ALL INDIA RAIL SAFETY COUNCIL

RAIL VIDYA

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RAIL VIDYA

The Education that brings safety awareness to the human beings. The RAIL VIDYA is Education Program which is initiated by ALL INDIA RAIL SAFETY COUNCIL. This program is developed to create rail safety awareness in the society. The Rail Vidya Framed by the Professionally Managed Team of Safety officers.

The Rail Vidya is initially planned only to the schools and the syllabus is carefully developed by keeping many practical factors. The students who undergo Rail Vidya Training will get awareness about the Rail Safety. Each student will promote the knowledge that they gained from this program in their home and neighborhoods.  So, that we can able to reduce the accidents happening every day in our India through Trains. The most using travel source in India is Railways. The growth ratio in accidents through trains becomes more slump. Our railways is in the second place in the world but technology wise we are upgrading our self slowly. Every day there will be some accidents occurs in India which is not due to the railways but it is purely because lack of safety awareness in the society.

SAFETY EDUCATION

Introduction

Safety education is the responsibility of all staff in the school, including teaching and non-teaching staff, through the formal and informal curriculum.

If safety education is to be effective, safety should underpin the whole culture and ethos of the school.

Why is safety education needed in schools?

Some facts and figures about accidents and injuries among children and young people

•           Accidents are the main cause of death and disability for children in the INDIA.

•           As many as 10,000 children are permanently disabled each year by accidental injuries.

•           Boys - in all age groups - are more likely to be involved in accidents than girls.

•           Children from poorer families are five times more likely to die as a result of accidents than those from wealthier backgrounds.

•           Road accidents are the leading cause of accidental injury amongst children and young people: every year, over 130 children die and more than 4,500 are seriously injured while walking and cycling, often close to their homes.

•           Child pedestrian casualties peak at about age 12; child cyclist casualties peak at about age 14.

•           House fires are the biggest single cause of accidental death in the home.

•           A large proportion of non-fatal home injuries are due to falls.

•           Other significant causes of death or injury in children are burns and scalds, poisoning, drowning, choking and suffocation.

•           Young, inexperienced workers have the highest accident rates in the workplace.

•           Young, inexperienced drivers have the highest accident rates among drivers.

What is safety education?

Safety education should enable pupils to keep themselves safe and to contribute to keeping others safe. It helps them be aware of possible hazards in different areas of their lives, and be able to take appropriate decisions and actions.

Safety education is not about isolating young people from all hazards –the bumps, cuts and bruises which are a normal part of growing up - but about equipping them to deal safely with a wide range of situations.

As trains are a part of our everyday lives, it's important to make sure you're up to speed with how to stay safe around them.

Why Safety is importatnt    

Life is valuable. Which is why as humans, we do everything to protect it and keep our lives safe against any untoward incidents or accidents that may lead to injury or even death. The importance of safety in all aspects of our lives is quite obvious. There are a lot of reasons why and here are some.

To avoid accidents. Most of the time accidents happen due to recklessness and irresponsibility. People who don’t follow the safety precautions always end up getting injured or worse, getting killed. Whether it’s inside the house or in

To stay healthy. Eating the right kind of food and doing exercise is also another safety measure. It keeps your body in shape and keeps you safe from unwanted sickness. Having a healthy body is a blessing. Not only does it save you from harmful diseases, but it also saves you from spending too much on medicines and hospital bills. the workplace, exercising safety precautions is a must.

To live a long life. Responsible people are those who take care of themselves and of others because of the people who love them. It’s not easy to lose a loved one, a friend or a family member. If you want to live a long life together with all the people you love, live your life safely.

Promoting safety everywhere teaches public awareness and discipline. People who work with jobs which involve dangers are always briefed and are required to wear safety gears. Examples of these are cooks, engineers, carpenters, policemen, fire fighter, and chemists etc.

This can also be adapted inside the house, school or workplace and even in the streets where there are a lot of people driving cars because accidents can happen anytime, anywhere.

