WPS to host Jan. 21 assemblies to encourage positive, healthy decisions in a digital world
Lincoln school attorney offers important educational opportunity to students & parents
Launch the media gallery 1 playerLike it or not, we live in a digital world, and parents and teachers do their best to stay educated about how children are using technology in their everyday lives . . . no small challenge for those of us raised with "state-of-the-art" electric typewriters!
There are a lot of positive aspects that accompany our digital society, but also a lot of risks, and it's not difficult to find examples in the media of what happens when the use of cell phones, laptops and other available technologies is combined with poor decision making. Unfortunately, Wahoo students are not immune to this growing national trend. The district recognizes this, and wants to do what it can to educate and inform all stakeholders about issues pertaining to sexting, social media, cyberbullying, and general Internet safety. These are important topics which too often cause very painful and embarrassing situations for families.
Wahoo Public Schools will host five assemblies on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, featuring Karen Haase, a school attorney from the Harding and Shultz law firm in Lincoln.
Ms. Haase will speak with our grades 8-12 students in four assemblies organized by grade and gender. These assemblies will be held during the school day. Then at 7:00 p.m. that evening, Ms. Haase will present to parents and community members in the Performance-Learning Center (free of charge). The goal will be to educate parents about the technologies/websites/social media apps/etc. that their children are using, and offer recommendations on how parents can better monitor what their children are doing with these technologies, as well as suggestions for helping children avoid making poor choices.
Karen is an extremely engaging, open and honest speaker, and offers her unique perspectives as both a parent and school attorney. She has spoken to schools, associations and student groups across the state . . . countless presentations that help make a positive impact on students, and help educate parents about the digital world in which their children live.
The scheduled assemblies are as follows:
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015
9:00-10:00 a.m. •• Girls (grades 9 & 11) in Learning Lab
10:30-11:30 a.m. •• Girls (grades 8 & 10) in Learning Lab
1:00-2:00 p.m. •• Boys (grades 9 & 11) in Learning Lab
2:30-3:30 p.m. •• Boys (grades 8 & 10) in Learning Lab
7:00-8:00 p.m. •• Parents, Teachers & Community Members in Performance-Learning Center
ATTENTION AREA PARENTS:
The evening "CyberParenting" assembly is available to all parents in the area, and there is no charge for admission.
Karen will provide information about where kids are spending much of their time on the Internet, the risks associated with each of these websites, and suggestions for what you can do to keep your children safe online.
In the wake of an increased number of court cases involving "Cyberbullying," Karen will also discuss how bullying online is different from traditional school bullying, and how much easier it is for kids to bully others when they can do it without any face-to-face contact.
Her presentation uses humor, statistics, summaries of real-life cyberbullying cases, and the criminal consequences attached to the inappropriate use of social media such as Facebook, Twitter and InstaGram (just to name a few).
All parents are highly encouraged to attend! Please spread the word, mark your calendars, and join us for this very important educational opportunity.
Biography:
KAREN A. HAASE
HARDING & SHULTZ, P.C., L.L.O.
Karen Haase is a shareholder in the Lincoln law firm of Harding & Shultz where she practices exclusively in the area of education law. The firm represents approximately 150 public school districts and other educational institutions regarding special education, student discipline, litigation in federal and state courts, labor relations, and employment matters. She frequently presents in-services to students and staff and speaks to all manner of education groups.
Ms. Haase graduated from the University of Nebraska School of Law with highest distinction. She also obtained a Masters of Arts in Political Rhetoric from Kansas State University in 1991 and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hastings College. Prior to joining the firm, she spent two years as a law clerk to The Honorable C. Arlen Beam, a Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Ms. Haase has taught on the university level and has served as an adjunct instructor in the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s educational administration department. She is the author of several articles published in academic journals. Three of her articles have appeared in the NEBRASKA LAW REVIEW: one December, 2000, entitled Challenges to Regulating Students’ Exotic Body Piercing; another in 1997, entitled Mixed Metaphors; Model Civil Jury Instructions for Title VII Disparate Treatment Claims, and a third in 1995, entitled You Can Check out Any Time You Like, but You Can Never Leave: Attorney Conflict of Interest and Imputed Disqualification under Nebraska’s New Bright Line Rule. Ms. Haase is a past president of the Nebraska Counsel of School Attorneys, a member of The National Counsel of School Attorneys and the Nebraska Bar Association and is admitted to the U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Nebraska Supreme Court.
WPS to host Jan. 21 assemblies to encourage positive, healthy decisions in a digital world
| K. Barneskathleenubarnes@hotmail.com | Dec 23, 2014 | This was such an excellent presentation last year. Would encourage anyone that uses social media to attend. |