Upgraded: ‘It’s a fight, not a debate,’ states social networks specialist after online furor forces cancellation of Blackfalds school dance
Environment modification and the oil and gas sector was at the heart of an argument that led to the cancellation of a school’s family dance in Blackfalds.
Wolf Creek Public Schools superintendent Jayson Lovell stated remarks on a regional Facebook forum called into question a lesson taught by a teacher at Iron Ridge Intermediate School.
Lovell stated a moms and dad believed the instructor was espousing anti oil and gas worths, which the instructor was prejudiced and presented one side of the story.
“They put out their thoughts and opinions on social media,” he stated, adding the school did not have the opportunity to engage with the parent.
The social media post began with comments on both sides of the concerns, however the conversation escalated.
“It went to hazards: go to the school and the dance which was prepared for Thursday evening and face the teacher and trigger a disturbance at that occasion and it grew really rapidly.”
As an outcome, the division did not believe it was sensible to proceed with the school’s yearly Christmas family dance, citing security concerns.
Lovell said the Blackfalds RCMP examined and released a ticket under the School Act for troubling or interrupting the proceedings of a school.
Lovell stated he has actually since examined what was taught in that Grade 4 social research studies class at the school.
“We had an administrator in the school who had occurred to attend that lesson,” the superintendent stated, including the instructor was leading the class according to the curriculum, presenting both sides of the subject.
The trainees were learning about vital thinking, which suggested they had to discover both sides: environment modification and the energy sector.
“Critical thinking is a foundational element of the curriculum, and to become a critical thinker, you need to look at all sides of a problem, not simply one side, and then you yourself, decide, judge on your own.”
Coincidentally, the district had actually set up a session for Tuesday to describe best social networks practices to moms and dads.
Lacombe’s Joe Whitbread, co-founder of Jo(e) Social Media Inc., who will be hosting the session, said kids are losing in the wars that moms and dads are fighting on social media.
Whitbread said the fight is about a dissentious culture that exists online, with “one side wishing to be right, and another side wishing to be right, and the total disregard of compassion or empathy to either side.”
“It’s a battle, not a dispute.”
Whitbread stated grownups express their opinions on social networks under the guise of liberty of speech. That’s one of usings social media, he discusses, however in doing so, they’re revealing “an unkindness that kids are usually avoided.”
“Our kids are seeing their mentors, the adults in their life, usage nasty language, bad rules and be downright unkind on social media.”
The cancellation of the school household dance is a prime example of how kids are losing in the social media wars that grownups are fighting, he said.
Tuesday’s social networks session will address digital citizenship and online safety, and will focus on both kids and grownups.
Another problem Whitbread recognizes is the lack of presence by parents.
“There are generally 12 to 25 moms and dads (for the sessions for moms and dads), mainly mommies, very couple of daddies, which’s a very low number in a gym with 300 to 500 kids.”
The Tuesday session is slated for 6:30 p.m. at Iron Ridge Intermediate Campus.
Lovell stated the school division is hoping to have the household dance in the brand-new year.
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