her body fluid. A hollow-point bullet had entered her back and ripped through her body before exiting her chest. She didn't survive.

Brooklynn died because of an unsecured gun in her best friend's home. No charges were filed, and her death was ruled an accident. There was no accountability for the owner who stored their gun where a child could easily access it.

"I always kind of felt like eventually it was going to happen here too. I wasn't surprised, I was just scared."

Unintentional shootings are just one of the many ways that guns kill, injure, and traumatize thousands of American children every year. Firearm suicide, domestic violence, community violence, and mass shootings pose a significantly higher risk to kids in the United States than kids in other high-income countries.

Our kids shouldn't have to learn how to cower under their desks or apply shoelace tourniquets. Parents shouldn't have to mourn the life, dreams, and potential of their son or daughter cut short by a bullet. Tragically, this is the case for far too many American families. There are simple steps we can and must take to save lives and protect our kids and communities.

OUR STORIES

We're youth activists, survivors, doctors, and gun owners. We're united in the fight to end gun violence.
Read More
The Problem

The combination of widespread gun ownership and weak gun safety laws creates a uniquely dangerous environment for American children. 91% of children killed with guns in high-income countries are killed in the US.

The effects of this gun violence epidemic are devastating. Each year, over 8,000 minors are killed or seriously injured by firearms in the US. Meanwhile, survivors and their loved ones grapple with grief, trauma, and fear.

Children in neighborhoods where shootings are a daily occurrence are terrified of being hit by bullets as they walk home from school or sit on their front porches. They are taught to hide under beds or in bathtubs at the sound of gunfire. These realities rob children of any sense of safety and security, and can have a lasting detrimental impact on their lives and wellbeing. Nearly 40% of children exposed to a shooting will develop PTSD.

Over 221,000 K-12 students have experienced a shooting at their school since Columbine, and more than four million students endured at least one lockdown during the 2017-2018 school year. Most American schoolchildren today have been alive for at least six of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in American history, including the December 2012 mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary that left 20 first-graders and six adults dead. Unsurprisingly, a majority of high school students report feeling concerned about a mass shooting in their own school or community.

kids live in homes with a loaded, unlocked gun
In the US, 4.6 million minors live in homes with at least one loaded and unsecured firearm. Child access prevention laws can help prevent unintentional shootings and gun suicides.

Source

Deborah Azrael, Joanna Cohen, Carmel Salhi, and Matthew Miller, "Firearm Storage in Gun-owning Households with Children: Results of a 2015 National Survey," Journal of Urban Health 95, no. 3 (2018): 295-304.; Matthew Miller and Deborah Azrael, "Firearm Storage in US Households with Children: Findings from the 2021 National Firearm Survey," JAMA Network Open 5, no. 2 (2022).

Increase in gun suicides among minors

Between 2012 and 2021, firearm suicides involving minors increased by a disturbing 81%. Laws that require safe storage of guns have the potential to save the lives of young people in crisis.

Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2021 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2023. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2021, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html on Feb 13, 2023. Calculations include children ages 0-17 and were based on the most recently available data: 2012 to 2021.

The Solution

We can, and must, make our country a safer place for children to grow up. Rather than accepting school shootings and other violence against children as the price of freedom, we need to take steps to ensure the safety of our kids. A number of effective policy solutions can better protect children from violence:

Closing background check and domestic violence loopholes can prevent people with histories of violent behavior from accessing firearms.

Investing in community-based violence intervention programs has been proven to reduce shootings in cities, making it less likely children will be harmed or killed by stray bullets.

Child access prevention laws help ensure responsible firearm storage by holding adults accountable when kids gain access to their guns. States that have implemented these laws have seen reductions in youth suicides and unintentional injuries.

Raising the minimum age for civilians to purchase a firearm would help prevent young people from owning guns until their brains are more fully developed. Studies have found this policy decreases suicides and unintentional shootings.

Extreme risk protection orders have been proven to reduce suicides and have the potential to prevent mass shootings like the one at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school in Parkland.

The gun lobby insists that the only way to protect our children is to put more guns in more places, including classrooms-but the evidence says otherwise. The policy solutions listed above must be a part of any honest effort to save children's lives from gun violence.

SPOTLIGHT

KEEPING KIDS SAFE

Protecting the Next Generation: Strategies to Keep America's Kids Safe from Gun Violence examines the life-altering implications for the children who witness or survive shootings, particularly with regard to their mental health, and lays out the solutions that can prevent these tragedies.
Read More

What Giffords Is Doing

For years, Giffords has helped write, pass, and enact legislation that is reducing gun violence and saving lives. Against fierce opposition, we have helped pass more than 350 new gun safety laws in 45 states and Washington DC since the tragedy at Sandy Hook.

In addition to our work enacting new gun safety laws, our experts at Giffords Law Center are defending our hard-won victories in court and pushing back against the gun lobby's reckless efforts to arm teachers. In November 2018, we partnered with the Southern Poverty Law Center and pro bono counsel at Munger, Tolles & Olson and Stearns Weaver Miller to represent elementary school students and parents suing Duval County, Florida, over an illegal and dangerous decision to let inadequately trained staff carry guns in schools. The case is ongoing: as of summer 2020, we are representing the families in an appeal after a Florida trial judge agreed in part with Giffords Law Center's arguments, but then upheld Duval County's program.

We've also been making considerable progress at the federal level, though we still have a long way to go. In 2019, Giffords Law Center Executive Director Robyn Thomas testified in the first congressional hearing on gun violence in over a decade. Giffords helped pass a universal background checks bill through the House of Representatives and helped secure the first funding for gun violence research since the 1990s.

In order to protect the next generation from gun violence, we must work together to stand up to the gun lobby and pass desperately needed gun safety laws. The future of our children depends on it.

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Every child deserves to live free from violence. Our nation's kids pay an enormous price for our weak gun laws. We must do better. From 2015 to 2018, more than 35,000 American children were shot before their 18th birthdays. This trauma and suffering shouldn't be a normal part of growing up.

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Introduction
Gun control involves laws that restrict access to arms, particularly firearms. It also includes the enforcement of such laws. Gun control deals with issues such as who is allowed to buy guns and other arms. Laws may limit the types of arms that people can buy. Laws may also state where and how arms should be stored or carried.

Every country has the authority to regulate firearms within its borders. The vast majority of industrialized countries have strict gun-control regulations. Even so, gun control is a controversial and emotional issue in many countries.