To prevent unexpected dilemmas from raising, planning is another essential part of being safe. A lot of times. In conclusion ,you may say that life is not predictable, That no accidents or trobles can be prevented with careful planning, organization and implementation, mater how hard you try to protect your self, sometimes accidents just happen or you may say that life is worth the risk but for me it’s never worth your life or the lives of others, if you can prevent it then do it. There’s no harm in keeping oneself safe.




Importance of Fire Safety in Schools

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Importance of Fire Safety in Schools

Importance of Fire Safety in Schools

School fire safety is important for the simple reason that a large number of children are gathered at one place and a single fire can affect all of them. Most of the furniture in a class room such as chairs, tables and desks are made from wood and these can easily catch fire. The chemistry lab which contains large quantities of flammable liquids is especially at risk. A fire in such places can go out of control and thus, fire safety in schools has become an extremely important issue. An uncontrolled fire can cause not just property damage but also huge loss in life.

In case schools have a canteen, this usually involves dealing with large containers of LPG and accidents with these can lead to fire breakouts as well. This situation must also be monitored regularly to ensure fire safety in schools. 

Precautions

Every school must take the necessary precautions in order to prevent anything untoward from happening in the case of an emergency, like a fire. Every floor must have a fire extinguisher or at the very least sand banks must be set in place. These can be used to contain the fire before it spreads. Teachers and non-teaching staff such as peons and other helpers must be instructed in the use of fire extinguishers. This is of primary importance. The school must have

a particular method set in place for emergency evacuation of students and drills must be conducted on a frequent basis. This will ensure that students know who to reach in case of an emergency. The school must be in contact with emergency services like the fire and rescue department and ensure that they respond as soon as possible in case of an emergency.

Fire alarms are expensive, however they are a necessary investment and these may well save many lives in case of any crisis. Fire alarms must be placed at strategic points and they must be checked regularly.

Schools are entirely responsible for the safety of their children and they cannot expect the government to install any fire safety provisions. Government enforcement of fire safety in schools in India is deficient and the schools must take it up into their own hands to do the necessary actions.

Student Safety Tips

 

 

•           Know and follow the school's safety policies

•           If you walk to school, walk with a friend or family member

•           If you drive to school, always secure your vehicle

•           Carry your keys in your hand when walking to your car

•           Never carry large sums of money with you

•           Always tell your parents where you plan to be before and after school

•           Make sure that your emergency contact card at school is updated

•           Report all suspicious activity, whether on or off campus

•           Immediately report any information about a student with weapons

•           Always be aware of your surroundings

•           Be familiar with the general layout of the buildings and walkways (walk around campus during the day to familiarize yourself)

•           Walk in groups and say in well lit areas

•           Carry a whistle with you (if you find yourself in danger, you can use it to draw attention and it cannot be used to harm you)

•           Avoid high risk situations and seek help from an adult if you find yourself in a situation that makes you uncomfortable

•           Refuse to participate in negative or criminal behavior

•           Follow instructions of school employees, law enforcement officials, or other emergency response personnel

•           Refrain from teasing, bullying, and harassing other students and be tolerant of their differences



METRO RAIL SAFETY

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METRO RAIL SAFETY

METRO RAIL service is running. For your safety, the rail line is separated from the roadway by large, raised white domes that warn drivers to stay off the tracks. Pedestrians need to be aware of trains as well. It is essential you learn and understand the rules of Metro Rail.

Stop

Do not walk in front of, between or behind the trains.

Trains can start quickly regardless of traffic flow.

Do not drive, stop or park your vehicle on the tracks. It’s dangerous and against the law.

Look

Always cross the tracks at designated pedestrian crossings, and only when it is safe to do so.

Always look both ways before crossing the tracks. Trains travel in both directions.

Always look for and obey all warning devices: flashing lights, signals and crossing gates. Police will ticket violators.

Listen

Always stay alert. Metro Rail is quieter than a bus. You may not hear it coming.

Always listen for train horns, whistles and signal bells.

Always follow instructions from workers and police officers.

And Never…

Never race a train or run in front of a train.

Never try to beat the train to a crossing. Even with a tie you lose.

Never drive around crossing gate arms.

