This week's safe schools snippets

Sexting, internet safety issues top concerns for parents

Sexting and Internet safety issues now rank among the top 10 health concerns U.S. adults have about children, joining childhood obesity, drug abuse, and teen pregnancy, according to a new poll by the University of Michigan. Read more at  WebMD.

Facebook issues security guide for teens, parents, teachers

Facebook has published a free, 20-page guide aimed at teens, their parents and teachers that explains best practices for protecting their safety and privacy on the site.

Titled “A Guide to Facebook Security,” the pamphlet is available on the site and was co-written by security experts Linda McCarthy and Keith Watson, and editor and teacher Denise Weldon-Siviy. Read more in PC World.

Gay teens sue Minnesota school district over bullying policy

A sixth teen in Minnesota has filed a lawsuit against Anoka-Hennepin School District alleging that school staff members did not do enough to prevent or cease the bullying she endured because she is gay. Read more in TIME.

Police offer back-to-school safety tips

Use the buddy system. Children should always walk to and from school with a friend or stay with a group at the bus stop. There is safety in numbers. If your child will be riding the bus, visit the bus stop together and be sure he or she knows the bus number. Read more in the Naperville Sun.

Back-to-school transportation safety for children

Believe it or not, kids in some parts of the country are headed back to school as early as mid-August. Luckily, in the northeast and other areas, we have a few more weeks to go, but it’s a good time to remind children and parents how to safely return to school. Read more in Consumer Reports.

Back to school: One student’s bullying story

It’s back to school month and for many students it means returning to an environment of harassment and bullying. In the wake of a national epidemic of highly-publicized gay suicides, Colorado lawmakers passed an anti-bullying bill this year designed to forestall another tragedy. But while many view it as a good first step – full implementation of the bill is still months away. Check out this report on KUNC.

About our First Person series:

First Person is where Chalkbeat features personal essays by educators, students, parents, and others trying to improve public education. Read our submission guidelines here.