Apparently a boy (OK... first the gun incident and now some boy showing his butt. Sheesh!) and two of his friends posted a photo on Facebook of his butt with his friends' signatures on it. They did this during a math class and uploaded it on his cellphone. The kids have been suspended until the last day of school. The father of this boy said, "the photo shouldn't have been taken, much less posted, but also said he didn't see the need for a suspension and questions how the school can punish his son for something published on a social networking website."
I also saw something else on the news last night about Sexting. I must be out of it since it's the first time I've heard of it. This is when people send sexual photos to others using their cellphones, or other technology. They interviewed some girls who said some guy sent them a photo of their (most) private part which grossed her out.
This reminds me of David Niven when he was co-hosting the 46th Annual Oscars ceremony. A naked man appeared behind him, "streaking" across the stage and he said, "Isn't it fascinating to think, that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life, is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?..."
The tragic part of this topic was when the news also reported a story about a teenage girl who sent her boyfriend a nude photo of herself. When they broke up, the louse broadcast that photo to the world. She ended up hanging herself.
Technology has become a scary thing. I don't think my kids had to worry as much about it when they were growing up. It's a whole 'nother world out there.
I worry for my granddaughter.
POSTSCRIPT: Where the heck was the teacher in that math class when that boy was dropping his pants?
I've asking what the heck is going on in the schools since our kids were in school.
ReplyDeleteWell, math class was always a pain in the butt. I remember in algebra class, Roberta R. used to torment the girl sitting in front of her by snapping the shy girl's bra, much to her embarrassment.
ReplyDeleteFortunately back then there were no cell phones and therefore no sexting. (Thanks for the new word.)
But yeah, your story makes one wonder about the teacher.
Technology is scary these days. But, I wonder how some kids can stay out of trouble and others can't. My kids, for example, have not been adversely affected by it -- so far.
ReplyDeletemy 13 year old twins now have private facebook accounts so it is scary...
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if it's true, but there seems to be much more hate and vitriol in schools that there used to be. Do you think it's possible that it is exacerbated by technology? Kids have always formed cliques and some were excluded, but bullying and tormenting seem way more prevalent these days.
ReplyDeleteShivers ! Usage of cell phone in schools both by the teacher and the students is banned in most of the schools here.This measure was taken after few unpleasant incidences.
ReplyDeleteRemarkable and terribly sad that youngsters have to get their kicks in such a vulgar way. I know peer pressure has a lot to answer for - but it was always there and you gave in to it or not. It is worrying, though, wondering what pressures our grandchildren are facing and will face in the future.
ReplyDeleteSo Dad had no problem with friends writing on his kid's butt during math class. Only the publishing of the photo bothered him? And just where was that teacher???
ReplyDeleteI don't know if kids are worse these days, but any mistake is now compounded by instant publication. Mean gossip is now permanently on the "cloud". It's hard to take it back that way. Kids at that age are not good at considering the consequences of their actions. That's why we don't let them vote or drink. But then not ALL kids are getting in to trouble. some must be raised with common sense.
This is an important item.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't let a teen on without showing me his/her account. I'd check privacy settings, too, to make sure it's keeping idiots out!
I've written a lot about this topic, given workshops, too. They do not see what they are doing. The teacher may or may not be responsible. Kids are sneaky!
It's mind boggling. The Internet can give us so much enjoyment but sadly there is a dark side.
ReplyDeleteSexting is dangerous. Those who do and are underage can be prosecuted on child pornography charges. One young man who forwarded his girlfriends naked pictures will now be a registered sex offender the rest of his life. You are smart to worry.
ReplyDeleteApparently, everything ever sent online is stored somewhere, somehow, so photos like that will never "go away" — those young men will be grandfathers themselves some day.
ReplyDelete— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
oh Kay, what is the world coming to. They just started to offically allow cell phones in the schools here, it was previously not allowed.
ReplyDeleteI wondered about that math teacher, too. A kid dropping his pants would be hard to miss...
ReplyDeleteWell, one thing for sure. WE don't have any say in the matter. None of this bothers me as much as gum chewing. Smack, smack, smack like cows chewing their cuds. That would drive me right out of the classroom.
ReplyDeleteWhat worries me is how little consideration people show in their public behavior these days. They behave as if they were all by themselves. Or they act as if they are on display. The other day I saw a guy reaming out his ears at a restaurant, perfectly at home with his little activity. Looing at it and wiping it on his pants. And in the Hawaiian Air premier lounge in Honolulu there were two men shouting into their phones. One of them was smacking on his gum at the same time, and he put whoever was on the other end ON HOLD while he took another call.
I worry about people being inconsiderate in ways like this. I always take insulating earphones with me when I travel these days, because people's noisy public behavior has deteriorated to the point where I can't stand it. I can always close my eyes or read a book so I don't need to observe the way people dress, which is getting more and more vulgar. If I want milk, I'll let them know, they don't have to advertise the goods! Some role models for the kiddies, eh?
And yet try to take kids to a restaurant and see how fast these low-lifers move away from you! I am proud to say that my grandkids behave very well in public, including in restaurants, and I am not worried that they will go astray.
Didn't mean to get off topic, but what I want to say is that I worry about the adults, not the kids.
ReplyDeleteB59 Cockroach!
ReplyDeleteyeah, glad my indiscretions are not on he web!
Aloha from Honolulu
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The math teacher wasn't looking, or didn't care, and didn't "see" anything worth measuring? I don't think cellphones should be permitted during classes. The Dad probably mooned his teacher in his day....and got away with it. Oh, this was still "mooning," just with writing. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteWhen I was growing up and had my first car, (a 1935 Chevy) and would pull up to a gas station...
ReplyDeletein those days they gave you something called
"full service" and that was wash the windshield, check the oil and fill the tank with the amount of gas you asked for"
there I am waiting for the full service or at least to get the amount of gas I asked for and the phone rings. The guy would drop everything and run in the station and talk on the phone. Never apologized.
If I pulled in and paid him to change the oil, put on new brakes -- anything -- and the phone rang, he would stop everything and go talk on the telephone.
The TECHNOLOGY changed and you have many more opportunities to do your technology thing. Show it off.
Like when I was teaching we had a parking lot filled with happy parents who sat in the hot sun waiting for that magic moment when their child walked up and received his/her diploma. In the middle of this affair we heard this car coming fast, horn blowing and every head turned to see a bare butt pointed right at them in the passenger's window.
A rare event in them days but it happened. Nobody puked in the crowd - I saw a lot of smiles and more head shaking.
Kids with raging hormones. Copy machine handy and nearby. Don't need to feed it money, even, just push the button. boring class...
ReplyDeleteWHAT'd you expect????
Aw c'mon, it's just a little fun. I think everybody getting bent out of shape is a little bit much. I am SURE that in 80 years when that kid is reaching his centennial someone will plaster his house with full sized prints of his 18 year old butt, all in fun.
walt
These instances are awful. The computer and cell phones let the weird people post too much, seems like there are no restrictions any more. Nice post Kay.
ReplyDeleteI have lots of grandkids and see some of their friends and their photos on facebook. We sure didn't take pictures like that, and if so wouldn't have shared. As you say, the technology is available to them, and the boundaries of social acceptance are spreading and spreading, especially for the younger people, it's frightening. I guess they see things and they want to be "cool".
ReplyDelete