Never stand on or near the tracks.

Never put anything on or near the tracks.

A Step in the Right Direction

Learn how Metro Rail will change the way you walk along different areas of the rail line.

Drive Safely

Remember these simple rules when driving along the rail line.

When it comes to safety, YOU are your own best defense. Make safety a part of your everyday life. Learn the rules of METRORail that will help keep you safe.

Remember, safety starts with you.

Stay safe

•           Stand behind the yellow line on the platform.

•           Board and alight the train in a way that's safe for you and other passengers.

•           Move well inside the carriage in order to keep doorways clear.

•           Never board a train or holding the door open after the whistle has blown. Some train doors are not like lift doors and will continue to close even if obstructed.

•           Never ride bicycles, skateboards or scooters on station platforms.

•           Never play with sporting equipment on the platform.





GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL VISITS

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GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL VISITS

The information in the below guidelines has been endorsed by the AIRSC Rail vidya Education Reference Group.

OVERVIEW

AIRSC Rail vidya Education provides curriculum learning resources for primary and high schools so teachers can teach their students about rail safety in class. Research tells us this is the best way of ensuring students learn rail safety messages thoroughly because students are able to think deeply and broadly in a context relevant to them.

We recommend if you are considering a visit to a school, that you encourage the school or class to do a Rail vidya Education unit of work in conjunction with your visit.

While there is no evidence to suggest a one-off school visit is effective in changing behavior, a school visit can be a wonderful opportunity for rail industry staff to be active in the school community and engage with students at a personal level. Students can benefit most from a visit by a subject matter expert when it is combined with in-class lessons over a longer period of time.

SCHOOL VISITS

Schools invite rail staff to speak to students in their classes for a variety of reasons, such as:

•           the class is learning about safety around trains, train tracks, and level crossings;

•           a special event, such as Rail Safety Week;

•           the class learning about ‘transport’, ‘careers’, or ‘people in the community;

•           a student in the class has a relative or friend in the rail industry; or

•           after a rail safety incident involving one or more of their students.

This can be a daunting experience, particularly if you are not used to public speaking or being around large groups of young people.

Many states have dedicated teams who are trained to visit schools and teach students about rail safety. They can tailor their visit to the needs of the local community. You can contact your employer or a rail operator in your state for school visits. See our school visit opportunities page for more details.

If you would still like to visit a school on behalf of your organization, these guidelines have been developed by Rail vidya Education to help you know what to say; what you should avoid saying; how to be effective in delivering rail safety messages; and how to engage students during your school visit.

WHAT SHOULD AND SHOULDN’T I SAY AND DO?

1.         It is very important to plan your visit beforehand. Stick to the topic and avoid going off on ‘tangents’ about your experiences – students, especially those in primary school, won’t be able to understand the point of your visit if you tell them stories about the past that don’t clearly relate to the reason you are there.

2.         Regardless of the topic (e.g. jobs, transport, community), encourage students to practice safety skills around trains, train tracks, and level crossings – this should be a major focus of any school visit. Ideas for activities are provided in the sample session.

3.         It is very important to NOT discuss any fatalities or other traumatic events that you or colleagues may have experienced with primary school or early high school students (as a guide, students up to 13 years old).

4.         If, after consulting the teacher, you both agree that discussing fatalities or other traumatic events with a high school group (of 14 years or over) is appropriate, it is important that you choose your words carefully. You should limit what you say when describing your reaction to a traumatic event you have experienced, and the personal consequences to you and/or your family.

5.         Positively reinforcing safety messages is the key to improving rail safety skills for students. Some examples are provided.

6.         Don’t try to ‘scare’ or ‘shock’ students into staying off track by discussing details of what you have seen or heard, or graphic consequences of train collisions. Showing photos or video clips of shocking scenarios or people doing unsafe acts can also have a negative impact. There is a lot of evidence showing that this approach will not influence the behaviors of young people who take risks, and can actually increase risk-taking behavior.

TIPS FOR ENGAGING STUDENTS

•           Speak directly and with the students about your experiences, rather than ‘at or ‘down to’ students; through their teacher or in the third person. Create a two-way dialogue if you can.

