“Recently, our School Board approved Policy #237 Electronic Devices which prohibits the use of personal communication devices, including cellular phones, during the school day while on school property.”

The letter goes on to scare readers about the social media networking sites like myspace.com, facebook.com, and chat rooms. They scare that these sites are being used by child predators, cyber bullies, and con artists. No mention about what the sites are, how they work, the way people use them to communicate.

“There have been accounts throughout the nation of adults posing as youths and gaining access to student chat rooms. In some cases, these contacts have led to tragedy.”

Here is my main rant about this letter, We need to EDUCATE parents and children versus SCARE them ! Yes, there are dangers on the internet; children should be monitored during their online activities.

My random thoughts as I pondered the issue: Predators hang out at playgrounds too, should children not go there? You can get killed crossing a street – no more crossing! Gunmen have entered school property and murdered innocent people. What would happen if there was no drug education, just “Don’t do it” advice passed out? Weren’t there 911 calls placed from cell phones during the tragedy at Columbine?

I understand that cell phone usage is in need of some boundaries in school. Especially during instructional periods. However, I have received texts from my daughter of this nature, “Going to nurse. Please answer weird phone number when I call” “Going to friends after school” “Can you pick me up at 4pm if I stay for test?” I can only hope those were sent in between classes, waiting for class to begin, at lunch, or before/after school.

We need to teach our children to be safe and protective of information while online. We need to educate parents Social Networking 101, so they can be aware and oversee their children’s activities.

AOL IM isn’t used much anymore, but could apply to other social sites. My rule with my daughters was if I entered the room and asked you to arrow up in the conversation, you have to immediately or punishment would happen. I didn’t love all of their topics, trust me, but I chose my battles. There would be hefty consequences if it was erased or closed. I didn’t abuse this, but it worked.

My best advice, that I’ve freely given out, “Don’t try to beat them – JOIN THEM.” That’s right, when MySpace.com entered my teenagers’ worlds – I was right there with them, and you better believe I was watching their pictures, what they wrote to other people, and what other people were writing about them. Keep up with them, it’s a choice.

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