The gun-control debate often centers on two issues. The first issue is whether regulations of an individual's right to arms restrict liberty. The second issue is whether there is a connection between guns and crime. People arguing for gun control contend that strict gun-control laws save lives and reduce crime. Opponents of gun control state that individuals are better able to practice self-defense when there are fewer restrictions on guns. They also assert that a wider distribution of firearms results in safer communities.

United Kingdom
In England Parliament and the kings and queens always controlled arms. Arms were primarily seen as tools for the common defense of the realm. They were entrusted to economically prosperous subjects. The government strictly regulated arms to ensure that they were readily available for defense purposes. At the same time, the government wanted to keep arms out of the hands of dangerous people. For example, King Henry VIII, who reigned from 1509 to 1547, enacted various gun-control restrictions. They defined who was qualified to have guns and when and where guns might be fired. Other restrictions concerned the length of guns.

From the mid-17th to the late 18th century, members of Parliament periodically proposed laws that would remove gun restrictions. The laws would have allowed the general public to have guns for the defense of the kingdom. Such proposals failed, however, because leaders thought that arming too many people would be unsafe. In particular, they feared that armed mobs might try to overthrow the government. Therefore, the gun restrictions in England continued.

Naturally, the safety of the government was not the only reason that England imposed restrictions on guns. Gun-control restrictions sometimes supported the hunting of game or the access of hunters to game preserves. They were also used to prevent crime and murders.

Modern gun-control legislation in the United Kingdom began in earnest in the early 20th century. At the end of World War I there were excess weapons in the public's hands from the war. That led to the establishment of the Firearms Act of 1920. It required gun owners to have licenses from the police. It also prohibited certain groups, such as children, criminals, and the insane, from having firearms. The act of 1920 was later repealed, but new acts were adopted. Today the United Kingdom has some of the toughest gun-control regulations in the world. Handguns are banned, but some rifles and shotguns are allowed. Owners have to be licensed. They also have to limit their use of firearms to activities such as hunting, target shooting, and pest control.

United States
Gun control in the United States has been in place since the formation of the colonies. The American colonies had numerous gun-control laws concerning safety, crime, hunting, and the common defense. Slaves were not allowed to have guns. For free men, however, there were no gun restrictions by class. The rich and poor alike could own firearms. This policy was different from England's.

In the American colonies, men of all classes were required to maintain guns for the safety and defense of the state. In this philosophy of an armed citizenry, every citizen was considered a soldier and every soldier a citizen. The philosophy was later written in the U.S. Constitution 's Second Amendment (1791). It states, "A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

The precise meaning of the Second Amendment has been subject to intense debate, particularly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In general, the U.S. Supreme Court has held that the Second Amendment only prohibits gun-control laws that would completely deprive citizens of certain rights. These are the right to defend their homes and the right to serve in a national militia. In addition, state governments cannot pass gun-control laws that conflict with their state constitutions.

Both federal and state courts have permitted under the Constitution a number of gun-control measures. They have included restrictions on the time, place, or manner of gun use outside the home. They have included restrictions on the types of firearms that individuals can own. For example, laws have banned certain semiautomatic assault weapons. Other laws have limited who can own and use guns. Laws have placed limits on gun use by age and by alien status. Laws also have mandated background checks to keep guns out of the hands of people with criminal records or with serious mental health problems.

Modern Gun Control in Other Countries
Most other countries have some gun-control regulations. They range from strict to relatively lax. More-restrictive countries may ban certain firearms. They may impose age requirements for owning or using firearms or require firearm training. They may require background checks of individuals before they buy guns or any number of other procedures. The most-restrictive countries usually have a combination of regulations. Many countries enacted stricter gun-control laws in the late 20th or early 21st century in reaction to mass shootings. The connection between citizen safety and gun control continues to be debated in political, social, and cultural discussions.

Examples of how countries handle gun-control issues are numerous. For instance, Japan places restrictions on the possession and use of all firearms except in limited instances. These instances include hunting, athletic events, and research. The Australian government enacted gun-reform legislation in the mid-1990s. It introduced a licensing and registration system at the state and territory level. At the same time the country also began a program to buy (and destroy) from consumers all firearms on a prohibited list. Canada permits the possession and use of many rifles and shotguns. However, it restricts or forbids the possession of handguns in most cases. Germany permits the ownership of certain firearms so long as an individual meets the requirements for a firearms ownership license. To do so, applicants must be age 18 or older and pass a background check. Applicants must have expert knowledge in the handling of firearms. They must also prove they need to have such firearms (for purposes other than self defense).

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Gun control involves laws that restrict access to arms, particularly firearms. It also includes the enforcement of such laws. Gun control deals with issues such as who is...

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Bullying includes a wide range of malicious behaviors, including physical violence, verbal mockery, threats, ostracism, and rumors spread either orally or by other means of communication, such as the Internet. Not all people engaged in this type of interaction, however, can be categorized as pure bullies or pure victims; research has distinguished a third category called bully-victims, youth who are both bullies and victims.

Early research showed that bullying peaked during early adolescence and declined in later adolescence. It also found that boys bullied their classmates more frequently than did girls and that boys tended to target other boys. These studies, however, usually focused on physical aggression and verbal abuse. When studies include more subtle forms of aggression, such as spreading rumors, ostracism, manipulation, and "cyberbullying" (the anonymous electronic posting of mean-spirited messages about a person), boys and girls are almost on equal levels. At the same time, girls tend to be bullied in greater numbers, both by boys and by other girls.

Research has not found any general patterns in regard to bullying and race or socioeconomic status. Exposure to aggression and conflict in the home, however, consistently relates to aggressive behavior. Parents who are aggressive or neglectful, use corporal punishment, or engage in serious conflicts with each other are more likely to have children who bully. Perhaps just as important, exposure to aggression in the peer group is also associated with bullying behavior. There is a strong tendency for bullies to be friends with other bullies. It is unclear, however, whether bullies choose other bullies as friends or whether they influence their friends to engage in aggression. Research suggests that both behaviors are at work.

Some research finds that bullies suffer from mental health problems. Bullying may arise as a response to low levels of self-esteem and empathy or to high levels of anxiety, depression, or anger. Many bullies have difficulty adjusting to school, and their academic failures may contribute to their aggressive behavior. Other research, however, shows that some bullies have high levels of social skills, empathy, self-esteem, and self-regard. They can be seen as quite popular among their peers, although they are not necessarily well-liked. Indeed, the high social status of these aggressors likely empowers them to torment their more vulnerable peers. This so-called popular bully may be more noticeable because of the expansion in the definition of harmful actions-or changes in bullying behavior itself-to include cyberbullying and other forms of veiled harassment.