•           Students need to create meaning for themselves, but presentations are generally passive for students and don’t allow this process. Involve the students in your visit by asking them open-ended questions (not questions with a yes/no answer); ask them to act out a scenario to demonstrate a point; do an activity with them; leave them with an activity or task; and ask for their opinions on topics.

•           Stick to the topic!

•           You can use visual aids such as pictures showing safe actions, or acting out a scene yourself to demonstrate a point. There are photos available on our website for use, or you can use your own.

•           Be honest! Students usually see through people and lose interest, if they do not come across as genuine.

APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE FOR THE CLASSROOM

•           Use the term ‘students’ rather than ‘kids’ or ‘children’.

•           Keep your language ‘G’ rated!

•           Turn ‘don’t’, ‘can’t’, or ‘shouldn’t’ statements into ’do’, ‘can’, or ‘should’ statements – this is a more effective way to reach students and leave them with a positive impression.

•           Be clear, and concise, and use appropriate vocabulary for the age of the students. Avoid jargon and explain any tricky train environment words (such as “pedestrian level crossing”) if students are not familiar with the terminology.

•           Choose positive action words.

•           Speak to students in a respectful tone of voice – they are people too! Avoid babyish language or using a higher pitch.

PREPARING FOR YOUR SCHOOL VISIT

Step 1: It is important to check with your employer that you have permission to attend a school and speak with students on their behalf, particularly if you are wearing a uniform.

Step 2: Speak to the teacher about the topic and focus of your visit. Find out the time period allocated and aim to stick to it! Remember to allow some time in the end for questions.

Step 3: Plan for your visit by writing a few main points down (but make sure you don’t read from a script!). Included are some content ideas to plan a session for primary school. Aim to leave students with a positive impression of traveling by train and the rail industry.

Step 4: Prepare your uniform and make sure you are well-groomed – remember you are representing your employer and the rail industry!

USE OF POSITIVE ACTION WORDS

Ways of reinforcing rail safety messages using positive statements with positive action words:

•           ‘At a train station platform, we must walk and stand behind the yellow line. We must only cross the yellow line to get onto the train when the train is stopped at the platform and the doors open.’

•           ‘We must always use a railway bridge, underpass, or level crossing to cross to the other side of train tracks.’

•           ‘At a pedestrian level crossing, we must STOP at the line or gate, LOOK both ways, LISTEN for trains, THINK “Are the train tracks clear? Is it safe to cross?” If it is clear and safe, cross to the other side.’

•           ‘When we are a passenger in a car, we should tell the driver to “STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, THINK!”’

•           ‘We must never go onto the tracks. If we drop something onto the tracks, we must ask rail staff for help to get it.’

IN SUMMARY…

DO

•           Speak to the teacher and get a clear focus for your visit

•           Plan your visit, including what you will say and do

•           Include rail safety messages in any school visit

•           Stick to the topic

•           Use positive messages with positive action words

•           Actively involve students in the session

•           Keep language ‘G’ rated

•           Keep the content relevant and appropriate to the students, their context, and their age

•           Make sure students will be left feeling positive about rail

DON’T

•           Use ‘shock’ or ‘fear’ to get your point across

•           Tell ‘war stories

•           Talk about fatalities or other traumatic events

•           Show images or video clips showing shocking images or unsafe actions

•           Go off-topic

•           Discuss things that are not within your job role or authority

•           Discuss things that are not within your employer’s ethical guidelines or standard operating procedures

•           Talk ‘at’ or ‘down to students

FURTHER INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

Any school visit is much more effective when it is accompanied by pre-and post-visit learning activities. AIRSC RAILVIDYA Education has primary and high school rail safety curriculum learning resources for teachers, and rail safety resources and information for parents, members of the community, and rail staff on this website. Children of all ages can also access the student section of our website, which contains information and an extensive media library to complement the lessons.





MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Do you sometimes see other adults taking shortcuts across train tracks?

Do you sometimes see adults racing through a level crossing after the alarm has sounded and before the gates close?

