York Preparatory School - NYC

Under the rubric Tech Tuesdays: Parenting in the Digital Age, York Prep Technology Coordinator Alicia Weschler designed a curriculum for parents to improve their knowledge of the cyberworld their children inhabit. These informational meetings tackled important issues confronting teens which impact their safety, education, effectiveness, and emotional well-being.

“We find that almost every student is engaged in some form of social network, but many parents are not entirely informed of the impact these websites have on their children and the consequences of participation,” said Principal Chris Durnford. “We wanted to show parents how this technology affects our students and to share with them guidelines and recommendations for prudent and productive Internet use.”

The series kicked off in October with the session “Social Networks: Friends or Foes?” After a look at how today’s new media and technology environment is so different from what’s come before, Mrs. Weschler guided parents through social networks—Facebook, MySpace, Twitter—and examined the short-and long-term benefits and dangers of membership. Parents discussed and shared tips on how to keep their children safe.

Attendees explored how to mine Google’s search engine more fully during “Google Tips and Tricks” in November. Following a brief explanation of how search engines work and how Google comes up with such relevant and thorough search results, audience members were made aware of numerous special features, sometimes hidden, which are extremely practical and enhance the online search experience.

The April gathering on “Cyberbullying” provided facts, cases, resources, and strategies to help parents recognize the forms and warning signs of electronic abuse and to guide them in how to act in case their child becomes a victim—or perpetrator—of online cruelty. Mrs. Weschler spent time highlighting the differences between traditional bullying and cyberbullying and emphasized means of prevention.

A fourth offering in February, “Superparent to the Rescue: Troubleshooting 101,” was cancelled due to inclement weather. The meeting was set to focus on computer hardware advice, suggestion for moving files between home and school, and online reference resources; most likely, it will be scheduled for the next school year. The mother of a sixth grader “won’t miss” future sessions. “I’ve learned so much from the workshops,” she said.

Tuesday, April 13 - With the recent news stories about the challenges of Cyberbullying, York Prep will present a Technology session for parents on Cyberbullying, part of the Parent Workshop Series “Parenting in the Digital Age.”

A word about grandchildren; they start off very small. Difficult, I have noticed, to talk to. Our dogs and cats respond better to heated discussion.

I understand that with time, grandchildren grow bigger and eventually will change your diaper rather than you change theirs, but, when very young, they tend to have visceral rather than thoughtful reactions to most stimuli. I was discussing the new Daniel Silva novel with my two-year-old granddaughter (on my son’s side) and she seemed to be more interested in calling (a euphemism, if ever there was one) for her mother. My daughter-in-law was very kind and indicated that the dog needed to go for a walk.

Recently, we had all four granddaughters together for a week. It was at that time that I realized the value of aspirin taken in large doses. Since I have been involved with children all my life, this tendency to avoid the convergence of four children under three and me in one room without anyone else, worries me. I have tried to play the clown, which resulted in nervous screams from the children that both mothers put down to my insanity. I have tried food, which led to a mess on the carpet. I have tried to play dead, which resulted in having my hair and feet simultaneously pulled by little hands. In short, I am not good at this sort of thing.

So when does it change? When do these irrational monsters become intelligent humans? One thing I know is that animals get there quicker. Jayme and I are about to get a kitten. It will be ten weeks old. One will be able to converse with it on a reasonable level. It will not scream at me; in fact, it will appear as though it likes my company. I have had the privilege of being present at a number of births of horses. After less than one hour of life, a foal can run faster than I can and will allow you (if you are careful) to pet him or her. Try that with a one-hour-old baby!

We humans really are pathetic when we are born. Totally dependent on our mothers, we need everything except grandfathers. Mothers understand this, and there is nothing more like feeling like a bump on a log than to be around when one of your daughters (in-law or natural) is giving birth. You are sent hither and thither to get you somewhere else. Get the nurse! Get some water! Get a towel! It all means, “Get out of the way!”

I am not a frivolous man. I like to discuss philosophy. I like to discuss literature. I like to discuss. My granddaughters do not seem in any rush to have this discussion. They play with toys made by Fisher-Price. Now, there is a company who seems to understand granddaughters. I don’t get the appeal of little plastic figures with buttons that squeak when pressed. I, obviously, don’t squeak as appealingly when I am pressed.

We “skype” our children. If you have ever meaningfully skyped a child under three, you are a wiser person than yours truly. I make faces. I make silly sounds. I am a headmaster of a school and I am making faces and silly sounds. If you saw me skyping any one of my granddaughters you would not send your child to York Prep. You would say, “That man is an idiot. I will not trust my children with him.”  A YouTube video of that Skype time would go something like this:

Me, with two hands coming out of my ears by their thumbs: “Hallo, hallo, hallo!”

Granddaughter, wailing: “Ma-Ma, Ma-Ma!”

Daughter to child: “There, there! He doesn’t mean it.”  To me, “Let’s talk later by phone!”

End of Skype connection.

My senior ethics class would find it quite amusing.

Until my grandchildren (whom I irrationally adore with intense passion) grow up, I think I will take the dog for a walk.

Ronald P. Stewart, Headmaster
E-mail: rstewart@yorkprep.org

Poet Maria Mazziotti Gillan speaks to Grades 9-12

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Maria Mazziotti Gillan–award-winning poet, editor, teacher, cultural activist–will speak to Grades 9-12.

She will also conduct a Poetry Workshop with English 10 classes.

Wednesday, April 7 - Mr. Roper’s Parent History Class - 6:30-7:45 p.m. Topic: “The Grid and Its Beauty.”