Media,violence,attitudes

**Olav** · 12-19-2001, 12:40 PM

Being a Norwegian - I have several times tried to understand US attitudes towards dealing with certain issues-: like Violence (domestic and in the streets),the use of handguns,the impact on children from news-broadcasts ,from pC-games,from toys, too much television etc....

It was not untill this summer I finally made it to Boston - to the Media-violence seminar at Wheelock college.Hosted by Diane Levin.

Ofcourse - the opportunity to meet other people who truly wanted to LEARN and SHEAR was great . As the only person from Europe - I managed to tell the audience about EU regulations,about cableTV arrival to our home town,about the desocializing effects,about stereotypes in advertisement,about product-placement etc.

My problem over the years has been: WHY are many US teachers unwilling to discuss weapons,violence,sexual abuse,etc......

I would like this to be a new thread - and hopefully - we can create an environment that can bring about changes ?

Olav -

**Olav** · 12-19-2001, 10:10 PM

Xmas is just around the bend - what do we buy as presents for our kids ? WWF-dolls ? Softguns? "Soldier of fortune"
- and what do we get in return ?
Boys who just has to fight , boys stripped for emathy,boys whe learn - every day that the strongest is the survivor ?

That's right - this is mainly a boy-related issue.
(However - the girls do not really get muchmore out of their lives - certainly if you live your life infront of the Tube - and realize that you're only happy if you wash your hair five times a day - "because you're worth it "!!!

**Dianndra** · 12-28-2001, 02:48 AM

Boy, you really hit the nail on the head here. As a society, are we causing a lot of our own problems by teaching our children how to act violently? I'm not a WWF fan. I have seen students in my classroom and in the hallways mimicking the "attitudes" of their favorite wrestlers -- most were doing distasteful gestures and copying the "kiss my ass" attitudes of some of the "bad boy" wrestlers. Are we getting what we asked for?
For the past 3 years, my sister-in-law has wanted her daughter to be "chic" -- in the swing of things, like dances, cheerleading, playing basketball, and having boyfriends -- the child is only 10. Already her interest in school (academically) has faded -- she's more of a social bug than a scholar. This is causing mom some embarrassment, to say the least. As a teacher, I cringe when we get into those family conversations that begin with, "I just don't know what I'm going to do with Emily. She's just not interested in doing well in school." I want to smack her on the side of the head and say, "DUH! What did you expect?" How can we as teachers encourage parents not to do this to their children? Would they listen to us if we said anything? Our school talked about doing away with "biddy basketball" (ages 8 through 12). People came out of the woodwork to the board meeting to protest. It's as if we're fighting a losing battle. Anyone else have any thoughts here?

**yesteach** · 12-28-2001, 04:47 PM

Hi,

I agree, and have seen students as young as Kindergarten imitating wrestlers. If parents insist on letting these children watch that garbage, why do they not at least explain to them that it's all planned and choreographed. The tables and chairs are "props", break-aways, etc., that won't hurt them. Just this week there was a report about "backyard wrestling" groups. Children imitating what they are watching, hitting each other with chairs, smashing into tables, breaking glass objects over each others heads. One parent of a ten year old said she "didn't know what to do with him."

As for the "chic"ness. I go through this with friends. I don't understand WHY they want their children to be grown up in such a hurry. If you are a cheerleading, going out/dating, and wearing grown up clothes and make up at ten, what's left to do when you hit high school? The obvious, to me, is take the "next step", which explains why we have so many teen pregnancies and so many who participate in casual sex. We've stopped letting our children be children, we want them to be little adults.

**Emmett54** · 12-29-2001, 12:12 AM

To me, teachers are simply unable to have the right kinds of conversations because we are caught in similar, if a little more sophisticated, sorts of problems that our students are troubled by. We too are swimming in a commercial sea, and asking us to examine that life is like asking fish to examine water, its the world we inhabit.

First, I think most teachers need to see how media effects them in order to understand how it effects our kids, then we can begin an honest dialogue about how to help our kids.

Scott Sullivan

**t carey** · 12-30-2001, 10:44 PM

I'm amazed that you think that U.S. teachers are reluctant to speak their minds or offer their views on these subjects. I hear teachers treating these subjects on a daily basis.

**Emmett54** · 12-31-2001, 03:54 PM

I think that teachers talk about issues of media, violence and influence all the time, but mostly it's of the "oh no, what can we do?" variety of comments, or an acknowldgement that something needs to be done, but we (I include myself in this group) haven't really thought through completely the best way to have these conversations with kids. Plus, with the new moves towards constant testing and accountablity, there isn't room in most curriculae for media literacy; the question I would then ask is: who benefits from this lack of media awareness? Who holds onto the status quo?

Scott

**Olav** · 01-02-2002, 01:34 PM

"Who benefits.."
I have to answer this one :
Producers,manufacturers and owners benefit.
Parents suffer and children are overlooked completely.
That is the way things are working - but ---
Why not try to change the settings in the picture ?
If we try - it may be- possible,
if we do not try -.................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .....????????????
Olav

**Olav** · 01-03-2002, 08:49 PM

This probaply should have been sent to all forums - but:

Is there a reason for the "non-responsive" group here ??
After all - most of the subscribers just sign up - and doze off.
Of course - there is a lot to learn - just by feeling that you're a part of a community - but unless we can activate some of the great minds out there - the forum might wither and die - before it ever grew up !

Any ideas ?? Can we launch provocative issues ?, can we ,as was suggested , add a chat forum ? ...Whatever ???
I am sure Curiousmind would like to get ideas and thoughts on this.

Member 47
Olav

**Leslie** · 01-03-2002, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by Olav

This probaply should have been sent to all forums - but:

Is there a reason for the "non-responsive" group here ??
After all - most of the subscribers just sign up - and doze off.
Of course - there is a lot to learn - just by feeling that you're a part of a community - but unless we can activate some of the great minds out there - the forum might wither and die - before it ever grew up !

Any ideas ?? Can we launch provocative issues ?, can we ,as was suggested , add a chat forum ? ...Whatever ???
I am sure Curiousmind would like to get ideas and thoughts on this.

Member 47
Olav

Some ideas --

online newsletter

job center

regularly scheduled chat meetings (live) : educ technology, violence prevention, incorporating new teaching strategies, reading recovery, etc

chat rooms

mentor center: members volunteer to moderate specific grade level/subject/topic discussion forums and live meetings.

These are the types of activities that not only draw people in, but allow them to get to know each other as colleagues. These activities also encourage professional and personal support for fellow teachers.

Just some ideas :-)
Leslie