How coaches can help build compassion among young men
In an op-ed for The New York Times inspired by the recent firing of Mike Rice, the abusive Rutgers men’s basketball coach, Charles Blow discusses the importance of athletic coaches serving as positive role models to their young, male athletes. In his article, Blow cites a 2009 study by researchers at the University of Northern Iowa which found that “male high school athletes in particular report higher levels of alcohol consumption, drunk driving, sexist and homophobic social attitudes, gender related violent activity, and same sex violence (fighting).” Blow argues this behavior among men could be attributed to a jock culture that accepts physical violence as an acceptable outlet for male emotion and categorizes poor performance as femininity—all of which coaches could play a vital role in preventing. He highlights the program Coaching Boys into Men, which provides coaches with a training kit that “illustrates ways to model respect and promote healthy relationships and choices among young men.10 steps to promote non-violent behavior in boys
In this article, Dr. Ted Zeff argues that the U.S. proliferates a culture of violence that encourages young men to be aggressive. Boys in particular are constantly receiving messages from the media that they must be tough, strong, and always in control. This socialization leads boys to believe that violent behavior is acceptable and even expected from them.Dr. Zeff argues that this cycle needs to end and boys should be taught cultural norms of compassion and kindness. Dr. Zeff lists 10 ways to teach nonviolent behavior, including reducing exposure to violent video games and movies, encouraging more physical activity, and rewarding kindness.
How Facebook Cyberbullying led to Not in Our School Campaign in Montana
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A Billings, MT high school launched a Not in Our School Campaign after a campus Facebook page meant for anonymous confessions lead to cyberbullying. Disparaging comments about students and faculty appeared on the page, prompting administration to hold an assembly for each grade in order to discuss the implications of harassment on the internet, according to KULR8. Task Force Officer Earl Campbell from the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children facilitated an assembly, presenting a slideshow of photos from West High students’ Facebook pages, driving home that what they post online is not as private as they think. Want to address cyberbullying campus? Find a NIOS video and lesson guide here. Where should you draw the line in monitoring your kids’ online activities?
Monitoring your child or teen’s social media usage is becoming increasingly important in the age of the Internet, where private information can become public with a single click. However, where do you draw the line between monitoring safety and invasion of privacy? According to experts, parents and guardians should not be afraid to actively monitor their children’s online behavior. They should also teach online responsibility and keep lines of communication open and honest without micromanaging their children’s every move.
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