J.E. Davis -- Stop Violence

Bullying: A Major Issue In Today’s Schools

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Bullying has always been a problem for children in and out of schools. The reasons for bullying vary but the feelings and impact from their victims are always the same. The victims of bullies are usually selected in an area or places where the bully will be less likely to be caught which make it difficult for teachers or school staff to intervene. So it is important that children be educated on how to react accordingly if they witness someone being bullied or what to do if they become a victim of a bully.
Children will be not as prone to use bullying behavior when the school environment is promoting its children and staff to take action against bullying when it appears, in this way everyone is responsible to assist in stopping bullying. School children need to understand the differences between tattling on students who are bullying children and telling on them to protect others from harm.
There should be a strong anti-bullying policy in place at schools along with guidelines posted where children can easily view them. These posted guidelines should list the consequences for bullying behavior along with guidelines for proper behavior that is expected from all students.

Why Your Child Is Constantly Afraid To Go To School

admin — Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

There has always been a separation of peer groups in schools with some groups being more popular and accepted than others. In recent years this type of separation has led to some students being ridiculed and bullied by their peers. This bullying behavior can take the form of physical contact with students being pushed, shoved or even beaten by other students. The school administrators and teachers do not offer much in the way of protection because they do not want to receive backlash from parents. If your child seems depressed when it is time to get ready for school in the morning, it could be a signal that something is wrong. The kids that are picked on will often make up excuses to stay home such as pretending to be sick. They are often sensitive to criticism because they are constantly belittled by others at school. An outgoing child who excelled in certain subjects will become withdrawn and start to let their grades fall. If you suspect your child is having trouble with bullies you need to discuss the matter with them and with the teachers and administrators of the school. Children are not equipped to deal with resolving violence on their own, parents need to get involved to help make schools a safer place to be.

How To Escape A Dangerously Violent Relationship

admin — Sun, 08 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Abusive and violent relationships can be of many types, they can be a combination of verbal, physical, mental or sexual abusive or a heightened state of one of these types.

Abusive relationships are often violent along with being mentally disturbing. It is very important for the victim to protect his/herself by escaping the situation no matter how much they might care about the abuser.

Contact the police as soon as you can, if you don’t want to press charges then the first thing to do is to confide in someone you can trust and someone who can help you, be ready with a car for you or take you to some place safe.

Keep emergency numbers handy, in every room of your house. Once you plan to escape, do not reveal this to the abuser otherwise they might lock you up or increase their violence upon you. Have an extra set of keys for every room of your house, even the basement. Wait for the abuser to leave, do not try to pick a fight or create a situation where you might have to defend yourself.

Lastly once you have gotten away from the situation do not go back, as much as it might hurt or as painful as it maybe.

A Great Resource

www.jedavis-stopviolence.org — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you or someone you know has been a victim of crime often the first response is how to find help. Fortunately, the National Center for Victims of Crime is a great first resource (after notifying the authorities, of course).The organization offers a wealth of information on all types of crime and violence ranging from the more obvious (such as stopping violence against women or how to seek civil justice for crime victims) to the less obvious (such as providing information and assistance for hurricane crime victims which could also translate to a victim as a result of any disaster such as assault during looting after riots or earthquakes).Topic s include such things as:

Trauma of victimization
Trauma recovery tips for children
Grief: general
Greif: children
Victim services in hospitals
Getting emotional, financial, and legal assistance
Selecting a mental health professional
Financial assistance: crime victim compensation
Civil justice
Civil justice for victims of crime
Coping with holidays and anniversaries

Also, and we think this is pretty impressive, the organization is able to serve victims in more than 150 languages and can network through a nationwide base of more than 8,700 local community victim assistance programs. So don’t let language or geography stop you from getting the help that is available.

Bullying is a Form of Violence

www.jedavis-stopviolence.org — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:01:34 +0000

With the recent press associated with the suicides of several individuals who had been targeted for bullying because of their sexual orientation, it’s a perfect time to point out that bullying is a form of violence. Period.And to stop this form of violence the Stop Bullying Now website has listed the following actions that can (and should) be taken by schools and communities to assure that such tragedy never has to occur again.

