Community Relations Board of Ridgewood and Glen Rock to Discuss Digital Citizenship, Cyber Bullying March 18

The Community Relations Advisory Board of Ridgewood and Glen Rock will discuss digital citizenship on Wednesday, March 18 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Garden Room of the Ridgewood Municipal Building.

Emerson School Superintendent Brian Gatens, Principal Jessica Espinoza and teacher Dennis Gordon will present their Digital Citizenship course, which created awareness and developed a responsible online social presence in the Emerson School System.

The Emerson School District implemented the Digital Citizenship course at the beginning of the school year to ”teach its third- through sixth-graders about how to conduct themselves in an online-environment” and “to develop an understanding of what it means to be a citizen,” NorthJersey.com reported.

“Because technology is so prominent in kids’ lives, we thought it was our responsibility to develop a program that recognized this and not one that is just learning how to surf the Internet,” Superintendent Brian Gatens told NorthJersey.com.

Ridgewood Police Officer Michael Lembo will also participate in Wednesday’s discussion, and will share his experiences, expertise and contributions regarding cyber bullying.

The Community Relations Advisory Board, which is appointed by the Mayors of Ridgewood and Glen Rock, aims to overcome bias attitudes toward persons or groups based on their race, color, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

For more information, contact crabnj@gmail.com.