Twitter and Tweets...

Recently we have received reports from students regarding Twitter accounts that have been anonymously created, and used to publish disparaging and / or offensive "tweets" (online messages of 140 characters or fewer) relative to students and other members of the DCDS community.

 

If you are unfamiliar with Twitter, it is an online social media application that in some surveys is beginning to rival Facebook for popularity amongst teens. Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter , and LinkedIn (a kind of business version of Facebook) have exploded in popularity and variety in recent years. These platforms allow for amazing global connectivity, and offer varied and impressive for potential use in schools, business and social interaction. If you have any doubts as to whether the social media phenomenon is here to stay, this short video will be eye-opening.

 

 

Nevertheless, there are some inherent problems associated with social media. One of the issues facing schools is the problem of cyber-bullying. In our society it is becoming increasingly common for teens to hide behind the anonymity of their computer, table or phone and post unkind things about their peers. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is not unique to teens, but it has caused a difficulty for schools as we try to maintain safe, nurturing environments for students. Cyber-bullying hurts in the same ways that other forms of bullying affect students, but has the added component of a very public platform.

 

We have a Pk-12 technology committee addressing proactive steps that we do and can take, and other steps that we might be able to take in the future to educate students, faculty, staff and parents regarding social media. In the meantime, we are requesting your assistance in speaking with your children regarding their online profiles and activities, and emphasizing to them appropriate online language, etiquette, and kindness to others. If you or your children have any information regarding online accounts set up anonymously for the purpose of bullying or other inappropriate behavior, we would appreciate your assistance in sharing that information with us so that we can work to eliminate such issues.

 

For more information on Twitter, and how it works, please visit the following link to an education.com article for parents that gives good information and suggestions : http://www.education.com/magazine/article/parents-guide-to-twitter .

Admission

My wife and I recently saw the new Tina Fey and Paul Rudd movie Admission. While this blog is certainly not intended for movie reviewing, it is an enjoyable, if not Oscar worthy, film. More pertinently, many parents, educators and students will see themselves or their institutions in certain scenes from the movie, which centers around a Princeton admissions officer's interaction with a student to whom she may have a personal connection.

As we are closing out a very successful college admissions cycle, which saw our students achieve the goals they set for themselves in terms of college opportunities, we have students choosing schedules for next school year. Central to their choices is concern over which scheduling decisions might have the most positive impact on their college admissions applications. Our College Counseling department has a great philosophy - "College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won". If students and parents approach scheduling with this philosophy in mind, it will be hard to misstep.

Like all things in life, a student's schedule should have balance. There should be challenges and opportunities to grow, areas of passion and interest, diversity in content, and a place to have fun. We are often asked whether it is better for a student to receive a "B" in an Honors or AP course or an "A" in a regular course. There is not a universal right answer to this question. Much depends on the student's schedule and personal goals. Nevertheless, the one answer that might fit all these situations is that the student should choose based on what he or she will learn and experience in the course - not an anticipated grade.

In the movie Admission one of the main characters is a high school student who is a voracious reader who receives "5's" on multiple AP tests without taking the course. He is a self-described didactic with incredible ability and insight, but a poor high school record. The debate over his admission plays out on screen, and while there is little doubt the young man has the ability to succeed anywhere, there is question over how he will adapt to an environment like Princeton. That is at the crux of every college decision - whether a university is the right match for an individual student's skills, preparation, personality, and career aspirations. Rarely is that decision made based on a course selection, but rather on the balance of a student's record.

College - A match to be made, not a prize to be won....