Internet Day Designed to Help Parents, Students

Last year when invited parents for a forum on Internet usage, Principal Joe Scheideler expected a handful to come out. The number was 140.

“It’s a topic everyone’s interested in,” he said.

On Friday, Sept. 23, the school will present its second "Bring Your Parents to Canton Middle School for Internet Day." And while the program is geared toward 7th and 8th grade students and their parents, the public at large is invited as well.

The day is designed to provide parents and students with warnings, information, and positive aspects of Internet and other technology usage.

Included will be a parent’s seminar with Richard Guerry from the Institute for Responsible Online and Cell Phone Communication. His theme is "Public and Permanent: How to Prevent Digital Problems."

In addition to obvious concerns such as sexting and cyber bullying, many don’t realize that information and statements on social networking and other sites can lead to public problems and a permanent record, Scheideler said. Deleting a comment often does nothing, especially if others have a record of it.

Scheideler and Assistant Superintendent Lynn McMullin took a web seminar with Guerry over the summer and both said it was an eye-opening experience. Guerry will provide students and parents with scenarios they never would have thought of, Scheideler said.

“I think he’ll give parents and kids great information and get them to think,” he said.

Online issues have been a concern of the school’s Quality Council for some time, Scheideler added.

And this program, started last year with the help of a parent, is part of that continuing effort at the school to encourage kids to act appropriately and teach them about responsible online citizenship.

“Your outward character, persona and personality should be your online character, persona and personality,” Scheideler said.

Scheideler said the school realizes one day is not enough and last year began incorporating the principles into the curriculum as well as other lessons.

The effort did pay off, he added. Online and technology issues diminished last year, he said, and this year the school hopes this program and the other efforts will result in a continued positive direction.

That is another area of focus for the Internet day, he added, since technology has many positive impacts in life and in many careers.

The program is being funded by a $4,500 grant from the Canton Community Health Fund.

The day will take place as follows.

• 7 to 7:30 a.m. — Coffee in the cafeteria
• 7:35 to 7:55 a.m. — Meet with your child in advisory and discuss “How the Internet Impacts Our Lives.”
• 8 to 9:30 a.m. — Parent Presentation: Public and Permanent: How to prevent Digital Problems.
• 9:45 to 11:15 — Student Assembly (Parent program over but welcome to stay)