Internet Safety

There are many approaches to protecting our students from the dangers on the Internet. Anyone who has ever used the Internet knows how easy it is to stumble across inappropriate sights. One way to protect our students from this is to be honest about the dangers with them. Let them know that the Internet is a great tool, but one that comes with dangers as well. Let them know that if they come across a site that they feel is inappropriate or that makes them feel uncomfortable, that they should close the window or go get an adult, be it a teacher or parent. Filters are a great tool but things have a way of creeping through.

We also need to educate our students about the dangers associated with chat rooms and related online tools (facebook, myspace, etc). Personal information such as addresses, phone numbers, pictures and financial information should never be placed online where multiple parties can see them. Students should also be wary and question the motives of people they meet online and who want to meet face to face. Dangerous people will often pose as youths and gain the trust of kids in order to coax them into meeting in real life. It is a sad reality and we need to make our students aware!