The bulk of research on victims suggests that they are vulnerable or otherwise different in some dimension that is of importance to most adolescents. They are more likely to be physically underdeveloped and socially isolated and to have difficulty making friends. Victimization rates are also substantially higher among gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth and among youth who are overweight or disabled. Additional research, using a wide notion of aggression, documents that a good deal of harmful behavior-if not the bulk-targets popular adolescents in addition to isolated adolescents.

Although the root causes of bullying remain unclear, its consequences for victims are abundantly apparent. Government reports found that bullying was a factor in the majority of school-targeted violence that has occurred beginning in the last quarter of the 20th century. Victimization is also significantly related to thoughts of suicide, social isolation, anxiety and depression, low self-esteem, physical health problems, and diminished academic performance and school attachment. Many of these effects can last well into adulthood.

Victims, however, are not the only ones who suffer from bullying. While bully-victims often fare the worst on a variety of measures, pure bullies also experience difficulties. They are at increased risk of subsequent mental health problems and are likely to encounter difficulty maintaining positive relationships as adults. More significantly, bullies are considerably more likely to be convicted of crimes and spend time in jail as young adults.

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Bullying, whether by adolescents in school or adults in the workplace, remains a common everyday experience. Bullying is defined as the typically repeated intentional...

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Introduction
As part of their jobs, police officers sometimes use force when detaining or arresting people. If the police use more force than is reasonably required to perform their duties safely, this excessive force is considered police brutality. Police brutality is always unwarranted and is often illegal. Forms of police brutality have ranged from beatings and other physical assaults to torture and murder.

In the United States people of all races, ethnicities, ages, classes, and genders have been subjected to police brutality. However, police brutality has most often been directed against the poor and working classes and minorities, including Hispanics, Muslims, LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, transgender, and queer) people, and especially African Americans.

Whitney Curtis-The New York Times/Redux

The great majority of victims of police brutality in the United States have been African American. According to most experts, a key factor explaining this fact is racism among members of mostly white police departments. Similar prejudices are thought to have played a role in police brutality committed against other historically oppressed or marginalized groups.

In addition to racism, other factors underlying police brutality include the unique culture of urban police departments. This culture stresses group solidarity, loyalty, and a "show of force" approach to any challenge to an officer's authority. For rookie officers, acceptance and success within the department depend upon adopting the attitudes, values, and practices of the group. Historically, these attitudes, values, and practices have been infused with anti-Black racism.

The Great Migration
The racism underpinning U.S. police brutality has a long history, dating back hundreds of years to the institution of slavery. Interactions between African Americans and modern urban police departments were initially shaped in the 20th century, during what is known as the Great Migration. From 1916 to 1970 several million African Americans from the rural South moved to urban areas of the North and West. They sought better jobs and wages and hoped to escape racial oppression, which was entrenched in the South.

In the North most white communities, including white police departments, were not used to the presence of African Americans. They reacted to the increasing numbers of Black people in their areas with fear and hostility. Influenced by deeply ingrained racist stereotypes, many white people thought that African Americans-especially Black men-had a natural tendency to commit crimes. Urban police departments acted on this belief. They thought that African Americans needed to be watched all the time and that their movements needed to be restricted in order to keep white people safe. By the mid-1950s, many urban police departments viewed their missions as essentially protecting whites from Blacks.

This situation gave rise to police brutality against African Americans in many forms, including physical assaults and excessive use of force. The brutality also included unlawful arrests, racial slurs and other verbal abuse, threats, and police homicides-murders of civilians by police.

For a variety of reasons, police brutality increased after World War II. White people from rural areas increasingly began moving to cities. They were used to lynchings-a form of mob violence in which groups of whites attacked Black people. The lynchings were supposedly carried out to punish Black people for committing crimes. In reality, white people used the attacks to terrorize and oppress the Black population. The police in urban areas viewed their own violence against African Americans as a more acceptable way to control Black people than the mob hysteria of the rural whites. In effect, police brutality replaced lynchings as a means of oppressing Blacks. During this period, white supremacist and terrorist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan operated openly in Southern cities. There, police brutality against African Americans was abetted by government and political leaders, district attorneys, and judges, among others.

In many cities, especially in the North, large numbers of white people left the cities for the suburbs. The growing population of African Americans in the cities was thus more visible. Such demographic changes made African Americans as a group appear more threatening to white police officers.

Beginning in the 1970s, many African Americans joined local police forces. Many of the Black officers themselves committed serious acts of brutality against African American civilians, in part because they wished to be seen as "good cops" and to be otherwise accepted within their departments.

Finally, urban crime rates increased greatly in the 1970s and '80s, including in predominantly African American and other minority neighborhoods. This strengthened the perception among white police officers and whites generally of African Americans as inherently criminal.

Police brutality against African Americans had become a serious problem in many urban areas by the mid-20th century. However, most whites remained unaware of it until about the mid-1960s. This was in large part because policy brutality was not often reported in the media. Most big-city newspapers (whose readerships were primarily white) did not consider police brutality against Black people to be newsworthy.

Police Brutality and Race Riots
From the 1960s, many "race riots," or riots caused by racial discord, broke out in urban America. Police brutality-and the failure to hold police offers accountable for brutality-sparked many of the riots. Among them were riots in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, in 1965 and in Detroit, Michigan, in 1967. In 1980 the Liberty City section of Miami, Florida, erupted over the police killing of an unarmed African American man.

Twelve years later Los Angeles police officers severely beat Rodney King, an African American man who had been pulled over for speeding and had tried to escape-and the beating was caught on videotape. The police officers were arrested, but at trial they were acquitted of almost all charges. This triggered the Los Angeles Riots of 1992. During a period of six days, more than 50 people were killed and more than 2,300 were injured. Property damage was estimated at about $1 billion.

In 2014 a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, shot an unarmed African American teenager, Michael Brown. After a grand jury decided not to indict the officer on criminal charges, rioting broke out in Ferguson. Later race riots-along with peaceful demonstrations-followed the deaths in police custody of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2015 and George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2020, both of whom were African American.

