College principal Andrew Walsh is warning parents about the danger of social networking sites. 46260 Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Lia Bichel
A DANDENONG high school principal is warning parents to be wary of their children’s internet usage, after a student was assaulted following an “inappropriate comment” made on a social networking site.
St John’s Regional College Principal Andrew Walsh last week advised parents of the incident that occurred earlier this month, stating the student was “seriously assaulted by a person unknown to the student or the school.”
Mr Walsh said the assault did not occur at the school or during school hours but thought parents should be warned of the potential dangers of online sites.
“Someone had posted an inappropriate comment about the student, which developed into an online argument. Police are following it up,” he said.
“I see the school’s role as to give (parents) a repertoire to deal with these things and how to ignore some of these things. As a community, we are very much about respecting each other.”
Former police officer and cyber safety expert Susan McLean said parents must treat the internet like the real world.
“Parents must know what their kids are doing online, who they are talking to and where they are going,” she said.
“If (kids) are playing games online parents must know what they are playing, how and be aware that they are interacting with strangers. It’s not like old-style computer games.”
Ms McLean said parents must educate themselves about the internet.
“It’s parenting in the 21st century. I won’t accept them saying they never grew up with the internet, or it’s too hard,” she said. “Get yourself educated.”
Ms McLean speaks to students and parents at schools about potential dangers of the internet.
She said cyber bullying among teens was at a rate of 30 to 40 per cent. She warned parents to have discussions with children as young as five about the internet, and advised them to keep their home computer in a common room of the house to increase their awareness.
Mr Walsh said the college was pro-active in educating young people to deal with conflict appropriately and how to be cyber safe.
“At schools, students do not have access to (social networking site) Facebook or (instant messaging community site) MSN. Students are not allowed to use mobile phones and if they do there are penalties,” he said.
Mr Walsh said students were learning how to protect their identity, awareness of online predators and cyber-bullying.
He invited the school community to a parent seminar series which includes a forum on Internet Safety and Cyber Bullying on 23 June at Salesian College Chadstone.
Susan McLean will also be speaking to Year 8 and 9 students about cyber safety next month.
For further information visit www.cybersafetysolutions.com.au or contact the school on 9791 3366.
