Internet Safety

1
Internet Safety

• Educating the Community

2
Dangers

• We warn our kids about smoking
• We warn our kids about drugs
• We warn our kids about alcohol
• Do we warn our kids
• about the Internet?

3
Why should we?

• In the last month, authorities have charged at
  least three men with sexually assaulting
  teenagers they found through MySpace.com and just
  this week police found a missing 15-year-old girl
  who investigators say was sexually assaulted by a
  26-year-old man she met through the site.
• -msnbc.com (April 2006)

4
Why should we?

• A January 2006 national study conducted by the
  Intelligence Group surveyed 500 teenagers (ages
  14 to18), and the results were sobering.
  Seventy-one percent of boys and 76 percent of
  girls said they have met someone online. The
  study also revealed that 60 percent of boys and
  40 percent of girls said they have done something
  online that they would not want their parents to
  know about.
• -Plain Dealer (Feb. 2007)

5
Districts Plan

• Seminar scheduled for Technology Teachers and
  Building Administrators on Internet and
  Technology Awareness Dr. Mason (CSU)
• Conduct a Parent Program at each school focusing
  on Internet Safety
• Continue to monitor and work with local officials
  to ensure the safety of our students

6
Seminar and Parent Program

• Provide relevant groups with information,
  guidance and advice on a whole range of issues
  affecting childrens use of the Internet
• GOAL To better understand the activities and
  cyber environments kids enjoy and the benefits as
  well as the potential risks

7
Topics Covered

• Cyber-bullying
• Cyber-stalking
• MySpace
• Exploitation of children by pedophiles
• Inappropriate use of gadgets (cell phones, MP3
  players)

• Inappropriate websites
• Threats to privacy
• Intervention and prevention strategies
• Classroom and home resources
• Alternative, appropriate sites

8
Safety Recommendations

• Get informed about computers and the Internet
• Create clear, simple, easy to read Internet house
  rules (Post on or near the monitor.)
• Keep Internet-connected computers in an open area
  and out of your kids bedrooms
• Talk to children about what personal information
  is and why you should never give it to people
  online

9
Parent Programs

• Programs will be offered at each school over the
  next month. Please check the Mentor Schools
  website and school newsletters for more
  information on the dates and times.