Have you ever walked along a station platform and crossed to the unsafe side of the yellow or white line to pass other people standing on the platform?

Have you ever seen young people taking risks around trains and train tracks?

Chances are they have seen adults doing these things and think it is okay.

As adults, we set an example for young people – not just our own kids, but any child that sees us. How can we expect young people to act responsibly when the adults they are watching and learning from are acting unsafely?

Here are a few ideas for you to make a difference in rail safety within your community:

Set an example – always follow the rail safety rules when near trains or tracks – a child could be watching you!

Praise students who are doing the right thing near railway tracks. This can help create a feeling of pride in acting safely and positively reinforces safe behaviors.

Ask your child’s school principal or teacher to teach Rail safety Education at their school.

Always hold hands with young children when on a platform or near train tracks, for example at a pedestrian level crossing.

Reinforce the Rail safety actions with young children.

Get active if there is a serious rail safety issue involving students in your community that needs addressing. Work with your local rail operator, the school principal, the police, parents and community leaders to find a local solution, and always involve the students – they are a key part of the solution and should never be underestimated!

Encourage your child to visit our primary and high school student pages. Your child can interact with rail safety messages at home.

Get your child’s school involved in Rail Safety Week  by entering our competition.




Delhi Metro Safety Tips & Guidelines

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Delhi Metro Safety Tips & Guidelines


Whenever you are going your journey by delhi metro you need to read the tips and rules carefully which are strictly followed by the Delhi metro rail.

  • 1). There is need of a valid token or smart card when you entered in metro if you are caught travelling without it you will punished by a fine of Rs. 50/-.
  • 2). Smoking, drinking and eating is prohibited inside station premises and metros station or train else you will punished by a fine of Rs. 200/- or more.
  • 3). Whenever you buy smartcard the minimum price will be Rs. 100 in which Rs. 50 will be as security charges and will be refundable and rest is your travelling charge.
  • 4). Passenger are not to allowed to Carrying flammable material, firearms and explosives in the metro area and it is punishable up to 4 years of imprisonment and a fine up to Rs. 5000/-.
  • 5). Pets are not allowed inside the metros.
  • 6). Maximum baggage capacity allowed is 15 kg, not exceeding 60*45 cm.
  • 7). There are seats are reserved for ladies,children and old persons so please provides the seat to who someone need it more than you.
  • 8). Do not sit,or run at the floor inside the metro or moving escalators.



TIPS AND GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS ABOUT INTERNET SAFETY.

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Tips and guidelines for parents and students about internet safety.


The Internet has opened up a virtual world of information for anyone with a computer and an on-line connection. Children not only learn about computers, but are able to access more information from more sources more quickly than from any other medium. With a little bit of planning and appropriate adult supervision, children can explore and learn while minimizing, or eliminating the dangers of being abused or exploited.

Internet Safety Tips for Parents

Establish rules for Internet use:

·         What sites can your child visit?

·         Who can they talk to?

·         How long will they be on line?

·         Where can they use a computer? 

Keep computers in a common room:

·         Parent and guardian supervision can be an effective method of protecting children online

Stay informed:

·         Learn everything you can about the internet

·         Take an interest in learning what sites your kids visit

·         Learn some of the common language used in chatrooms

Research Parental Controls:

·         Learn about the available blocking, filtering, and parental controls for your computer and internet and when to use them

·          

Internet Safety Tips for Students

Tell your parents when you are going online and talk to them about what you're doing online. If someone you don't know tries to arrange a meeting with you, immediately notify your parent or guardian.

