PTA Program For Parents—

 Safety, Responsibility And The Dangers Of The Internet

By Eliza Hallabeck

Parents and community members are invited to an event at Newtown Middle School on March 31 from 7 until 8:15 pm in the school’s auditorium by the town PTAs; Newtown Middle School PTA President Maggie Conway said this week she is hoping for a strong turnout.

Institute for Responsible Online and Cell-Phone Communication (IROC2) Executive Director and presenter Richard Guerry will be bringing the institute’s program on digital safety, responsibility, and awareness to the middle school stage for three presentations. Two presentations will be for students during the school day, and the third will be the open community presentation on March 31.

“I think it is a great program,” said Ms Conway.

Ms Conway explained the event came together for the Newtown community when Newtown High School PTSA President Sarah Beier and school district Security Director Mark Pompano started looking into what affects the Internet has on students.

Mr Pompano said he then read an email on school safety featuring the IROC2 program, and contacted Ms Beier about it.

Being in law enforcement, he said, makes him realize, “It is really these online communications that are really going to get them in trouble.”

Future employers could use Facebook to do background searches, and more, Mr Pompano said.

NMS School Resource Officer Lenny Penna has also talked to students on the issue before, and Mr Pompano said he is interested enhancing the students’ understanding on the issue.

“I’m more curious to see how the kids react,” said Mr Pompano, “because they just don’t get it. All this stuff is really going to come back to bite them.”

The program was then brought before Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson.

“Our PTAs are interested in bringing insightful information to parents, in this case to alert them to the perils of online behavior,” said Dr Robinson.

The more informed parents are, she said, the more equipped they will be to monitor their children.

“We are also working to educate students on those same risks,” said Dr Robinson. “We would rather prevent than have someone get into legal trouble.”

If the pilot is successful, Dr Robinson said, the district will plan more.

The plan, according to Ms Conway, is to show students and parents the program to develop dialogue on the subject.

“This never really goes away,” said Ms Conway regarding information students post on the Internet. “When you child goes to apply for a job in ‘X’ years the information is still out there.”

Newtown Middle School Principal Diane Sherlock called the program timely for the age group, adding it would also be good for students at Reed Intermediate School.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity,” Ms Sherlock said, “both for students and parents.”

According to IROC2, the institute’s mission is to demonstrate that all digital actions are public and permanent.

Mr Guerry, also according to the institute, created IROC2’s educational programs and resources, including the “IROC2 Responsibility 2.1C Concert,” which will be shown at the middle school.

A description of the program says “it offers the proactive communication of a necessary social norm regarding the utilization of current and future interactive digital tools and technologies that have such a major influence in most of our everyday lives.”

A recent edition of the Newtown High School newsletter also explained the concerts and program that will be held at the middle school will “teach NMS students, faculty and staff how to use digital technology safely and responsibly.”

More information on the nonprofit organization is available at www.iroc2.org.