Internet Safety

Since many students also use the Internet at home, school officials should provide parents with information about digital citizenship. A combined, concerted effort between parents and school employees can better protect students from cyber predators and dangers – on and off school grounds. Parents can best protect their families from online dangers by learning computer and Internet skills that will enable them to participate in their children’s Internet learning and activities. Communication between parent and child is a key component of online safety. Children should know they can discuss with their parents their concerns, questions and fears about the Internet. Parents should tell their children to report any obscene or threatening messages they receive online.
This teaser video clip was created by Hoover City Schools to encourage parents to attend meetings regarding digital citizenship and their children.
Parents should send the offensive messages to their Internet provider company, which may be able to track the message’s source. In addition, children should report to their parents any person they meet online who makes them uncomfortable or asks questions of a personal nature.

Monitoring a child’s computer use can dramatically decrease the risk of online problems and dangers. Parents should place their computer in an area of the home where they can view its screen openly at any time. In addition, parents should prohibit their children from using the computer for long periods of time, especially late at night

Parents may want to consider using filtering software, or perhaps, they would rather discuss with their children the differences between inappropriate and appropriate materials online. Children may be prohibited from using chat rooms or other online services that allow them to correspond with others. If children do use e-mail or other features, parents should investigate unfamiliar or questionable messages. This also can be monitored by carefully viewing any strange telephone or modem billing charges received each month.

Parents should know their children’s online friends, just as they do their neighborhood friends. Parents should especially be concerned if their children begin to mention adults who they do not know as a family. If a child becomes secretive about his or her online activities or begins mentioning details of a mature nature, this can indicate the child may be having an inappropriate relationship online.

Tips for Sharing Information with Parents on Cyber Safety

There are many different methods that schools can employ to share information about cyber safety. In this section, the authors will describe some selected methods for communicating the importance of cyber safety in the home. Some information sharing ideas for communicating cyber safety in the home include providing tips in the school’s newsletter, providing a parent page on the school’s website, hosting an Internet safety seminar or designing an Internet safety brochure. Research shows that schools yield better results when they involve parents in issues of safety. When parents and educators are involved in collaborative endeavors to protect their children, they can develop a clear understanding of appropriate behavior for using the Internet at school and at home.
Internet Safety Newsletter
By far the most effective method for communicating information is the school newsletter. In addition to providing needed information to parents about cyber safety, it also boosts the school’s reputation as a public information resource for the community. Professionals have found that of all the printed materials school officials send home, the school newsletter is most often read by parents. In most cases, it is the only regular source of contact that parents have with the school; therefore, they consider it to be an important resource. The newsletter also communicates to the parents that the principal and staff are committed to providing valuable information that can benefit their family’s safety at home. (See Internet Safety Newsletter) news-letter.pdf