Comments on: Beatrice, you’re way off!

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:53:10 +0000

Personally, I think that social networking within a school environment, is WAY safer than trying to join a social network at home. At home a student may not have any positive resources influencing them, and therefore could get into trouble. In a school environment, a student could collaborate with other students from their class or other classes, and they would know it is a fairly safe environment to share ideas. When a child is left alone, with the whole word at their fingertips they could get into trouble and have no idea how to straighten it up. Even if collaboration was designed for at home use only, it would get really boring if you could only collaborate with your friends.

By: Spreading the “Good News” « EdTech4Newbies

Spreading the “Good News” « EdTech4Newbies — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:34:38 +0000

[...] share with their friends. Television leads them to believe the sites are dangerous. (see “Beatrice, you’re way off“ ) Based on those influences why would parents, administrators, or teachers support the [...]

By: John Woodring

John Woodring — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:01:54 +0000

I am with you Dean about setting the record straight on the myth of the online predator masking as a kid. I have to fight that battle with people in the school district who would rather bury their heads in the sand rather than educate people with the facts because the news media may spin it the wrong way.

I also agree with Dave Bircher that expecting parents to teach their children about things is like social networks is going to be like also expecting them to explain quantum physics, very few would even know about it much less be able to teach it.

For good or bad, schools are going to have to take the lead on educating both students and parents about the constructive and destructive uses of technology.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:05:52 +0000

Thanks for pointing out things like this. There often seems to be misplaced effort in the areas of cyber safety and internet blocking, so it’s important that inaccuracies and extremist views are pointed out for what they are by trustworthy members of the community.

By: Dave Bircher

Dave Bircher — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:09:09 +0000

A couple of thoughts:

I agree with Rob that i would be concerned if my daughter was in chat room with sexual content. I think your point is key though, banning chilfren from the network is not the solution. Educating from an early age about the proper use of computers/networks is crucial.

Kids know how to use a computer in grade one, even Kindergarten. The,” She also feels schools should be teaching reading, math, science and computers (how to use a computer) but social networking should be taught in the homes” comment is even funny. Where is all this instruction (on social networks) happening now? Not at home. Parents usually have no idea of what there kids are doing on a computer or what they text on a phone! The idea od banning everything just does not work effectively over the long term.

By: Dean Shareski

Dean Shareski — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:06:53 +0000

Rob,

There were so many comments she made that made me cringe as I considered her parenting choices. I felt like that would open a whole other can of worms but as you’ve correctly identified, there are some big issues in this area.

By: Rob Wall

Rob Wall — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:56:55 +0000

I’ve just paused the recording for a moment to add a couple of comments. Beatrice is talking about restoring deleted files to look at what her daughter had been doing, finding out that she had been on facebook and in adult-oriented chat rooms as well as finding some sexually explicit images. Exploring sexuality is a normal (and necessary) part of adolescence. The graphic images available now are much more explicit than those available when I was young, and that is perhaps a legitimate cause for concern. As a parent, I’d probably be concerned (OK – initially livid, but eventually concerned) about the sexually oriented chat room. I can also understand that the daughter’s growing self-identity includes a sense of her own sexuality. It’s normal, it’s natural and I’m sure it scares a lot of parents. But we need to sit down with our daughters so we can discuss the images and the conversations that are out there, not put them in a locked room that makes them so much more interesting.

I’m also disturbed with Beatrice for her casual invasion of her daughter’s privacy, even if motivated out of a perceived need to protect her. Everyone needs a zone of privacy, especially during adolescence – that’s where a self-identity comes from. What happens to kids who don’t have that as they grow up?