Don't give out personal information, including:

·         Name

·         Age

·         Address and telephone number

·         Parent/guardian's name

·         School name

·         Passwords or other login information used online

Be careful when uploading photos:

·         Personal photos should not have revealing information, such as school names or locations

·         Look at the backgrounds of the pictures to make sure you are not giving out any identifying information without realizing it

·         The name of a mall, the license plate of your car, signs, or the name of your sports team on your jersey or clothing all contain information that can be used to determine your location

Make use of privacy settings on social networking sites:

·         Set it so that people can only be added as your friend if you approve it

·         Set it so that people can only view your profile if you have approved them as a friend

Don't post personal information about friends:

·         Remember that posting information about your friends could put them at risk

Document 

Internet Safety Tips for Primary Students

• Do not reply to rude or nasty comments.
• Immediately tell an adult if you feel uncomfortable or worried online. 
• If someone is being mean or nasty on MSN – block them.
• Have your computer in a common area of the house NOT IN THE BEDROOM!
• Do not have a ‘flirty’ or ‘nasty’ log on name.
• Help your parents to learn about the internet. Teach your parents the language of the cyberspace. 
• Let your parents know where you go online, just as you would in real life.
• Ask your parents to spend time online with you - learn and explore together
• Make sure that there are filters and other monitoring/blocking software to minimise dangers. 
• Together with mum or dad, set house rules about what information you can put onto websites or share with others.
• Never ever share PERSONAL INFORMATION such as your name, address, phone number or school!
• Social Networking profiles such as MySpace, Facebook and Bebo MUST BE SET TO PRIVATE.
• MSN contacts and social networking site friends should be people that you know in real life. This is one way to reduce possible risks.
• An ‘online friend’ that you don’t know in real life is a STRANGER.
• Passwords MUST NOT BE SHARED!!!!! Choose passwords that others can’t guess…..not your fav food or pets name.
• Change passwords 4 times per year (last day of every term)
• Be aware that information on the internet is not always reliable.
• Your parents should check your hotmail/msn/social networking lists.
• If you are playing games online, YOUR parents should know how to play the game too in case of problems. Play online games together.
• Learn about search engines and how they work.
• The internet and the various applications are a lot of fun ……surf safely together with your parents!

Please note that this list is by no means exhaustive and that there is no guarantee that adherence to these tips will provide 100% protection or safety for those using the various applications of the internet.

Internet Safety Tips for Secondary Students

• Make sure there is no response to rude or harassing emails.
(keep a record in case of further investigation)
• Immediately exit any site that makes you feel uncomfortable or worried. 
• If harassment continues….your current email account can be deleted and a new one started. Your new email address should only be given to a selected few.
• If receiving harassing messages on MSN - have the sender blocked.
• PC’s SHOULD be in a common area of the house NOT IN THE BEDROOM!
• Your parents should walk past regularly.
• Do not have a ‘suggestive’ or ‘flirty’ log on name.
• NEVER allow explicit photos of yourself to be taken in ANY circumstance
• If you have found inappropriate content about yourself on a website or are informed about

this situation please contact the ISP and or Police or tell your parents to do so a.s.a.p.
• Help your parents to learn about the internet - share your knowledge of the internet with your parents in a fun environment. If they have some knowledge they will be less likely to be suspicious about ‘socialising online’.
• Let your parents know where you go online, just as you would in real life.
• Ask your parents to spend time online with you - learn and explore together
• Make sure your computer has a good filter and other monitoring/blocking software to minimise dangers. 
• Make sure you are on safe and suitable sites. Filters CAN sometimes fail to protect.
• There should be house rules about what information you can put onto websites or share with others.
• Remember that the internet is PERMANENT….be mindful of what you post and how you portray yourself. Pics etc can remain FOREVER
• Teach your parents the language of the cyberspace. 
• ABSOLUTELY NO EXCHANGE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION!
• Social Networking profiles such as Facebook etc SHOULD BE SET TO PRIVATE.
• MSN contacts and social networking site friends should be people that you know in real life. This is one way to reduce possible risks.
• An ‘online friend’ that you don’t know in real life is a STRANGER.
• Passwords MUST NOT BE SHARED!!!!! Choose passwords that others can’t guess…..not your fav food or pets name. Should be a mix of caps/letters/numbers/symbols.
• Change passwords 4 times per year (last day of every term)
• Be aware that information on the internet is not always reliable.
• Very close supervision for young children is recommended. There should be a limit to the email correspondence/msn list to be a list of friends and family that has been approved.
• If you are playing games online, YOUR parents should know how to play the game too in case of problems. Play online games together.
• Misuse of the internet and associated technology (bullying/harassing someone) is a crime.…don’t break the law and risk getting a criminal record.
• Learn how search engines work. The first website returned may not be the best.
• The internet and the various applications are a lot of fun and a wonderful tool……maximize the benefits and surf safely together!

