Recently two websites have come to the attention of PTHSD as they are gaining popularity with our youths: Formspring.me and Chatroulette.com. They follow a long history of social networking sites that may pose risks, such as: chat rooms, Facebook, Youtube, and MySpace. Chatroulette poses specific risks as the site activates your webcam automatically and allows you to chat with anyone on the site. There appear to be no filters or limits regarding who is communicated with and what is seen utilizing web cams, therefore a large variety of live, socially inappropriate material can be viewed on this site.
In our opinion, with little or no supervision, chatroulette can be very dangerous. We advise you, as with other social networking sites, to put in place parental filtering, and ensure that you are able to view your child’s computer use at all times.
In PTHSD we have had filters in place to block these sites in our district for sometime now, but thought you should be aware of the recent popularity with youths so that you may take preventative measures at home.
Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying District Policy
Cyber Bullying Resources
http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/
CyberBullying a Brief Resource with Some Tips
http://isafe.org/imgs/pdf/education/CyberBullying.pdf
Cyber-Bullying Presenattion for Parents
http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/flash/aparentsguidetocyberbullying.html
NJ Stop Bullying Now! Campaign
http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adult/indexAdult.asp?Area=newjersey
CyberBullying Resources
http://www.cyberbully.org/cyberbully/
School Curriculum Resources
http://www.isafe.org/
http://www.netsmartz.org/resources/reallife.htm
Gillispie, Joanie Farley. Cyber Rules: What You Really Need To Know About The Internet. NY: W.W. Norton, 2007.
Goodstein, Anastasia. Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens Are Really Doing Online. NY: Saint Martin’s Griffin, 2007.
Kelsey, Candice M. Generation My Space: Helping Your Teen Survive Online Adolescence. NY: Marlowe & Co2007.
Melton, Barbara. What In The World Are Your Kids Doing Online? How To Understand The Electronic World Your Children Live In. NY: Broadway Books, 2007.
Nickel, Rob. Staying Safe In A Wired World; A Parent’s Guide To Internet Safety. NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006.
Raatma, Lucia. Safety On The Internet, Mankato, MN: Bridgestone Books, 2005.
Rosen, Larry D. Me, My Space And I: Parenting The Next Generation. NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.
Smith, Gregory S. How To Protect Your Children On The Internet: A Road Map For Parents and Teachers. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 2007.
Willard, Nancy E. Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens: Helping Young People Learn To Use The Internet Safely And Responsibly. Hoboken, NJ: Jossey-Bass, 2007.
Brimner, Larry Dane. The World Wide Web. New York: Children’s Press, 2000.
Grades 3 - 6
Davidson, Tish. School Conflict. London: Franklin Watts, 2003.
Grades 5 - 8
Hibbert, Adam. Why Do People Bully? Chicago: Raintree, 2005.
Grades 3 - 6
Loughran, Donna. Using The Internet Safely. Chicago: Raintree, 2003.
Grades 5 - 8
Sherman, Josepha. Internet Safety. London: Franklin Watts. 2003.
Grades 5 – 8
Slavens, Elaine. Bullying: Deal With It Before Push Comes To Shove. US: Orca Publishers, 2003.
Grades 3 - 6
Ward-Johnson, Chris. Internet: A Magic Mouse Guide. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2003.
Grades K - 3
Wolinsky, Art. Safe Surfing On The Internet. Berkeley Heights, NJ: 2003.
Grades 4 - 8
Graven, Matthew P. “ Resources for Parents.” PC Magazine 3 August 2004: 108.
Wolfsberg, Jeffrey S. “Student Safety from Cyberbullies, in Chat Rooms, and in Instant Messaging.” Education Digest October 2006: 33.
Educational Technology and Media Services