A series of Philosopher Cafés geared for teens starts next week in Surrey, with the first discussion tackling bullying.
Presented by SFU Continuing Studies, and co-sponsored by the SFU Surrey - TD Community Engagement Centre (CEC) and Surrey Libraries, the talk is called The Evolution of Bullying and will focus on how bullying begins, how it is perceived, and its various forms, including cyber-bullying.
The new, free teen café series begins Jan. 21, 7-8:30 p.m. and continues monthly through June, addressing some of the key issues faced by young people. Teens between 13 and 18 are welcome and no registration is necessary.
The youth series is modeled after SFU Continuing Studies’ Philosophers’ Café, a series of informal public discussions that are offered in libraries, cafés and restaurants throughout Metro Vancouver for adults.
Moderators for the teen series will be Farimah Salimi, a graduate student in educational technology and learning design at SFU, and Shideh Manavipour, an SFU alumna who works with children and youth with special needs in Burnaby. Manavipour is also pursing a graduate degree in educational leadership.
Future topics in the series will include:
• Feb. 18: Is Technology the New Drug of the Century? A discussion of how much technology use is an addiction and whether it is a good educational tool;
• March 18: Teen Self-Confidence, focusing on what it is and how to build it, and how teens deal with peer-pressure;
• April 22: Change. A session looking at what changes teen have experienced and how they deal with changes in their lives;
• May 20: Peer Pressure. The focus will be on what pressures youth face and how they deal with them;
• June 17: What Would You Like to Learn in School? A discussion of hopes, dreams and opportunities as teens consider their interests and possible careers.
The get-togethers will take place at Surrey Centre Library (10350 University Dr.) in room 402. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/LgmycC