Saferinternet.cz in schools for parents How to address teachers? How to address parents? Two questions crucial for any Safer Internet project... We often talk about children as the main target group of our awareness raising activities. Should this be the case, though?

Parents can influence their children a lot, without any doubt! The biggest influence exercised is if they decide to do nothing: refusing to say anything in the matter of new media because of their own lack of experience and knowledge. They may also allow their child to use a PC in their own private space, letting him or her access the Internet without any limits or control. Their child stays vulnerable...

Mgr. Simunova, a teacher of Informatics at the Gymnasium in Havlickuv Brod decided to act based on the awareness raising meeting for teachers organised in Jihlava. With the approval of the management of the school she addressed parents on the occasion of their regular meetings to inform them about safer internet use with the help of leaflets and video clips from the Czech Helpline (Internet Helpline spots). Leaflets were prepared based on the information given on the Saferinternet.cz web portal.  

Parents were told during the meetings with class teachers that the information about Safer Internet had been prepared for them and could be obtained before leaving the school.  

There was a video-spot projection in the entrance hall of the school, parents could take the leaflets and Mgr. Simunkova answered their questions.  Within 90 minutes more than 120 leaflets was distributed!  

Parents of younger pupils (11-15 years) appreciated the information given and were interested in distributing the video.

Parents of youngsters of 16 and over said their children knew how to use the internet and felt no danger. This is a group with a lack of proper information and methods on how to best help their children. We have to address them with more concrete information about threats, giving some advice on how to avoid them; including some psychological techniques on how to deal with teenagers when focusing on safer internet issues.

Zdenek M.Zalis
SAFERINTERNET.CZ