Nov 2, 2006
Good stuff by Kids
In USA today – Tuesday October 24, 2006 there was a great article called “Generation Y gets involved.” In this time of increased “internet safety” programs for parents and increased paranoia about the internet and our children, this article shows us the power and positive impact the Internet should and can have. Our children need to make choices at every age and instilling that value in them is something we do as guardians or parents. That value should stretch across many arenas. This article shows how millenials are reaching out to create a civic minded and socially conscious website to express their views. They are working together to promote volunteerism and an interest in government. Visit Generationengage.org and celebrate the positive accomplishments of our youth and see how they can leverage social networking of the internet for a positive cause.
Wow, what a great site! We all know that we cannot protect our children from everything. We all need to accept that they will use the Internet and figure out a way to teach them how to be aware of the never ending dangers that are lurking out there. Education for parents is key in doing this. Great choice!
-Sharon
I can not agree with this blog more. The Internet is not evil, there are some not so good people out there, but this is where raising your children to make the correct choices is so very important. Kids are good if they are taught how to be… The Internet has so many uses for kids, not all of them are bad! Parents should get involved in some positive activities with their children online. Teach them how to use the Internet as a tool to better society, not simply as a place to chat and get into trouble.
Over the generations, kids have not changed. There were kids who made bad choices WAY before the Internet and there were kids who got involved in things like the Peace Corps, kids will make the right choice, technology won’t change the choice, it will just change how they go about accomplishing their choice.
Dear Shelley,
This is my first ever visit to a blog! Interesting!
Susan
Hi Great article
This is actually my first visit to a blog and it really is kinda interesting. I agree with the original blog by Shelley. Kids, teenagers, and adults are required to make choices everyday. It is our job to educate the youth into making responsible choices. Too many adults want to censor things and hide things from kids. You can not nide everything. It is much better for kids to be educated on proper internet usage and safety then to pretend the internet is not there. Kids will get and see things they should not. Whether it is in school, at a friends house, or in magazines so there is no point in just pretending bad things don’t exist. I love the article and I am all about giving kids the power of choice and technology is a great thing that should be used more often and with less restrictions.
People tend to criticize and distrust new things in general, often blaming problems on the new thing. Of course the Internet can be a source of misinformation and danger for children, but it can also be a source of innovation and inspiration. The issue is not so much the media. The issue is who is using the media. Kids who are looking for trouble will find it- online or not. Kids have been able to find trouble long before the Internet was available to almost everyone. Kids have also been able to accomplish amazing things long before the Internet. It depends on the student- if he or she is a dedicated, determined, hardworking person, he or she will accomplish great things, Internet or not. The Internet is simply a vehicle.
Hey Shekky,
This notion of more awareness in our youth is an encouraging concept. I find that too many students are very ignorant and indifferent to many important issues important to their future as well as current issues. I personally feel that this upcoming Presidential election may be a catalyst for more involvement and awareness in young adults which may spill over to their children and so on.
Tim
Both teachers and parents should be aware of how to educate their students and children on internet safety. We will not always be around to watch our children so it is important for them to understand potential dangers and avoid them. Instead of censoring everything our children view we should let them make the right choices on their own.
I enjoyed the Generation Engage website. I found that the “In The Press” section of articles to be quite interesting. I think that some of the listed articles would be great for classroom use. There are definitely articles on this site that would generate class discussion.
What I found very interesting on this site was in the video library. Here one can have an online debate with a political platform /candidate at any time. This is a great experience to get your thoughts out there and be heard.
I agree that web social networking can be and has been valuable in many cases. There definately is no current better way to leverage these technology for rapid dissemination of information. The flip side though, is that for many, it is rather idealistic. A commenter mentioned how kids have not changed over the years. I agree but here’s the thing. The negative forces at play in soceties have greatly increased their access to kids and their influence. I mean, look at the lack of concern for personal health that is prevalent these days. Also, the push for gratification at such early ages. Has anyone noticed how the average kid in school curses now-a-days? I think that there is a lack of logic and analytical skills among our youth in these times. Consequently, the “social networking” done online will generally be based on vanity instead of “real” issues.
Parents need to take more control of what their children are doing on the computer. Once parents teach their children the importance of safe Internet use, in conjunction with the teachers at school, students will be able to learn more. By properly and safely using the internet, a student can more effectively and efficiently use the Internet. We would be able to let our students surf the web and may help them to tap into higher order thinking skills.
Our children need to make choices at every age and instilling that value in them is something we do as guardians or parents.
THIS QUOTE IS WHAT CAUGHT MY INTEREST.
I feel that while extreme caution should be excercized by both parents and students, educators would do well to ponder this fine point. How well do we in our personal lives as we strive to set the proper example for our students.
We need to instill the values that will enable our students to chart the proper course through their lives.