This Thursday, October 6, the Montclair Cooperative School will host best-selling author of “Queen Bees and Wannabes” Rosalind Wiseman at its first free community event of the academic year. Wiseman, an internationally recognized expert on children, teens, parenting, bullying and ethical leadership, will speak on Navigating the New Realities of Girl World and Boy World.
With the recent release of the fully revised and updated edition of her original ground breaking book, Wiseman addresses the massive transformations in the adolescent landscape over the last several years. Her original book unveiled the realities of teen life from frenemies to bullying and formed the basis for the movie “Mean Girls.” The new edition investigates how changes in technology and media have impacted that reality.
Wiseman considers how technological advancements allow embarrassing photographs to be spread easily and instantly around an entire school or community, how divisions between private and public have been blurred by the use of social media and how marketing messages from cell phone texts to YouTube inundate young adults. With her work Wiseman aims to help parents, educators and young people successfully navigate these social challenges.
“Eliminating, reducing or controlling our children’s exposure to this new media is not nearly as effective as we wish it would be,” said Montclair Co-op Head of School Maggie Granados in an email. Granados went on to state, “I am particularly happy to have Rosalind Wiseman here at Montclair Cooperative School on Thursday and to have the evening event open to the entire Montclair-and-wider-community. I have no doubt her wisdom for parents trying to empower their pre-teens and teens is so essential to share and benefit from in these times.”
Wiseman’s seminar will help educators and parents grapple with the issues covered in her new book, “Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the new Realities of Girl World,” and will offer participants concrete strategies for helping children handle conflict ethically and with social competence.
Wiseman’s expertise in ethical leadership, media literacy and bullying prevention make her a popular speaker at schools in the U.S. and abroad as well as a frequent guest on the “Today” show and “Anderson Cooper 360.” Wiseman has also been profiled in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times.
The hour-long presentation will be followed by q&a session moderated by Granados. Afterward Wiseman will hold a book signing. Books can be purchased on the evening of the event courtesy of Watchung Booksellers.
“Being able to offer opportunities for MCS parents, and parents all around our towns, to hear and learn from someone like Wiseman is at the heart of our mission as a school.”
Co-op Conversations: Rosalind Wiseman on Queen Bees & Wannabes: Navigating the New Realities of Girl World and Boy World
Who: Adults.
What: The Montclair Cooperative School is excited to welcome Rosalind Wiseman to campus. When first published, Rosalind Wiseman’s New York Times best-selling book Queen Bees and Wannabes launched readers head-first into a world where teens face the everyday trials of cliques, frenemies, reputations, gossip, rebellion, bullying, crushes, and relationships.
Where: Montclair Co-op, 65 Chestnut Street (entrance on Forest Street), Montclair NJ 07042
When: Thursday, October 6 at 7 pm
Cost: Free. Space is limited–Register here. If you have any questions, call 973.783.4955