Does anyone think this session is going to present both sides of the issue?

I wish I could attend this to provide a counterbalance to what I’m guessing will be a pretty one-sided conversation. Have any of you gone to one of these events sponsored by your local law enforcement? If so, how was it?

[see also Let’s Just Scare the #$%& Out of Them, Ok?]

Comments

[Charlie A. Roy]

1.

A few years ago some of the local schools here hosted such evenings. They brought out some arcane statistic like half of all people on the internet at any given time are "potential molesters". Interesting nevetheless. Their first round was a scare parents idea. Of course fear panders to the lowest level.

Additional rounds have been better put together and more accurate. Last year some area groups hosted a discussion about "sex" on the web and the need to protect kids from pronography. It went over well. But of course lacking from all of this was the good side of the web.

[diane]

2.

The New York State Police have shared similar "information" with our district - persuaded the MS/HS principal that it would be dangerous and irresponsible to leave YouTube unblocked, for example (teachers can submit a request to get video clips unblocked for specific classes).

There doesn't seem to be quite the same approach to other "dangers." Sex education and fire safety are part of the curriculum, why not good digital citizenship and cyber safety?

[Ken Allan]

3.

Kia ora Scott

It is difficult to get a balance when the community is asked. There is an ugly blame culture that too often comes to the fore with topics like this - I've seen it more than I want to

Whole-of-community awareness is the answer - I have no doubt about that. School, parent, ISP, community, Police, businesses, and students all need educating with this.

To say that "I don't have kids, so why should it bother me" is so head-in-the-sandish it's not true.

Everyone knows someone who has children. As an educator I am aware that the children of today are the taxpayers, work-colleagues and potential parents of tomorrow. So, as in any network, everyone has someone close who can touch the shoulder of a child - who can benefit from support, protection and educating.

Catchya later
from Middle-earth

[Jim Dornberg]

4.

The State of Michigan has a program put together by the State Attorney General. It puts a lot of emphasis on parents accessing the online database of child predators. I asked the presenter to clarify that these were not all internet predators, but had I not asked this question, I don't know if that point would have been made or understood.

I would like to see a 10 second presentation for parents. If they know or do nothing else, it would be to put the computer in a location that is easy to supervise. Too many kids have internet access behind the closed door to their bedroom.

[Mark Whitson]

5.

Scott,

We began school in Lebanon Community School district with a presentation of this type. I was ready for the usual 'there are a bunch of pervs out there ready to steal your child's ', however I was very pleasantly surprised by our presenters approach. Here is a link to the presenter: http://www.linnonline.org/techSmartz/About_Us.html

Not only was the presentation up to date, it dealt nicely with typical fears and the actual online world. Micah Smith also appeared to check his Blackberry several times during the presentation (8x' to be exact) without missing a beat.

Anyhow, this is a real issue and it was nice to get an informative, up to date, pro cyberspace generation, presentation from a Sheriff.