Educate 2 Protect Launches Another Sector of its Unique Educational Approach; Real Life Skits of Sexting, Bullying, Predators, and Texting While Driving is Delivered by High School Drama Students.
PUEBLO, CO-December 7, 2011 – We hear about it almost every day in the news – kids becoming victims due to bullies or inappropriate use of the internet and cell phones by tweens and teens. Whether it’s sexting, bullying or cyber-bullying, predators or texting while driving, the dangers are real and constantly evolving as new technologies are introduced.
Nationally, 29%-30% of kids are bullied in school (wiki.answers & ABC News). Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people, resulting in about 4,400 deaths per year, according to the CDC. Bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims, according to studies by Yale University.
The National Safety Administration reports close to two-million car crashes each year in the US are caused by “mobile device distraction.” Mobile phone risks are on the rise for children because that’s where they spend most of their time. Dangers like sexting, cyber-bullying and cell phone predators are also on the rise. The National Campaign cites that more than 20% of teenagers admit to posting nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves via a mobile device; 39% have sent or posted sexually suggestive messages and 48% say they have received such messages. Close to 20% of these teens say this activity has taken place on a mobile phone or device with someone they do not know.
Educate 2 Protect is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to teach overall safety whether it’s bullying or helping tweens and teens remain safe in a digital world. By partnering with schools and law enforcement, seminars, skits and educational materials are produced by grade level (K-12) that highlight the smart way to deal with the latest risks. By staying ahead of the trends and developing creative ways to reach tweens and teens, Educate 2 Protect works to help keep our youth safe.
On December 9, 2011, at 10am MST, and again at 11am MST, Educate 2 Protect in partnership with Centennial High School will present its Next Phase of Education. The High School Drama Department will conduct skits surrounding real-life cases, delivering the high impact consequences of sexting, bullying, internet and cell dangers as well as texting while driving.
Program Highlights
The best way to protect our children is by providing them with insight into real-life cases that focus on the dangers and consequences of risky behavior related to bullying or internet and cell phone use. Working in conjunction with law enforcement and high school drama students, the program delivers educational seminars and role-play skits at high schools and middle schools planned throughout the country. Highlights include:
•Real-life cases from law enforcement and the media
•Guest Speakers, such as law enforcement and parents of victims
•Skits acted out by high school drama students demonstrating the latest risks and effective responses
•Student surveys that provide school administration with insight into the vulnerability of their students.
•Anti-bullying programs by grade level, including “buddy mentor systems.”
•Restorative Discipline measures as an alternative to suspension
Addressing the Growing Cell Phone Dangers and Bullying
Educate 2 Protect’s strategy is working Nationwide with High Schools, empowering their own creativity, delivering the message first to their fellow high school students, and then to local area Middle Schools. Rural areas or schools without drama departments will improvise with various clubs and volunteers.
“Security is the most overlooked aspect of cell phone use, an issue that my family became painfully aware of when our son was targeted by a predator. Fortunately, we were able to catch the situation in time, but the incident galvanized me to help other parents who are facing the same challenges in the modern world.” Sharon Hamilton, Educate2Protect
In addition to skits, E2P institutes and promotes the “buddy system” at all grade levels driving home two key components: 1) the majority of victims are usually too weak to defend themselves, and 2) bystanders speaking up can deter the bully because there is no longer audience acceptance.
Anti-Bullying Slogan: “Be a Buddy, Be a Friend, Bullying is Wrong, it has to End! “
Educate 2 Protect is currently piloting a “peer mentor buddy system” program in a designated Middle School and High School. The program uses peer mentors as a vehicle of communication to help stop bullying.
You can find out more about Educate2Protect programs by clicking here.