Antibrutality Campaigns
Most victims of police brutality, including not only African Americans but also whites and other ethnic groups, have come from the ranks of the poor and low-income working classes. As a result, they have lacked significant political influence or financial resources. These factors often made it difficult for them to publicize complaints of police brutality. Nevertheless, African Americans and others have established antibrutality campaigns in nearly every major U.S. city with a sizable Black population. In sometimes large demonstrations, members of victimized communities have demanded an end to police brutality. They have also called for accountability for guilty officers and major reforms, including the hiring of more Black police officers and the placement of more Black officers in supervisory positions. Demonstrators have also demanded racially integrated patrols or Black-only patrols in African American neighborhoods, civilian review boards, and federal investigation of certain cases of police brutality. Some people have called for defunding police departments, or reducing police budgets and reallocating the money to community social services, such as mental health, conflict resolution, education, and health care services.

The tactics of those fighting against police brutality have included street protests, sit-ins, boycotts, and close monitoring of police activity. From the late 20th century, witnesses have captured videos of police brutality with handheld cameras and cell phones.

In 2013-14 antibrutality activists started a powerful social movement called Black Lives Matter. In 2013 it began as an online movement using the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. The movement grew in the wake of the deaths of Brown and Eric Garner in 2014. Garner, a Black man from New York, died after a white police officer held him in a prolonged illegal choke hold. The Black Lives Matter movement came to play a prominent role in nationwide protests following other extreme acts of police brutality against African Americans. Notably, Black Lives Matter activists organized massive and highly influential protests after the death of Floyd in 2020. Floyd was killed while being restrained by a white police officer, with the officer kneeling on his neck for several minutes. The protests lasted for weeks, spread to cities throughout the country and internationally, and drew widespread attention to the issues of anti-Black police violence and entrenched racism in society.

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Introduction As part of their jobs, police officers sometimes use force when detaining or arresting people. If the police use more force than is reasonably required to perform their duties safely, this excessive force is considered police brutality. Police brutality is always unwarranted and is often illegal.

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The Let's Learn lemonade stand. Image courtesy of the author.

by Rohan Satija, Texas high school student

As I ran to the library, I suddenly felt as if I couldn't breathe. I picked up a book and hid my face behind it, attempting to appear normal, when in reality, I was sobbing and hyperventilating. Although I didn't know what was going on at the time, I later discovered that I had been experiencing a panic attack.

Before the panic attack began, I remember being bullied by a group of boys. I felt so humiliated and scared when they made fun of my accent and demeanor, but I tried to hide the tears streaming down my face. Eventually, I ran to the library to hide my panic attack from anyone who could see it.

Related: Discuss why school districts are banning books about the Holocaust and racism

Let me take you back to the beginning. It was fifth grade, and I was the new kid in school, having recently moved from New Zealand to Austin, Texas. I was given the opportunity to join my school's broadcast channel, and I was eventually accepted as an anchor, which meant that I would be speaking to the whole school weekly. Since I was being broadcasted to the whole school, my accent made me feel vulnerable and exposed. When the laughter and taunts followed, it shattered me.

Related: Librarians push back against book bans

Amidst this chaos, I found solace in reading. I spent almost every free moment I had with my face buried in a book, especially ones that had representations of characters that looked like me and felt like me. One book in particular - "Aru Shah and the End of Time," by Roshani Chokshi - helped comfort me. When I saw the characters in my books win, I felt like I could win too.

Books helped me boost my self-esteem and improve my mental health, having a large impact on how I viewed myself and others. Eventually, I even connected with my peers over our shared love for reading!

Image courtesy of the author

The following year, I founded my nonprofit, the Let's Learn Foundation, which aims to empower through education. We donate reading books and school supplies to underprivileged students and have helped over 11,000 kids in the past six years. Our "Donate Diverse" program, which donates books containing representations of diverse characters, has donated over 5,000 books.

This program resonates with my own experiences, a testament to how viewing these diverse representations helped me with my own mental health.

However, it is alarming that book bans are on the rise across the country. According to PEN America, between June 2022 and July 2023, there were nearly 3,400 instances of book bans, impacting over 1,500 titles. Furthermore, my home state of Texas made the most attempts to ban or restrict books in 2022, according to a report from the American Library Association.

Dr. Allison Bashe, a psychologist, highlights how banning books deprives youth of vital representation. Many of the books at the center of the book ban controversy are focused on marginalized groups, those already at risk for negative mental health consequences due to their experiences with discrimination. Thus, when these books get banned, she says it further marginalizes these groups even though the books could have the potential to help young readers better understand their lives.

Related: PEN America report on book bans

These book bans can further affect their mental health and well-being. The situation in Texas is alarming. House Bill 900, a new law, restricts access to books deemed "sexually explicit," infringing upon students' intellectual freedom. Local bans, such as in Katy and Beaumont, reflect a broader pattern of censorship. For example, a school district near Beaumont made headlines in September 2023 after removing a substitute middle school teacher who had read students portions of an illustrated adaptation of Anne Frank's diary, which detailed her hiding from the Nazis and was published after her death in the Holocaust. In Friendswood, LGBTQ+ themes are deemed unsuitable, stifling discourse and diversity.

So - what can young people do regarding book bans? One of the best things to do is to attend your local Library And School Board Meetings, which is where most book ban battles are fought. By attending these meetings, you can get a better understanding of how book bans occur, and can even leave public comments. Additionally, the organization "Unite Against Book Bans" contains an incredible Action Toolkit for those interested in fighting against book bans.

Representation in literature can help shape who we are, who we aspire to be, and how we view the world around us. So when this representation is removed, it can have negative mental health consequences for youth. Book bans are not just about restricting access-they're about silencing voices, erasing identities, and perpetuating inequality. As we confront these challenges, let's remember the transformative power of literature. Let's champion diversity, empathy and inclusivity, ensuring that every youth sees themselves reflected in the pages they read.
Rohan Satija is a high schooler from Texas and a passionate advocate for childhood literacy and mental health. At 11 years old, he co-founded Let's Learn Foundation, an organization that aims to "Empower through Education," by donating books and school supplies to underprivileged students. His work has been recognized by Forbes Magazine, Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation, and more. In his free time, he loves to read, perform in plays, and explore local coffee shops.

