Internet Safety

INTERNET USE IS GROWING ENORMOUSLY EVERY DAY. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR PARENTS?

Here is some information about how TPS works to make exploring the Internet safe and educational in our schools, followed by information taken from a brochure, "A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety", created by the FBI.

COMPUTER SAFETY AND TOLEDO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Toledo Public Schools employs a number of measures designed to create safe educational use of school computers and other communication devices by both students and staff. The district uses a filtering system to block both student and staff access to known objectionable sites. This filtering system is constantly being updated to include sites springing up at any time that are deemed inappropriate for students and/or staff to visit.

Given the vastness of the Internet, no filtering system guarantees an ability to filter ALL harmful sites. Therefore, TPS students and staff are actively encouraged to report objectionable sites to school officials who can add such sites to those blocked by TPS. Also, staff is required to monitor student usage of school computers.

Students and staff sign Internet use agreement documents that govern acceptable use of school computers. Violations of the district's acceptable use policies can result in revoking a user's privileges to use the district's electronic equipment. If a violation of law has occurred, the district will turn such information over to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

With the evolution of computing devices to include cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and even some video-gaming systems, the district's policy extends to the use of any of these devices while on school property. Though a student's cell phone is private property, misuse of that device at school can result in confiscation of the phone that then has to be retrieved either at the school or at the district's central security department.

The power of the Internet as a learning resource cannot be overstated. But like all powerful technologies or tools, there can be dangers associated with use of the resource. Keeping students safe while they are becoming educated is an overriding priority of Toledo Public Schools. So the district wants to be proactive in helping educate parents about computer use not only while students are supervised in school but also when they may go on-line at home, or other non-school location.

There are many resources available to parents that provide information, good advice, and guidance for dealing with student exploration of the Internet and other communication vehicles. Millions of students go on-line every day, and most are safe. The way to stay safe is to understand the dangers and follow some simple rules for keeping out of trouble.

2021-2022 TPS ACCEPTABLE USE, EMAIL & INTERNET SAFETY POLICY

Here are just a few resources worth checking out by both students and parents:

A PARENT'S GUIDE TO INTERNET SAFETY

(The following information is provided by the U. S. Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation)