From the Superintendent's Desk

As we approach the Holiday Season, I was reflecting on buying gifts for my loved ones.  Since time is money, (and I seem to have less of both lately), I thought of the gifts I could purchase via the internet and save time, frustration, and maybe some money.  That led me to think of just how the internet and technology has impacted all of us as well as our youth.  In this age of technology into which our children have been born, they are often more knowledgeable and skillful in using computers than we parents are.  I often say that the youth of today are “technology natives” while most of my generation (or older) are “technology immigrants.”

While Leland Schools have always provided students with instruction on internet safety, new Illinois legislation will require all Illinois public schools to provide internet safety instruction to students above 3^rd grade beginning with the 2009-10 school year.  In addition to instruction provided at school, there are many things parents can do to help and guide their children in safely using the internet even though they may be less knowledgeable about how to actually access and use the internet themselves.

Parents need to talk to their children about a number of things:

The house rules – establishing rules about the amount of time they are permitted to spend online and when they can do it, e.g. after homework, when chores are done, after some outside activity, etc.

Stranger Alert - your children already know about not talking to strangers. You need to remind them that people on the internet they don’t know are strangers and they must not give out any personal information. Ensure their email address doesn’t give their name - have them use a “pen” name or their pet’s name etc. instead.

Place the computer in a central place where there is plenty of family activity and you can monitor your child’s work. A computer in a child’s bedroom is out of sight.

Surf the net together so you can explore and assess the sites visited together.

Teach your children what to do if someone says something inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable on line. Encourage your children to tell you about anything inappropriate they come across.

Blocking and filtering software is readily available to help prevent undesirable material entering your home via the internet.

Do not let your child give out his email address without your permission. Much unsolicited material can come into your home as junk mail. Often this junk mail is very inappropriate. Complain to your Internet Service Provider if you continue to receive inappropriate junk mail.

Never let your child use a credit card online without your direct supervision and only if you are confident that it is a safe site.

Enjoy together the enrichment the internet can bring to your children’s learning in a safe, positive, educational and fun way.  Best wishes for a happy and safe holiday season!                      

Sincerely,

Dr. Lane Abrell