Internet Safety
Should Schools Teach It?
By Daniel Muniz

There are many states that have passed some kind of Internet safety education laws that encourage school districts to teach children of all ages about the perils of cyberspace, especially in regards to predators who prey on minors. States already have plenty of non-binding statutes on their books that are loaded with good intentions but they are in no way a requirement that school districts have to adhere to.

And the reason is because state legislatures typically don’t pass unfunded mandates since there usually isn’t a way to pay for them. As a result, these measures sound dynamite on paper and they also make a politician look good since it gives the appearance that something is being done when in actuality, the legislation is practically worthless.
 

Story Continues Below ę

Today's Top Stories

● Reducing Poverty - Does Marriage Really Help? ● Another Nuisance - Teachers Harassed By Teachers ● Legal Loan Sharking - The Rise of Payday Loans ● Gaydar - Another Weird Cultural Phenomenon ● Internet Safety - Should Schools Teach It? ● The Real Barack Obama - Will He Please Stand Up

Yesterday's Top Stories

● Price of Criticizing: Politician Pushes Constituent to Suicide ● Naked Teachers - Educator Fights to Keep Her Job ● Broken Process - Reform The Confirmation Process ● Arnuld Speaks - Turn Off Spanish Television ● Rise of Spending - Savings at Lowest Ever ● Running on Empty - Coasting to a Gas Station

The exception is when Virginia became the first state to require Internet safety education for all grades.

Now first things first, I am not in any way opposed to Internet safety. There are all kinds of perverts and predators who prowl the web looking for underage victims. The television series “To Catch A Predator” on the MSNBC cable channel gives a vivid glimpse of the lowlife degenerates who knowingly seek out kids. And most of these dirt bags use absolutely no deception to conceal their age when they are looking for minors on the net.

However, the problem I have with the law in Virginia is that this kind of legislation is just another form of the nanny state in which our education system is slowly assuming the parental responsibility of our children.

Legislation for Internet safety is a good intention but what about the responsibilities that parents are supposed to have? Aren’t parent’s supposed to have their child’s safety as their topmost priority?

Our newspapers are always filled with tragic stories of children dying in some kind of freak accident or mishap. Unfortunately, the first thing that usually happens is that the parents of these children blame a city, school, corporation, or some other outside organization. And then the next thing that happens is a lawsuit for a ridiculous sum of money is filed because that is the only way to soothe a parent’s conscience.

Many years ago during an Easter Sunday in my hometown of San Antonio Texas, there is a large park that attracts a huge number of picnickers. However, the San Antonio River runs right through it. Although there are plenty of signs on the riverbank that say “no swimming”, that doesn’t stop kids from jumping in. In that year, a young child drowned. The parents blamed the park rangers for not preventing the death and sued the city. In fact, the city council seriously considered closing the park for the following Easter.

In another year, shortly after a thunderstorm a little kid rode his bike into a low water crossing of a swollen stream and drowned. And again, the parents filed a lawsuit against the city.

Incidents like the two examples I cited happen all the time in municipalities over all the country. Somehow, there are parents who feel that the personal safety of their offspring belongs to someone else, namely the government. And that is precisely the misgivings I have about Internet safety being taught in school districts.

The media has plenty of lurid news stories of pedophiles and perverts exploiting the Internet, especially with social networking sites like MySpace. And it is only natural for local communities to want something done about it so a school environment is the perfect setting for it.

The issue I have is that our education system cannot become a surrogate parent.

Too many school districts have already assumed an unimaginable role in parenting our children from passing out condoms and teaching kids how to properly put one on to checking body fat and looking for cavities on teeth. In fact for some school districts, a parent doesn’t really have to do very much thinking at all because their schools have already done it for them.

Internet safety is just another facet of that trend. Just like with sex education, body fat, and dental hygiene, some parents are now under the impression that their school has assumed the responsibility for it.

However, when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of a child, the most import person is the parent. And it is irrelevant on how good a curriculum is or how articulate a speaker may be, it is the parent who sets the rule and boundaries on Internet usage as well as setting the foundation for behavior.

But what if a kid has lousy parents or ones who don’t care?

Well, no amount of legislation regardless of the good intentions is going to completely remove stupid people from our society. Civilization has always had stupid people and I expect that we will continue to have stupid people in the future.

Nevertheless, society should not “dumb down” everyone else by doing their thinking for them or by giving them the impression that the government has assumed their role.

Overall, I think Internet safety education is a good idea but it can be made better when parents take a big part in keeping their children safe. After all, it is the parent who controls Internet usage at home and establishes the rules and boundaries of a household. The moment parents give up that responsibility, then their children are definitely in danger.

We want your opinion! Tell us what you thought about this article. Click the Your Feedback menu item to send us your comments.