Internet Safety by

                

The Internet is full of wonderful places and can create many positive experiences. Vast amounts of information is available at the click of a mouse. "Cyberspace", however, is part of "real life" and there is good reason to be cautious here. The same dangers that exist in "real life" exist on the Internet. We all learn what part of town is the "bad part of town" and avoid it if we want to. The same holds true with the Internet.
Just as we encounter good and bad people on the street, we will encounter good and bad people online. Adults usually exercise common sense, children need guidance and protection.



There are basically two schools of thought regarding the guidance and protection of our young people. One camp believes that the Internet should be regulated much the same way television is. The second camp views this as censorship and feels that there is a technology available to protect children without limiting the Internet for everyone.

The Internet is an exciting medium because it allows, and encourages, the exchange of ideas. Some of these ideas may be of an adult nature and . Rather than eliminate these areas of the Internet they can be "blocked" from your computer using software.

Here's where you can go to read about and download the software that is available:

Our Favorite Web Sites

CYBERsitter
Blocks - content and graphic file downloads. It also filters offensive terms and phrases.

Cyber Patrol
This has a customizable dictionary for each member of the family. It can also limit the amount of time spent online.

Cyber Snoop
It has a customizable list of Web sites that are forbidden. Log entries allow parents to see where the child has been.

KidDesk Family Edition
Prevents children from accessing CD-ROMs and online services not approved by the parents. Allows for password protection of programs.

Net Nanny
This has a customizable filter list. It will check incoming and outgoing text against a dictionary of words that the parents create.

SurfWatch
Blocks Web sites, newsgroups, FTP, Gopher sites, IRC channels, based upon information that the parent provides.

Times Up!
Enables parents to establish time and access limits for the use of games, online services, and other programs.

We recommend that you establish a set of rules with your child that governs their conduct while they are online:

  • I will not give out my address, telephone number, school name or location, credit card information, or my parents work name, address or telephone number without my parents permission.
  • I will not respond to a message that is mean or makes me feel uncomfortable. I will tell my parents (or, in their absence, another adult who is present) right way if I get a message like that.
  • I will never agree to meet an online acquaintance in person without first discussing it with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will bring my mother or father with me and make sure it is in a public place.
  • I will help my parents set up rules for when and how long I can be online and will not break those rules without their permission.

For more information about keeping children safe on the Internet, check out these Web sites:

The Internet Safety Site details the both the benefits and risks associated with using the Internet. They also offer several very good solutions to problems that may be encountered. 

The New York Public Library provides a parent's guide to Internet Safety issues. 

The Platform for Internet Content Selection is a rating system for Web sites. SafeSurf explains the use of voluntary site identification codes to rate the Web site content. 

Many schools already have an Acceptable Use Policy for classroom computer use. Their site has many hyperlinks to various sites with information for K-12 teachers.

 

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