With school starting, your kid’s social life is picking up steam again, for better or for worse. The Boston Public School system wants to help nip serious nastiness in the bud by letting kids text their anti-bullying hotline, reports the Boston Herald. But is it really better than picking up the phone?
The anti-bullying hotline became open to students two years ago but school officials feel that, given the way kids tend to communicate these days, it’s best to meet them where they are and let them text about their troubles. District spokesman Lee McGuire explained to the Herald, “We feel like a lot of students would rather text us information than call us in many situations. We also know that some students who struggle to speak English may be more comfortable sending a text than making a phone call.”
With bullying being linked to teen suicides, drug use and a whole host of problems, it’s good that the schools are giving kids a chance to speak in a way that’s comfortable for them. We just hope texting becomes the first step to a real conversation and lasting solutions.