Sunday, September 7, 2008

Internet safety

Dear parents,

During the past decade the Internet has emerged as a powerful communications tool. Our interaction with this tool has changed significantly during this period. Not too many years ago, the average person (students included) was a receiver of the content on the Internet, not a provider. Today, the immediacy of access and the ease of communicating via the Internet have made this medium a favored means of exchanging information and ideas, and just about anyone can access this "bully pulpit". Unfortunately, some individuals choose to use the Internet specifically for this purpose.

Today's students have grown up with the Internet; many can't recall a time when the WorldWide Web was not a part of their social structure. In the last several years, web logs, chat rooms, and instant messaging have become to today's adolescent what the telephone was to students in previous generations. The popularity of such web sites as MySpace.com attests to the appeal of these sites; intended as an engaging means of communication, these tools can be used (and sadly are used, at times) in unsafe and inappropriate ways.

As a school, we're genuinely concerned about the safety and well-being of all of our students. This concern extends to our students' use of the resources of the Internet. In 2005, we initiated a new Acceptable Use Policy which includes guidelines about appropriate and responsible use of the Internet; this policy can be found on Episcopal's web site in both the Parents and Students sections. This resource may be helpful in setting expectations for your children's use of the Internet at home.

In addition, numerous web sites are designed specifically to aid parents in providing guidance regarding Internet safety: two such sites, www.cyberangels.org and www.wiredsafety.org, are particularly noteworthy. Both are well-established, often-referenced sites, with information on numerous topics, including use of chat rooms & instant messaging, identity protection, and safe & secure surfing. We recommend that you review these sites with your children and consider creating an Internet acceptable-use policy for your family.

While no policy can guarantee appropriate behavior, setting guidelines - coupled with regular communication and supervision - is an indispensable aspect of responsible parenting. As parents and educators, we must recognize that the Internet will continue to influence our children's lives. It's essential that we help them both fully understand and positively control this influence.

Episcopal High School of Jacksonville