Please note that this list is by no means exhaustive and that there is no guarantee that adherence to these tips will provide 100% protection or safety for those using the various applications of the internet.

“Parents must learn about the internet with their child.”

Kids today have access to and are accessible by many millions of people worldwide via the vast array of 
websites, applications and online-games. The unprecedented amount of personal information available on 
these sites makes them a perfect place for people who would happily identify their victims and gain their trust. 
Other identified dangers include exposure to inappropriate content, cyber bullying and harassment, exchange 
of inappropriate images and identity theft. Teens are often not aware that their words and or photos, which may
have been intended for a small audience, sometimes find their way to a larger one, often with both the 
unexpected and undesirable consequences.

Today’s parents grew up in a world devoid of these technologies. They often have little knowledge on how best
to assist and guide them and when interest or concern is shown, suspicious kids  ‘fob’ them off with the typica
responses of ‘You won’t understand.....’ ‘Go away its private......’or ‘You have no idea.....’

Don ’t be afraid of technology. Learn about it and embrace it as your children do.
Accept that they will access content that might upset them, often not because they went looking for it and make 
sure that they are comfortable coming to you when this happens. Spend time online with them. Cyberspace can
be a lot of fun.

“Learn about search engines and how they work.”

Internet and mobile phone technology is fabulous and provides us with the ability to connect with people all 
around the world.  We can explore and learn about the world like never before, however, cyberspace does have
its problems, and unfortunately for kids, they are the primary targets for people’s warped ideas and bad 
behaviours. Young people are often targeted and groomed without the ability to recognise that this is occurring.

Kids’ technical skills are superb. Adults today cannot even aspire to the level of technology knowledge inherent
in today’s kids, but we do know that this skill is not matched by cogitative development. Nothing we do can ‘put
an old head on young shoulders’ and the ability to perceive risk, and foresee consequences is limited. 

Kids need to appreciate and accept that just as in the real world, there are dangers in cyberspace. Remember 
that cyberspace is permanent. Everything that you write, post and send can be traced and will remain there 
forever. Do you want that comment, or pic from Saturday night’s party on the desk of the person conducting a job
interview in 10 years time? 

Are you happy for that naked pic, you sent trustingly to your boyfriend who loves you 
dearly and will not share it with anyone (until he has it or you break up or both) on the computer of a 
paedophile? Kids need to think before they click and parents and teachers need to educate them to ensure that
where possible, the correct decisions are made in the first instance, not after a moment of madness.

“each children that information on the web is not always reliable.”

With the explosion of cyber technology, the issues of cyber bullying and  ‘sexting’, are emerging as the number 
one issue confronting the safety and wellbeing of young people and the wider community. Together with 
associated technology including 3G mobile telephones, Instant Messaging(MSN), online games and the 
popularity of social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook & now Twitter, today’s youth have access to 
and are accessible by many millions of people worldwide.  

Previously schools did not become involved in things that occurred ‘out of hours.’ It was not their business or 
concern, however with cyber bullying, harassment and sexting, where the parties involved are often from within
the same school or neighbouring schools, the problem is firmly thrust into the hands of the school 
accompanied by the often unrealistic expectations from parents, that they ‘solve’ the problem.

When bullying occurs online, regardless of where it actually took palace, and the fallout is obvious to school 
staff, it does become a school issue. Likewise, many secondary schools have to deal with the issue of naked 
pictures of students being spread throughout the school community. Schools must embrace technology for the
wonderful tool that it is, not dwell on the problem that it might become. Be proactive in all areas, educate your 
whole community, students parents and staff and make sure that your policy documents are relevant, circulated
to all members of the school community and are regularly updated. Students must be encouraged to come

forward and report problems and breaches of policy must be dealt with sensitively and efficiently.

 






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