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Student Voice: What young people can do about book bans

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Hear from one student who has worked to promote access to books in schools

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Why Do Teens Hate Book Bans? (According to a Dual Enrolled Student)

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Teenagers are not stupid. Shockingly, we are free thinkers too. Although this may seem obvious to most, conservative groups such as Moms for Liberty remain purposely obtuse to this fact. Like many of my fellow teens, I am sick of it. For one, book bans have ripped away many opportunities that were once available to…

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Being a teen is stressful! Whether it's school, friends, or dating, the teen years are full of difficult changes-both mentally and physically. If you're like many teens, you may have difficulty dealing with stress in effective ways. You aren't alone, and there are things you can do to stay calm, no matter how stressful life becomes. All you need to do is stop, breathe, and be mindful and aware in the present moment.

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Being a teen is stressful! Whether it's school, friends, or dating, the teen years are full of difficult changes-both mentally and physically. If you're like many teens, you may have difficulty dealing with stress in effective ways. You aren't alone, and there are things you can do to stay calm, no matter how stressful life becomes.

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Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a social movement dedicated to fighting racism and anti-Black violence, especially police brutality. Its activists seek to transform society so…

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Take Cellphones Out of the Classroom, Educators Say | NEA

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Across the country, a 'teacher-led movement' is demanding new cellphone policies to curb the constant distractions and disruptions to learning.

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Cell Phones and Text Messaging in Schools

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National School Safety and Security Services has received a number of inquiries after school shootings over the years asking if schools should allow and/or encourage students to carry cell phones in school as a tool for their safety during a school shooting or other crisis. Similar inquiries were received after the Columbine High School attack in […]

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How Are States Approaching Cell Phone Use in Schools?

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Over the past few years, school and state leaders have acted on concerns about how cell phone use is impacting students and teachers. Concerns like

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Most Americans back cellphone bans during class, but fewer support all-day restrictions

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Overall, 68% of U.S. adults say they support a ban on middle and high school students using cellphones during class.

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Police violence is a big problem in the United States, with Black, Latine, and Native Americans at particularly high risk of being hurt or killed by police. Talking about police violence and systemic and structural racism can feel tricky, complex, and confusing, even for adults. Talking about why police violence happens is particularly tricky for caregivers who are police officers themselves or have friends or family members who are. How can caregivers give clear explanations and initiate age-appropriate discussions with children? Check out the tips below for some guidance and kid-friendly language. And remember: this isn't a sprint. We can build on our conversations over time.
NOTE: This resource is designed to talk about the 'whys' behind police violence - what causes it? It does not address the conversations that families of color, particularly Black families, often have with their children about how to stay safe during encounters with the police. If you are interested in exploring that topic further, check out the EmbraceRace webinar, "Moving 'the Talk' to 'the Walk' for Black Children."
Ask questions. Ask questions. As with any conversation about racism or other heavy topics, it is always helpful to ask children questions to gauge what they may already have heard and see how they're thinking about it. Depending on your context and the developmental level of your children, you might want to start with questions like:

Have you heard the phrase "Black Lives Matter"? What do you think that means?

Have you heard people talking about police brutality or police violence? What do you think they're talking about?

We know some police officers, right? What do you think about the job they do?

Have you heard the names George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Paul Castaway, Adam Toledo (or others)?

What do you know about what happened to them?

How to start:

Talk about officers who behave badly. Police officers are people. Just like other people, some of them will be better and worse at their jobs; some of them will be kind and some of them will be mean. Some people decide to become police officers because they want to help people, but some people might decide to become police officers because they like the feeling of having power over other people - being able to tell them what to do or make them feel scared. Some of them might be mean toward Black and Brown people especially: they might think that people with darker skin are not as good as people with lighter skin. People who have those kinds of racist beliefs are not going to act fairly to keep everyone safe, so they are not people we want to be in charge of our safety. However, it's important that we don't let the conversation about police violence end here. There are causes of police violence that go beyond the individual.

Try using this metaphor to talk about structural and systemic inequities and racism. Imagine that you see a lake and you find one fish that is sick. What might be wrong with it? Maybe it ate the wrong food or maybe it got some germs in its body. But then, what if we notice that half the fish in the lake are sick? Now we know that something is wrong with the lake. Now imagine, if you go to five other ponds and streams near this lake, and half the fish are sick in these places too! Then we know that it's not just one fish or one lake being sick, there must be something wrong with all of the water. This is like the problem that police officers and police departments have. It's not just one police officer treating someone unfairly, and it's not just one police department making unfair rules for Black and brown communities, but lots of police departments having these problems. You could say that the police are swimming in bad water. This is what structural and systemic racism looks like - everyone is swimming in the waters of racism. (Adapted from "The Groundwater Approach: building a practical understanding of structural racism" by Bayard Love and Deena Hayes-Greene of The Racial Equity Institute)
This metaphor might be especially helpful for caregivers who are police officers themselves, or families who know and love police officers. Just because we swim in bad water - or work within systems that are racist - does not make us bad people. But we all have a responsibility to try and clean the water - to change the things in the system that are hurting people.

Talk about unfair policies. Police violence is not just about individual people making choices - it's also about the rules, norms, and culture of policing. It's important to talk about how structural racism is embedded in our police departments:

Today, one way that police policies are harmful to Black and Brown communities is that the neighborhoods where many Black and Brown people live are over-policed. That means police spend more time looking for people breaking laws in those neighborhoods compared to neighborhoods where more White people live. The more you look for something, the more likely you are to find it.

Another dangerous policy is that police officers are protected when they use excessive force. Sometimes police use force to try to protect people by using weapons - like their hands, feet, a "stun-gun" or Taser, or a gun - to stop someone they think has committed a crime. This might make sense if they believe that person did something really scary and dangerous and might go hurt someone else. But a lot of the time, police officers use too much force or excessive force, which means that the police hurt someone badly when they didn't really have to. People of color are much more likely than White people to be victims of excessive force by police.

In a lot of cases, the police protect each other when they use excessive force. Protection means that nobody gets in trouble for hurting people. Sometimes officers and their bosses will even make up stories and tell lies to make it seem like what they did was ok. This is one reason why many people believe all police should wear cameras on their bodies all the time - so that their actions can be recorded to make sure they are treating people safely.

Another policy that hurts people of color is the use of quotas. A quota is a number that is like a target you have to hit. If a teacher tells every student in her class to go outside at recess, pick five flowers, and bring them back to class, then five flowers would be the quota for every student. Even though quotas are usually not officially allowed in policing, sometimes police departments have unofficial quotas for how many traffic tickets they are supposed to give out, or how many people they are supposed to arrest. (Unofficial means it's not written down, but officers still feel the pressure and might get rewarded when they meet their quota). When police officers have quotas to meet, some will unfairly stop people who haven't done anything wrong - and this happens much more often to people of color and can lead to police violence.

