Seminar in Whitefish focuses on cyber-bullying

The Whitefish PTA is hosting a seminar on cyber-bullying Wednesday night.

Det. Doug Overman of the Kalispell Police Department and counselor Alison Schmaltz from Elrod School in Kalispell will discuss the hazards of cyber-bullying.

Schmaltz and Overman have been trained to help schools implement nationally recognized programs to reduce bullying in classrooms and the community.

According to a recent poll, commissioned by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, one in three teenagers and one in six preteens have been victims of cyber-bullying.

The Whitefish PTA urges all parents to learn how to help protect their children from Internet and cell phone misuse.

Cyber-bullying can be more dangerous than in-person confrontations because bullies often are anonymous and therefore more difficult to catch.

It's also easy to impersonate another person online, making it easy to gain someone's trust.

Emotional abuse from cyber-bullying can be more damaging than physical violence.

Gossip, lies, photos and videos last long after bruises heal. Cyber-bullying also follows people into their homes, which normally would be havens from bullying.

At the seminar, parents and children will learn how to avoid becoming victims.

The PTA urges students to attend so they might hear firsthand how to prevent cyber-bullying.

The seminar begins at 7 p.m. in the Whitefish Middle School auditorium.