Schools with anti-bullying policies must clarify that teasing and exclusion based on sexual orientation is prohibited. In the 2005 Harris Interactive survey, students from schools with explicit policies on sexual and gender identification were less likely to report a serious harassment problem (33 percent vs. 44 percent), and reported higher rates of feeling safe at school (54 percent vs. 36 percent) and, consequently, were one-third less likely to skip a class.
Schools need to consider adding sexual orientation and gender identity to school policies on discrimination and harassment. This sends the message to the school community that no one should be treated differently because of an admitted or presumed sexual orientation.
Schools, clubs, camps, after school and summer programs, and every youth-serving organization should train staff and volunteers on effective bullying prevention methods and interventions.
Schools and communities must create safe, non-biased and supportive environments for all children and youth which will reduce the hazards and stresses for sexual minority youth.
Schools can provide age-appropriate instruction on sexual orientation in health and sexuality curricula. Communities can ensure inclusiveness in social, recreational, and sports programming to set an accepting tone of diverse identities.
Concerns about bullying or harassment of LGBT youth should be discussed with youth. By avoiding the subject, parents and other adults may convey an attitude of indifference, or worse, an unspoken acceptance of the harassment experienced by LGBT youth.
Additional supports may be needed when anti- LGBT bullying is detected to guarantee access to qualified health care and mental health providers who are knowledgeable and skilled in health promotion and risk reduction in working with LGBT and questioning youth.
Clinical guidelines by the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage pediatricians to help raise awareness among community leaders on issues of adolescent sexuality and specifically relative to sexual minority youth, to provide facts about sexual orientation in school and community libraries, and to develop support groups for minority sexual youth, their friends, and their parents.When youth reveal same-sex attractions and relationships, this is an opportunity for health, medical, and school professionals to better inform and support sexual minority youth by linking them with community resources and helping to overcome the tensions of parents, families and peers.

Unique Home Security Devices to Keep Your Family Safe

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:50:45 +0000

A home security system can provide general, overall protection to your home, but there are a number of ways to increase security in specific areas of your house. Most burglars will at least expect the possibility of an alarm going off but they’re much more likely to be caught off guard by an outdoor motion detector or steel door brace. We’re not suggesting you completely pad lock your home with stainless steel, but if there is a particular area you are concerned with there are always ways to further secure your residence.

The dual function door security brace from Safety Basement is a 20-gauge steel device that can be inserted under a door knob to prevent someone from entering your house even if they have a key. This device is adjustable to fit different size doors and is easily installed and removed at your convenience.
While your alarm system protects the inside of your home it probably is not doing much to guard your outdoor belongings. A motion detector is a very useful device for monitoring outdoor activity. The Caddx Wireless Long Life Pet Immune PIR uses infrared technology to detect any unexpected visitors and then alert a control panel inside. You can set this device to not pick up animals in order to reduce false alarms.
Security cameras can serve many functions within a home or residence from deterrence to catching a thief. Surveillance Video offers an array of different surveillance systems. If you just want a camera for your front porch to monitor who visits or potentially scare away a burglar, then a wireless outdoor camera is an option to consider. However, if you suspect foul play, a covert spy camera such as one that is built into a wall clock or a bedside alarm is a more viable option.
Always remember the carbon monoxide detector! Many states have required the installation of these detective-alarms, but even if that is not the case where you live, you are taking a huge risk by not having one. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas and the only way you would ever know it was in your home is with a detector. Without one, serious damage could be done before you ever even knew there was a problem.
Don’t like dogs? Get a fake one. The Electronic Watch Dog from Safety Basement provides the deterrence of a watchdog as it replicates the sound of a barking dog as an intruder approaches. Most burglars admit to leaving a home alone if they notice or hear a dog. Now you can benefit from the uses of a guard dog without the vet bills, weekly bags of food and dog hair covering everything you own.

