13 Reasons Why

I have put off reading 13 Reasons Why simply because I didn't want to read about how broken this girl was and how little things (to an outsider) built up to result in suicide.  I ended up reading the book and couldn't help but look at it through two scopes; as a teacher and as a mom.  As a teacher, I found myself second guessing myself, "Am I doing enough to keep my students safe?  Do I brush things off they tell me because I might think it's minute?"  I tend to think I'm very proactive when it comes to students confiding in me about anything that might be harmful to him/her; whether it be emotionally or physically.  I refer pretty much everything to our guidance counselor because I don't ever want a "Hannah" on my conscience.  Sixth graders are a creature all their own.... they are transitioning, in my district at least, from elementary school to a big middle school.  Lots of my sixth graders are still babies and everything is traumatic, dramatic, hurtful, etc.  Many of my students are able to self regulate and have the mind set that things don't bother him/her.  But then there are those kids who can't get past all of those "little things" which in turn snowball into bigger and bigger issues and problems.  (Like Hannah...everything built up in her and led her to kill herself.)  It makes me wonder, can I/we as teachers protect all students who have Hannah's thoughts and perspective?  It makes me wonder, am I in-tune enough with my students to recognize when something is off or not right?  I'd like to think I am however in 13 Reasons Why, no one was in-tune to it. 

I think as educators we need to continue in this "digital world" by nurturing our kids by developing them into responsible digital citizens.  I don't think our students realize the power of their words whether made face to face or online behind a computer screen or through a phone text.  I know my students are naive to the fact that their words sent virtually will follow them forever.  Once it's written, they can always be traced back.  As teachers,  I do think, although I'm not thrilled about it, we need to establish online etiquette with our students and make them aware of the power of our words.  Like Hannah, there are students who are not as "strong" as others to ignore and persevere through kids words and "bullying."