Kim's Journal # 7

JOURNAL # 7
Internet Safety: A Whole School Approach
By Greg Taranto

I found this article to be very intriguing. The Internet safety model created by Greg Taranto is collaboration at its best. I applaud his whole school approach to Internet safety and for recognizing that for the program to be a success, parents had to be part of the equation along with teachers, students, guidance, and administration.
I agree with the author that seventh grade is an ideal time to teach students about cyberbullying, protecting personal and private information, rules for Internet etiquette (“netiquette”), ways of handling threatening and harassing situations, and ways to determine the validity of information found on the Internet. The Internet Safety Survey included in the article is an excellent way to begin dialogue and introduce the week long Internet Safety Unit. It is refreshing that someone takes protecting our children on the Internet seriously and has offered a solution for reducing the potential for tragedy.


QUESTION # 1

If Internet Safety is being taught to 7th graders, should children have access to the Internet before grade seven?

If access to the Internet is restricted to grade seven, children will miss out on some wonderful learning opportunities. However, access should be limited and supervised. Parents and teachers can bookmark the sites that are appropriate for their children to avoid surfing the web or typing web addresses.

QUESTION # 2

Who is held accountable when a child does something inappropriate (criminal) on a home computer using skills that were learned at school?

It is the expectation that students will transfer knowledge outside of the classroom and incorporate it into their daily lives. However, it is the schools responsibility to keep the parents abreast of what is being taught to their children. It is the responsibility of the parents to instill values and morals into their children. Children can and should be held accountable for their actions provided they were properly taught.