Online Safety
Today's students have grown up in a digital world. This digital world allows immediate access to information, resources, and communication. This access creates tremendous learning environments, but also creates a venue for students to communicate with each other in an open structure. Cyber safety is a concern for all schools in School District No. 73.
The easy solution is to block social network sites in all schools. This, however, does little to solve the problem as most of the online postings occur at home. Instead of blocking social network sites, experts agree that students and teachers need to utilize this media and educate themselves to the advantages and disadvantages that social media creates.
The main goal of the Cyber Safety Committee in the district is to provide resources to assist in the education of students, teachers, and parents. Cyberbullying is everyone's business and the best response is a pro-active or preventative one. From the outset, parents can reduce the risks associated with internet use if they engage in open discussions with their children about their online activities.
Parents should also teach their kids how to react to an online bully:
- Stop what you are doing. Leave the area or stop the activity (i.e. chat room, online game, instant messaging, social networking site, etc.).
- Block the sender's messages. Never reply to harassing messages.
- Talk to an adult. If the bully is a student at your child's school, meet with school officials and ask for help in resolving the situation. If the bullying includes physical threats, tell the police as well.
- Save any harassing messages and forward them to your Internet Service Provider (i.e. Hotmail or gmail). Most service providers have appropriate use policies that restrict users from harassing others over the Internet – and that includes kids!