The old adage “don’t talk to strangers” is more complicated in the age of chat rooms, instant messaging and e-mail.

Virginia public schools are being asked to meet the new technology with a new safety message, warning students of the dangers of befriending people online and giving out personal information over the Web.

A bill requiring Virginia’s public schools to teach safety during Internet education programs is just the governor’s signature away from becoming law.

The Senate passed the bill unanimously Monday. The House voted 91 to 9 in favor of the bill earlier in the session.

Del. William Fralin, R-Roanoke City, said he introduced the bill after talking to his three young children, all of whom use the Internet.

“It’s really sort of the 21st century mechanism of communication, and we need to get an understanding of how that information can be used or misused,” said Fralin.

“When I was a kid they said don’t talk to strangers, but on the Internet you may think you’re just talking to a friend but really you have a bunch of strangers looking on.”

Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown said the county’s school resource officers were scheduled to begin teaching Internet safety in the fall.

Students in Bedford County would have been introduced to online safety through the NetSmartz Workshop, an interactive digital program created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as well as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Brown said he plans to work to get all schools in the commonwealth to pick up the program.

“We want to convince (the Department of Education) this is the program to use and don’t let the schools make up their own programs. That won’t work,” said Brown.

“(NetSmartz) really brings it home. It’s kids talking to kids and young adults talking to young adults. It tells them what can happen.”

According to a report about online victimization on the program’s Web site, one in five children who go online have received a sexual solicitation or approach on the Internet. More than 30 million children in the U.S. use the Internet.

Brown said Operation Blue Ridge Thunder, an Internet crimes against children program run out of the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, will provide any school district in the state with a free NetSmartz DVD.

The program features rapping cartoons and dancing children to teach “Net Smartz” when using the Internet, with lessons in online personal safety, Internet bullying and computer viruses.

The bill leaves the choice of programming up to the superintendent of public education. After the legislation is signed into the law, the superintendent will have 45 days to advise school divisions how to implement the new requirements.

The bill originally called on school resource officers to teach the course, but was changed to mandate teachers lead the class with optional help from local enforcement.

“I think this is one of the greatest efforts that can made on safety on the Internet,” said Brown.

“Hopefully, when (students) get this training they do become a little more cautious and a little more careful and they know how to report (suspicious behavior).”

Source: newsadvance.com

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