Michele Jacobs

Tri-City Elementary

Buffalo, IL

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Topic: Children and the Internet

Protecting Children in Cyberspace- http://www.childpsych.com

This site is based on a book written by child psychologist, Steve Kavanagh titled:Protecting Children in Cyberspace. The site allows you to view the information in pieces: overview of the book; purchasing materials; reviews and quotes about the book; and about the author. After reading the overview and about the author I realized that this is a topic that touches all of us whether we are parents, teachers or guardians of children that have access to the Internet. Kavanagh states " with the explosive growth of Internet usage throughout the world, it is the individual user who needs to take the appropriate precautions to regulate the potentially damaging content found throughout this rapidly expanding new medium". Protecting Children in Cyberspace was written as a guide to teach parents how to identify harmful material on the Internet and the effects it may have on children. Discussing this topic with my first grade students would be kept simple and direct. I would caution them that when using the Internet to be aware that there are things out there not recommended for children. But they also need to know that there are many sites just for kids that are wonderful. I would also discuss this issue with the parents of children that I know have computers in their homes.

Topic: Free Speech

Executive Summary: Parental Empowerment, Blocking, Filtering, and the Uniqueness of the Internet- http://www.goodparents.com/parentlinks.html

This article was prepared by the Center for Democracy and Technology. The article states "ten million children use the Internet regularly today in the United States alone". This is a staggering number given that the computer to child ratio in my district is low. The article states that there are many "child-safe Internet sites" where children can find information without worrying about what else they may encounter. The article also relays the message that having Internet in ones home is a choice and not a forced decision. The articles main emphasis is on the advantages of parental empowerment tools to filter and block certain topic and sites. The article makes a clear point for freedom of speech. Since the filtering tools block information from the receiving side this does not hinder anyone's rights to freedom of speech. The issue of freedom of speech and the Internet would be a topic that I would discuss with my students. They need to know that people have a right to say what they want on the Internet but parents have a right to protect their children from reading things that maybe harmful to them.

Topic: Sexual Predators

Cyber angels- http://www.cyberangels.org

This web site is created by an organization called Cyber angels. The organization was formed by a former Guardian Angel, Colin Hatcher and a friend, Curtis Sliwa when they realized the potentially harmful information that could be gathered on the Internet. They wanted to create an Internet safety project for making "Cyberspace a safer place to work, study and play especially for our kids". The organization has grown and is now consulted by government bodies regarding Internet legislation as well as Internet users. Their mission is clear and well stated. They focus on keeping children away from online predators, teaching Internet crime prevention, stopping online trade of child pornography and support and advice to victims who have been stalked and harassed online. The issue of sexual predators would not be one that I would discuss with six year olds. However, we have a sexual abuse counselor that gives a talk every year and I feel he should include the Internet within the framework of his discussion.

Topic: Censorship

Caution: Children at Play on Information Highway; Access to adult Networks Hold Hazards- http://www.eff.org/pub/Censorship/kids_online.article

This article was written by Washington Post staff writer John Schwartz and published in 1993. This article covers many topics from censorship to the computer underground. Jim Thomas a professor at the University of Illinois is quoted in this article. When asked about kids and the Internet he stated," We call it the IUD syndrome. Parents are ignorant, technology is ubiquitous, and some of the information is deleterious". Many of the examples outlined in this article scared me as a parent. The numerous areas that a child could go are alarming. The article was careful to state that parental guidance of children on the Internet is suggested and setting a good example is a plus. The article also mentioned that some children are experiencing "computer addiction" while others burn out after a period of time. The article alsostated that children can become involved in illegal activities online. The online games called MUD's were very disturbing to me. The child is playing the game and gets propositioned in the middle of roller-skating down the hallway. I am not sure my child who is nine would have any idea what to say or even realize that he was being propositioned. This article scared me, but I feel confident in the guidelines and rules that we have established in our home for our children and the Internet. I would not discuss this topic in detail with my students, but would again warn them of the dangers that they could encounter on the Internet if they do not have parental guidance.