Florida and Michigan Students Get Online Predator Education
One of the things I like to do in this blog is share good news involving the issue of child online safety. Two states are making news with their proactive initiatives to educate kids on recognizing inappropriate solicitations that could be predator threats.
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum’s cybercrime unit has developed an Internet safety program to be taught in Florida’s middle and high schools this fall. It will teach students about the dangers of the Internet and offer safety tips. According to an AP article, McCollum says he hopes the information prompts children to take precautions and in the end — save lives. Check out Florida’s Safe Surf site.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Mike Cox has unveiled the Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative. The campaign aims to teach kids how to recognize the language of Internet predators and protect themselves online. Its age-appropriate messages are delivered via cartoon cats for elementary students and sobering video clips for middle school students. Staffers from the Attorney General’s Office will go to school districts this fall and train teachers on the program. So far, over 80 school districts statewide have signed up for the program, including Detroit Public Schools. Read the article from The Detroit News.
These are two states that should be taking advantage of our PC Pandora’s SAFE SCHOOLS program. In addition to the student education, schools could be equipped with technology that adds a layer of monitoring protection to all PCs. All you have to do is ask for it, and you shall receive.
October 12th, 2007 at 12:00 AM
I’m so glad to see this program was picked up in my home state. It’s a good feeling to know that we have some forward thinking people that understand the importance of educating our children on the danger of on-line predators. I think its important to reach out to children while they are young so that they will know what to look out for while they are on-line chatting with strangers. Who knows what these creeps(on-line predators) say to convince kids to meet them in real life.
It blows my mind when I watch that show on television called “To catch a predator” because I see all of those perverts who thought they were going to have sex with a 14 year old. It makes my skin crawl! I get even more creeped out when they read back the on-line transcripts of what the predator said to the young girl. I think that the worst part of it all is when they (the predator) tries to deny that they said any of those disgusting things.
October 12th, 2007 at 7:05 PM
I have to admit I watch the show also. I like the show because these creeps are being pulled off the streets. There are really no young girls that are being talked to and followed (just police and others acting like young girls). It also makes me sick to hear the conversations being read back. Alot of the times the predator acts like they are ashamed, but that is too little too late.
It is very important that we teach our children that the internet is not the safest place. Teach them to never post personal information, certainly not our addresses. Watching and monitoring where are children go online is a great tool- but teaching them safety is important as well.
October 12th, 2007 at 7:14 PM
Part of the problem is that I don’t think parents understand that either. But the word is slowly getting out… the message is sinking in.
that’s also where we come in (PC Pandora)…
November 27th, 2007 at 9:49 AM
Wow! Bill Paxton! On my blog! And he loves PC Pandora!! Woo hoo!