Idea of the Week: Internet Predator Classes

Recently, the major news networks have focused on the dangers that children face each day because of internet predators. With a variety of internet sites such as My Space, people of all ages can post personal information and photos for the entire world to access. Though used most by students and their friends to communicate electronically with each other, the sites are not fool proof and have allowed predators to stalk young people.

It is easy to argue that parents should be speaking to their children and monitoring their internet use. I am not in disagreement, but feel extra reinforcement of the dangers of internet predators to our young people is in need. That is why I am calling for the State of North Carolina to require teachers to educate their students on the dangers of internet predators beginning in elementary school. There are many opportunities for schools to incorporate this program into their classrooms (posters, messages, assemblies, classes, etc).

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper is a leader in the fight to protect children. His ideas have become the model that other states are following. Our state's school districts could adopt the resources already employed by the AG for parents as part of their internet safety curriculum. Below, I have linked his site for safety tips for parents, guardians, and teachers.

Schools already provide students with traffic/driving safety courses and provide messages about the dangers of drug/alcohol use. Changing times require adaptation to the issues of the day. The dangers of internet predators is a new threat to our children and one schools need to join the fight in educating our kids!

http://www.ncdoj.com/children/pc_about.jsp