Internet Safety
The Internet is a wealth of resources that is a vast, power network linking people all over the world with other people, resources, and information. One can easily communicate and seek educational information, download files and have access to endless amounts of information. Various methods are used such as online research, chat, wikis, blogs, and video conferencing.
While the Internet is a wonderful resource there are harmful components that present safety issues. It is imperative that we educate our children to successfully, responsibly, and safely navigate through the Internet.
The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) provides guidelines for Internet Safety for our children in the United States.
Retrieved from the Federal Communications Commission Web Site
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cipa.html
Background Information
“The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is a federal law enacted by Congress to address concerns about access to offensive content over the Internet on school and library computers. CIPA imposes certain types of requirements on any school or library that receives funding for Internet access or internal connections from the E-rate program – a program that makes certain communications technology more affordable for eligible schools and libraries. In early 2001, the FCC issued rules implementing CIPA. More recently, Congress enacted additional protections for children using the Internet.”
For more information regarding E-rate at www.sl.universalservice.org
The Greenville schools are currently updating the Internet Safety policies, the Acceptable Use Policies in order to improve safety for our children in this fast-paced society. We do have rules that we discuss with our students and they are:
Internet Safety Tips:
These rules are adapted from NetSmartz.org, a joint venture of the Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Justice Department. You can visit their site and download an age-specific Internet safety pledge for parents and students to discuss and sign.
Internet users should:
- Not use rude, mean or intimidating language on the Internet.
- Talk with your parents or guardian and set up rules for going online. The rules should include whom you may communicate with, and appropriate areas for you to visit while online.
- Tell a trusted adult if you come across anything that makes you feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.
- Never share personal information such as your address, telephone number, parents' or guardian's work address/telephone number, or the name and location of your school or any information about your friends without your parents' or guardian's permission.
- Never send anyone your picture or anything else without first checking with your parents or guardian.
- Never respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make you feel uncomfortable. If you do get a message like that, tell a trusted adult right away so that he or she can contact the online service.
- Never meet in person with anyone you have first "met" online without checking with your parents or guardian. If your parents or guardian agrees to the meeting, it will be in a public place and your parents or guardian must come along.
- Never download anything from anyone you don't know. In addition to offensive content, spam or junk E-mail may contain viruses that can damage your computer.
- Always respect copyright laws and check on sources. When writing reports, make sure that the online sources of information are credible, and always cite your sources.
- Piracy is illegal and keeps authors, artists, and others from getting paid for their work. Never download things such as pictures, games, music, or movies that have not been given to the public for free.
The Greenville Schools has incorporated the i-Safe curriculum into our program. More information on the i-Safe program can be found at http://www.isafe.org/
BEWARE of CYBERBULLYING Information Sheet and link to other important materials
http://www.isafe.org/channels/sub.php?ch=ed&sub_id=dig