Mineola Fifth Graders Brush Up on “Cyber Smartz”

Nikki got laughed at by a few kids for breaking a piece of chalk in class. When she got home, several more classmates sent her hurtful emails and instant messages. When she arrived at school the next day, yet even more students sent nasty text messages sent to her.

Luckily, Nikki was a cartoon character from an educational video that Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS) Instructor Susan Silverman brought with her when she visited Mr. Nucci’s fifth grade class at Thursday afternoon to present the “Cyber Smartz” program.

The Long Island-based non-profit organization CAPS has stopped by Cross Street in the past to implement the “Steer Clear of Bullies” program geared towards younger grades.

“I am very excited that we are doing this,” Cross Street Principal Devra Lee Small said. “It is a great thing for the kids.”

Thursday it was all about teaching students how to identify and put an end to cyber bullying by being good “digital citizens.”

When Silverman asked how many students have internet access, everyone’s hand shot up.

“Two years ago,” she told the class, “one hand went up.”

With the inception of devices like the iPhone and iPad, which some students admittedly either owned or had access to, avenues of connection have multiplied.

Just ask Nikki.

“Aww, that is just wrong,” said one student after viewing the balloon-headed character’s misery.

Silverman followed up by describing how a derogatory statement relayed about a peer via face-to-face contact or telephone would reach a few, but the same statement posted online could reach many more in a shorter period of time.

She proceeded to inform the engrossed children that “bystanders” are sometimes reluctant to stick up for the “target” for fear of being tormented themselves.

“Ask to play with them,” said one student after being asked how a bystander can change cyber bullying. “Sit with them at lunch,” said another.

As it turns out, a small gesture like saying “hi” is quite helpful, as is confiding in a parent or other supervisory adult.

While a student pointed out that Nikki did the right thing in that she went to a guidance counselor instead of retaliating against the bullies, there was one more thing that Silverman mentioned as a benefit of vast online records - you can print them out. That way Nikki would have concrete evidence of her harassment.

Speaking of records, the next topic of the day was internet safety and knowing how to protect yourself by keeping certain information private. This was something that the students were familiar with even before another character named Steven appeared on the screen to give them an example.

Steven broke the cardinal rule of speaking with a stranger online. Unfortunately for Steven, his screen name and away messages made him readily identifiable and easy for this person to track down.

Silverman told the children that being versed in internet privacy practices at an early age can help them when they get older and face potential adult threats like identity theft and credit card fraud.

She barely got out the door to her next lecture because the youngsters were enthusiastically relaying their own tales relevant to the material.

“They were very good listeners,” Silverman said afterward. “Sometimes I get a less-serious bunch, but this group really participated.”