Talk about untrue narratives. Unfortunately, a lot of stories that are told about people of color are stories that are untrue or incomplete. These kinds of stories are called stereotypes. Stereotypes can be found in many places, like the news, on the radio, in the movies, in television shows, and even in kids' books! Hearing stereotypes over and over allows people to believe in these lies. And when you believe lies about people, you can end up less kind, more fearful, and more likely to hurt others. That's what we're seeing with many police officers and many police departments who end up believing the lie that Black people and people with darker skin are bad guys or criminals. But that's not true and not fair!

Digging deeper:

Talk about the impact on people and communities. No one deserves to be seriously hurt or killed by police, even if they've done something illegal. Unless someone is behaving really, really dangerously, police should not use guns or use force that could injure someone badly. When someone is hurt or killed by police, it has a huge impact not only on them, but also on their family, friends, and people in their community. As kids, sometimes we are taught that police are community helpers. For a lot of people, and in a lot of cases, police officers are safe adults to go to if you need help. But police are not always safe for everyone. A lot of Black and Brown communities have learned, over time, that they can't trust police to treat them with care and respect. That is not fair.

Make space for emotions. It's hard to talk about people getting hurt by police, especially when the police are supposed to be helpers. Talking about things that are unfair can bring up a lot of emotions. "Sometimes, when I find out about stories where someone has gotten hurt by the police, I feel [(insert emotion here: e.g., sad, scared, angry, nervous, protective of you]." Lots of people feel these big feelings, not only for themselves and their families, but also for other people and communities that are hurt often by police. It's ok to feel big feelings and to feel them for others. It's also ok for us to feel different emotions at the same time - like being proud of the brave work our family member has done as a police officer, but also sad or guilty about the harm that many police have caused to people of color.
Here are some ideas to help your kids process their emotions:

Write, draw, or music it out

Take a walk together

Make room for tears and hugs

Don't forget that there can still be joy and laughter even in the midst of big, sad, angry feelings

Encourage action and advocacy to channel their emotions into (look to the next tip!)

Talk about what we can do. When we see a big problem, we want to do something to be part of the solution, even if it's something small. Talking about ways to take action can help counteract feelings of powerlessness and empower kids to be changemakers.

Ask your kid for ideas! What are some things you think we can do?

We can use our voices to share what we think by making a poster, by talking to others, or even writing a letter to people who work in the government.

We can join others who are already doing this work by donating money, attending a protest together, or signing a petition. We can listen to ideas that people have about better policies, like more training and education, making sure all police wear body cameras, or creating alternative helper organizations whose people don't carry weapons and can be called in an emergency . There are lots of ideas out there! We recommend checking out the organization Campaign Zero and their #8CantWait campaign.

We can keep learning together about what is happening in our town so that we can do something for our community.

Keep in mind:

We can hold space for the good work that many police officers do, and we can acknowledge the problems with policing as a whole that put people in danger. We can be brave and voice our support for changing policies and practices that keep us all safe.

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Explaining the "Why" Behind Police Violence Using Child-Friendly...

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Check out this research-backed guidance with kid-friendly language for caregivers discussing police violence with children.

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The Schwartzreport tracks emerging trends that will affect the world, particularly the United States. For EXPLORE it focuses on matters of health in the broadest sense of that term, including medical issues, changes in the biosphere, technology, and policy considerations, all of which will shape our culture and our lives.

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ICJIA | Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

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Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

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Central Florida Public Media | By Danielle Prieur

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Florida’s Education Dept. releases a list of over 700 books removed in K-12 schools

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The list includes classics and newer favorites that were removed or discontinued in Florida K-12 schools during the 2023-24 school year.

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Hundreds of books pulled from Florida school libraries — including novels by Kurt Vonnegut, John Green and Toni Morrison

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A 35-page list outlines the hundreds of books removed from library shelves in Florida’s 73 school districts.

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List of 400 purged library books is circulating among Tennessee school districts

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One Tennessee district’s list of books removed from its school libraries under a state law is being used by other districts as a guide.

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PEN America Decries Removal of Over 400 Books in TN School District Due to New Law - PEN America

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New law leads Wilson County Schools in Tennessee to remove over 400 books from libraries; targeted books include acclaimed titles by authors Toni Morrison, Jodi Picoult, Angie Thomas, John Green, and Dr. Seuss

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New bill would bring animal cruelty closer to becoming federal crime

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A new bill passed by the House and awaiting a Senate vote makes animal abuse a federal crime.

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Cellphones in the Classroom: Should It Be Allowed? - Graduate Programs for Educators

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Is it a distraction or a learning tool? Weigh the pros and cons of allowing cellphones in the classroom.

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Springfield man charged with operating six “houses of prostitution”

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A Springfield man owned or rented six “houses of prostitution” in Springfield in which Asian women – some traveling from other countries – provided sexual…

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Preventing the Horrors of Human Trafficking

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Samaritan’s Purse is working to protect desperate, vulnerable families from this terrible crime through education and vocational training.

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Alice* found strength through hardship. When she was just 14 years old, she had to drop out of school in fear for her safety. Soon afterward, Alice was manipulated by a man she thought she could trust.

He was initially kind and asked for her hand in marriage. She agreed, unaware she was entering a devastating relationship that would take years to escape.

"IJM opened my mind to many things. I felt I was alone. They showed me that I have strength to survive even on my own. God bless IJM."

- Alice, survivor of abuse

Alice and her new partner moved to the Arua district of Northwestern Uganda, but their happy relationship quickly turned into brutal captivity for her.

"He made it a point to lock me up in the house every time he was going to work," she remembers. "He would only open for me when he returned. Still, I was not allowed to go out and talk to anyone."

Alice and her partner had their first child, and his work transferred them to Gulu. When he lost his job, her partner began disappearing for weeks at a time. It was during this period that Alice was forced to deliver their second child on her own. Needing income, Alice started to work in the market, selling vegetables.

Then one day, she arrived home to find her partner had returned. An argument broke out, which soon turned violent. He badly injured Alice, leaving her with one eye swollen and missing a tooth. Moreover, he robbed her before leaving the home again.

Help protect more children and women from violence with your gift today.