Surprisingly Vulnerable Household Items

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:48:02 +0000

Everyone knows that expensive electronic systems, jewelry or firearms are targets for theft, but these aren’t the only ones. One of the biggest mistakes made by homeowners is to leave anything valuable sitting out in plain view of a person passing by. Think of it like window shopping, you’re much more likely to walk into a store where you’ve seen clothes or products you like displayed in the window. Next time you’re cleaning up the house, look around to see if you’re leaving any of these valuables exposed.Especially now that technological advancements have practically turned cell phones into mini-computers, these are a very appealing sight to a thief. Many people leave their cell phone on a kitchen counter over night, where they plug it into charge. Another common mistake is leaving your phone unattended in your car. Not only does this tempt a burglar to break into your home or car and take your phone, you are also leaving your identify unprotected. Personal information stored inside a smart phone can be used for identity fraud or as a way to find other information such as your address or bank account.Though you probably don’t think of your tool set as something that needs guarding, this is one of the most commonly stolen household items. Because many people keep tools in a garage, with the garage door open, this is an easy target. And if you stop to think about it, you’ve probably spent a good amount of money on all of those items. Always keep tools, building supplies, and lawn equipment in a closed garage or locked shed. And try to keep them out of plain sight of the garage windows if possible, because most garage doors can be opened manually.As much as you like to show off your fine, expensive silver collection, this should be done in a room that isn’t covered by windows. A silver collection is usually worth a lot of money as well as sentimental value and will be quite a find for a thief.

Protecting Your Home is Getting Easier Every Day

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:47:01 +0000

Two of the most influential trends within our society today are the wireless revolution and the age of the smart phone. Both of these technologies have drastically changed the way we go about our day to day life. As it turns out these advancements are having a profound effect on the home security industry as well.Wireless home security systems are rapidly becoming the standard for new installations. We know that wireless internet and wireless phones have far reaching advantages, but what makes wireless home security systems better than traditional hard wired ones? The ease and convenience of installation is one of the most notable differences. A wired system requires cutting into walls throughout the house to install the system and unless this is done when the house is built, it is an extremely messy and time consuming process. With a wireless system you save time and money with easy installation. You also have the advantage of linking up different systems and detectors throughout your house. Many security companies are creating systems that allow you to incorporate fire, flood and security protection with one device. There are also ways to manage your system remotely through the use of new smart phone technologies. ADT now has an application to be used with the iPhone that allows you to arm or disarm your system from remote locations. You also have the options of receiving notifications via email or text message if the alarm is set off or a door or window is opened. Advance wireless technology even allows you to stream video from a security camera at your home to make sure everything is safe and sound at home.All of these advances to the home security industry seem to be having an effect on crime rates. In the United States, property crime rates have been steadily falling over the last decade. This is likely due to the improvements being made in home protection services.

Lock it Up

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:45:36 +0000

Locking your doors, setting your alarm and keeping valuables out of sight are key ingredients to a safe home. But, unfortunately, even taking these steps doesn’t ensure you won’t ever be the victim of a robbery. In order to ensure that the losses you suffer are minimal, consider investing in a safe. These devices can protect against man and nature, and will ensure your most valuable possessions are always safe.When purchasing a safe, there are a few features you should look for. Some safes offer fire protection, others protect against flood. However, the best safe, though it may cost a bit more, has multiple protective features. The Sentry Electronic Fire-Safe will protect your items for up to 2 hours while in a fire. It is also water resistant and can be bolted to the floor to prevent a burglar from attempting to carry it away. An electronic key pad also ensures that you’ll never find yourself having lost the key and therefore having no way to get to your belongings. If you’re looking for a discreet and easily hidden safe, the Sentry Floor Safe is a cylindrical safe that can be installed into wood or concrete.Once you’ve purchased a safe, it’s time to choose a password combination. Your password should be something completely random, nothing containing personal information such as birthdates or initials. If letters are an option, incorporate at least one capital and one punctuation mark. As easy and convenient as it is to use one password for many different accounts or safes, this is very dangerous. If someone is serious about stealing your belongings or identity, and they manage to hack one account or safe, they will start with that password when they begin to check all of the others. Once you’ve decided on a combination, commit it to memory and learn to type it quickly and efficiently so that this won’t be a problem in the event of an emergency.