The Internet is a vast network of textual and multimedia information. The variety and the amount of this information, and the ease with which it can be accessed, make the Internet an invaluable resource for any student today. Allowing your child access to the Internet helps to ensure that they will be adept at finding, processing, and exchanging information - all valuable skills. Use of the Internet expands your child’s computer and information literacy skills and their understanding of the world around them. With the help and guidance of educators and parents alike, the online world can be an exciting and informative place for your child to learn and grow.

Here at Howard Bishop, the Internet is an important educational tool that we use on a daily basis. The Internet can extend the walls of the media center and the classrooms into your home. In these places, we take measures to keep your child safe as they use the Internet. We have the Alachua County Schools Technology Use Policy posted on the desktop of all computers. It can also be found in the Student Code of Conduct on the District’s web site. The District’s filter blocks various Web sites that contain content that is unsuitable for students. And, students are monitored by an adult when using a computer.

Just as we take precautions at school to keep your child safe on the Internet, there are measures you can take at home to insure their safety.

Here are some Internet safety tips for parents from the experts:

1. Become computer literate and be actively involved in your children's online experiences. Most of our students have a social networking site like Facebook that you may want to contribute to or monitor.

2. Place computers in high-traffic areas, not in a child's room.

3. Use screening software.

4. Don't allow children to spend long periods of time on the computer, especially at night.

5. Help children understand that online users may not be who they say they are or who they seem to be. Get to know your children's Internet friends.

6. Tell children to report anything they come across online that seems strange or makes them uncomfortable. Tell them to tell you if they are asked personal questions or invited to personal meetings.

7. Tell children to report to you suggestive, obscene, or threatening e-mail or posts. Forward copies to your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and insist they help deal with the problem.

8. Be concerned if children mention adults you don't know, become secretive, or appear to have inappropriate sexual knowledge.

9. Post the Internet Safety Rules for Kids, shown below, by your computer.

Internet Safety Rules for Kids:

1. Never give out personal information, such as your name, address, school name or address, or parents' or teachers' names or addresses, online.

2. Never visit chat rooms or Blog sites without permission.

3. Never go to private chat rooms or meet new online friends in a private online setting.

4. Never respond to rude or offensive e-mail, instant messages, or postings.

5. Never meet new online friends offline without a parent present.

6. Always carefully consider any pictures that you post or send.