"I was in bad shape," Alice says. "My partner disappeared after the incident. That is when I decided to report."

She told the police she wanted justice and they introduced her to International Justice Mission. Through IJM, Alice received food, supplies, medical examinations and counselling for her family.

Her partner was arrested and charged with grievous harm and theft. He pled guilty and was sentenced to three months of community service. He was also ordered to repay the money he had stolen, and cover Alice's medical bills.

"Today, he is completely out of our lives. I am taking care of the children, and they are doing well in school," Alice shares. IJM provided her with fruit, rice, sundried cassava, and more, helping her find economic independence. Because of that help, and because people like you, Alice's business is thriving.

"IJM opened my mind to many things," Alice states. "I felt I was alone, they showed me that I have strength to survive even on my own. God bless IJM."

Your generous support empowers IJM to help restore survivors like Alice and work to bring their abusers to justice. In observance of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, you can help build a safer world.

Your generosity helps protect people who are vulnerable from violence and abuse.

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Alice's Story | International Justice Mission

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Help Survivors Like Alice Recover and Thrive. Your generosity helps protect people who are vulnerable from violence and abuse.

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Trafficking & Slavery | International Justice Mission

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Slavery is illegal almost everywhere. But millions of men, women and children are trapped in modern-day slavery around the world.

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In a classroom setting, it is no doubt that phones and tablets can be distracting for teachers and students alike. Many schools have created strict policies, placing phones in boxes or banning them altogether to mitigate these distractions.

In today's world, however, these devices carry the potential to save lives. Learn more about why phones should be allowed in school with Life360.

Why Do Schools Ban Phones?

Distraction in Class: Students may divert their attention from lessons to games, texts, and social media.

Cheating Risk: Exam cheating could be easier with devices.

Privacy Concerns: Unauthorized photo-taking and other transgressions can violate privacy.

These reasons are understandable, but schools can overcome these challenges with proper guidelines and education on the responsible use of technology.

4 Reasons Why Students Should Have Their Phones During School

1. Emergency Situations

Phones are essential for immediate communication, especially during unforeseen circumstances where quick action can make a significant difference. With apps like Life360, students can send SOS alerts to their family members, informing them of their exact location and situation in an emergency. With Life360's Gold or Platinum plan, emergency dispatch is available 24/7; the app will also contact dispatch services as soon as the SOS countdown is complete.

In unfortunate events such as school emergencies, fires, gas leaks, or injuries, having access to a phone can be vital. Students can quickly alert authorities or parents, saving valuable time. Phone features such as location sharing can be critical in these desperate situations.

Everyday Emergencies

From unexpected family emergencies to transportation issues, phones can be a lifeline for students to connect with their guardians. In unplanned situations, communicating directly with family reduces stress and confusion.

2. Educational Purposes

Mobile devices can be powerful learning tools as well as communication devices.

Access to Resources

Apps and online resources can enhance students' learning. They can easily research topics, access eBooks, and watch educational videos to support classroom learning.

Collaboration and Communication

Phones enable students to collaborate on projects, access assignments, and receive real-time teacher feedback. They can participate in group chats, share documents, and stay connected with classmates even outside the classroom.

3. Accessibility and Special Needs

Students with disabilities can use smartphones with specialized communication and learning tools. These tools can significantly improve their daily interactions and education.

4. Parent-Child Connection with Life360

Life360's features enable parents to keep track of their children's location and for students to alert their parents in case of an emergency.

How Students Can Use Life360 to Stay Safe in School

Life360's features not only ensure student safety but also foster responsible phone usage:

Location Sharing: Know where your child is during school hours.

Emergency Alerts: Students can instantly notify parents if they feel unsafe.

Driving Reports: Monitor your teen's or carpool's driving habits on the way to and from school.

Ensure Your Child's Safety in School with Life360

Mobile phones aren't just distractions at school. They can be tools for safety, connection, and learning when used responsibly. Creating an environment where schools, parents, and students constructively use phones is possible.

Allowing cell phones in school is not just about convenience. It's about providing students with tools to help them succeed and stay safe. Embrace the power of technology with Life360, a tool designed to keep families connected and protected.

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Why Phones Should Be Allowed at School | Life360

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Allowing cell phones in school is not just about convenience. It's about providing students with tools to help them succeed and stay safe.

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United Nations : Office on Drugs and Crime

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Explainer: Understanding Human Trafficking for Organ Removal

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Explainer: Understanding Human Trafficking for Organ Removal

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Organ Trafficking: The Unseen Form of Human Trafficking - ACAMS Today

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Organ trafficking, a lucrative global illicit trade, is often a lesser discussed form of human trafficking among anti-human trafficking stakeholders due to its intricate and often stealth nature. Trafficking sex and/or labor are the more commonly thought of forms of human trafficking among public po…

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Organ Trafficking: The Unseen Form of Human Trafficking

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Opinion: Now that AI can write students' essays, will everyone become a cheat?

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Artificial intelligence now includes powerful new writing tools for students, including essay assistance, which is a recipe for cheating disaster.

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ChatGPT in the classroom: Here’s what teachers and students are saying

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While some school leaders remain concerned about the platform’s threats to academia, others are embracing it as a fresh, innovative method for helping students learn.

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A curious person’s guide to artificial intelligence

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Everything you wanted to know about the AI boom but were too afraid to ask.

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AI bot ChatGPT shows academics essay-writing skills and usability

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Will human writers go the way of the typewriter?

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Why AI systems may never be secure, and what to do about it

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A “lethal trifecta” of conditions opens AI systems to abuse

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There is no denying that Artificial Intelligence has changed our lives. However, some might argue if it’s for the better.

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As some teachers start to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their work, a majority are uncertain about or see downsides to the general use of AI tools in K-12 education, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in fall 2023.

A quarter of public K-12 teachers say using AI tools in K-12 education does more harm than good. About a third (32%) say there is about an equal mix of benefit and harm, while only 6% say it does more good than harm. Another 35% say they aren't sure.

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to better understand public K-12 teachers' views on the use of artificial intelligence tools in K-12 education. To do this, we surveyed 2,531 U.S. public K-12 teachers from Oct. 17 to Nov. 14, 2023. The teachers are members of RAND's American Teacher Panel, a nationally representative panel of public school K-12 teachers recruited through MDR Education. Survey data is weighted to state and national teacher characteristics to ensure they are representative of the target population.

We also used data from a separate survey of 1,453 U.S. teens conducted from Sept. 26 to Oct. 23, 2023. Ipsos recruited the teens via their parents, who were part of its KnowledgePanel. The survey was weighted to be representative of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 who live with their parents by age, gender, race and ethnicity, household income, and other categories.

The survey on teens was reviewed and approved by an external institutional review board (IRB), Advarra, an independent committee of experts specializing in helping to protect the rights of research participants. Find more details about the survey of teens here.

Here are the questions we asked teachers and teens, along with responses, and the methodology for the survey of teachers and for the survey of teens.

How teachers' views differ by school level

High school teachers are more likely than elementary and middle school teachers to hold negative views about AI tools in education.

About a third of high school teachers (35%) say these tools do more harm than good. Roughly a quarter of middle school teachers (24%) and 19% of elementary school teachers say the same.

Fewer than one-in-ten teachers at all levels say these tools do more good than harm.

Some 47% of elementary school teachers say they aren't sure about the impact of AI tools in K-12 education. That is much larger than the shares of middle and high school teachers who say this.

Teens' experiences with and views of ChatGPT

In a separate survey, we asked U.S. teens about their experience with and views of ChatGPT, a generative AI tool, in their schoolwork.

Among teens who have heard of ChatGPT, 19% say they have used it to help them with schoolwork. This is more common among teens in higher grades. About a quarter of 11th and 12th graders who have heard of ChatGPT (24%) say they have used it in their schoolwork, compared with 17% of 9th and 10th graders and 12% of 7th and 8th graders.

Teens' views on whether using ChatGPT is acceptable depend on what it's being used for. Among teens who have heard of ChatGPT:

69% say it's acceptable to use it to research new topics.

39% say it's acceptable to use it to solve math problems.

20% say it's acceptable to use it to write essays.

Shares ranging from 18% to 24% aren't sure whether it is acceptable to use ChatGPT in each of these situations.

Overall, two-thirds of U.S. teens say they have heard of ChatGPT. That includes 23% who have heard a lot about it and 44% who have heard a little about it. Roughly a third (32%) say they have heard nothing at all about ChatGPT.
Note: Here are the questions we asked teachers and teens, along with responses, and the methodology for the survey of teachers and for the survey of teens.

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A quarter of U.S. teachers say AI tools do more harm than good in K-12 education

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High school teachers are more likely than elementary and middle school teachers to hold negative views about AI tools in education.

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When Is Police Use of Force Justified? How Officers Think

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When is police use of force justified? AMU’s criminal justice degrees provide useful insights into the use of force and other issues in criminal justice.

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FOUR PAWS International - Animal Welfare Organisation

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Our pets give us so much - love, companionship and emotional support - how is it possible they can be abandoned? There are several reasons why people abandon their dog, cat, or other pets. Some are the result of people not having considered fully the responsibilities of pet ownership when buying their pet and whether they have sufficient time, resources, and the motivation to take care of a pet.

Below are some of the more common reasons why people decide to give away their pet

Time factor

A common reason for owners relinquishing their pet to a shelter is that they do not feel they have enough time to take care of their pet. Taking care of a pet takes time, pets need to be fed, walked, let out in the garden, have their litter tray changed, taken to the vets, trained and socialised.

It is unfair to leave a pet alone for long periods of time, especially social animals such as dogs that need human company. This will obviously impact the owner's lifestyle and needs to be carefully considered before acquiring a pet.

Many pets are bought on impulse, especially online. The new owner is unlikely to have had time to consider all the obligations of owning a pet or to carry out the necessary research into their pet's needs. This can result in the animal being resold, surrendered to a shelter or worst still abandoned.

Lack of experience

Some pet owners lack the knowledge on how to take care of their pets and can therefore become overwhelmed with the responsibility. Therefore, it is important to carry out lots of research before acquiring a pet to make sure you understand and can meet their needs.

Changed life situation

Pet owners may lose their job, get divorced, move into a rental property that does not allow pets, have a baby, or develop health problems (allergies is one of the most common reasons people have for giving up their pet). Again, it is important for pet owners to think about the future and how they would take care of a pet in certain situations before they get an animal. Additionally, many people added a pet to their life during the Covid-19 lockdown, they are faced with having to go back to the office and the pet not fitting in with this changed situation.

Animal health and age

Animals can become sick, acutely, or chronically, they may also need more care in their old age, due to age related medical problems. This requires more of the owner's time and may result in veterinary costs. Anyone taking on a pet should see it as a long-term commitment, they need to take care of their pet for its entire life regardless of medical and age-related health issues.

Boredom/Disinterest

Sad but true, some people, especially children, lose interest in their pet and consider them a burden. Pets should never be bought to teach children responsibility; this often does not work, and the parents end up having to take care of the pet or the pet is rehomed, surrendered or abandoned.

Unwanted litters

Unneutered pets may go on to have unwanted litters, often puppies and kittens are handed into animal shelters, or worst still abandoned or killed. Therefore, it is important to neuter pets to prevent unwanted litters from being born.

Behavioural issues

Some pet owners find that their pet shows unwanted behaviour, for example dogs being aggressive to other dogs. To help ensure that animals do not develop behavioural issues they should be properly trained and socialised when they are young.

Financial factor

Pets are often abandoned because their owner can no longer afford to take care of them. Many pet owners are not aware of how much it costs to take care of a pet over their entire life. It is therefore important that pet owners do their research and make sure they have sufficient resources to take care of their pet in the long-term. Some of the costs can still be covered, e.g., for food, but if a pet gets sick, the veterinary costs can be a strain on the budget.

Profitability

People use companion animals to make money (racing, breeding) or even for sports (hunting, fighting). When animals become too slow, old or sick they are no longer fit for their "purpose" and become unwanted. The lucky ones are handed into reputable animal shelters or rehomed, however for many they are either abandoned or brutally killed.

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The Top 9 Reasons Why People Give Up Their Pets

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Our pets give us so much! However, many pet owners want to give up their pets and abandon them. See the top 9 reasons why people want to give away their pets.

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Animal shelters are overwhelmed by abandoned dogs. Here’s why. - Shelter Animals Count

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VIEW ORIGINAL ARTICLE > CBS News By: Kate Gibson Published: Jan 9, 2024 Man’s best friend is increasingly being abandoned on the street, often by people facing financial hardships who can no longer afford to feed or house them. “Animal shelters generally reflect what is happening to people in a community and […]