Mt. Vernon Register-News

Local

August 29, 2008

D80 schools to begin internet safety training

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — A new bill designed to teach children of the dangers of the Internet will mean District 80 will have to formalize training it already gives its students.

“Most schools are already teaching students in some way, about the Internet,” District 80 Superintendent Kevin Settle said. “Computers are used more and more in every school district.”

The legislation goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2009, for the 2009-2010 school year, and requires schools to incorporate Internet safety into their curriculums to be taught at least once every school year to students in third grade or higher. The bill calls for an age-appropriate unit of instruction to be incorporated into the current course of study regularly taught in district schools. The bill co-sponsored by Senator Terry Link and Representative Tom Cross, which led to overwhelming support in both the House and Senate.

“The Internet is a wonderful tool and resource for children and adults,” Cross stated. “Unfortunately, this technology is also being utilized by adult predators seeking to gain access to unsuspecting children. While our children are being introduced to computers and the Internet in the classroom, it makes sense for our schools, as a component of computer education, to provide basic instruction on how to remain safe while using the Internet.”

Settle said children in District 80 are exposed to computers as early as kindergarten.

“One of the things we talk about is that everything is filtered,” Settle said. “We have technicians in every one of our labs. They review about getting on sites, and inappropriate contact with others. At middle school, where we see children using e-mail and MySpace, the technology technicians go into more detail about the dangers, predators and those kinds of things.”

Settle said once the school is notified of the specific requirements under the new legislation, it will be “added to our checklist we send to teachers every year, where we tell the teachers what they have to include in the curriculum.”

Settle said the Illinois State Board of Education monitors the district each year on requirements with emphasis on the newer legislation being implemented.

Text Only
Local
  • Evening of Jazz at Cedarhurst Valentine weekend

    The 6th Annual Valentine Weekend Jazz Concert at Cedarhurst will be held Saturday, featuring the Loren Golden Ensemble.
    "This is the sixth year for the Evening of Jazz at Cedarhurst,” Sarah Sledge, Cedarhurst's Communications Director noted. "It's always a popular event when we pair jazz music with the Valentine theme."
    Golden, an attorney by profession, is a talented pianist who frequently performs with the Elgin Community College Jazz Ensemble, inormation states.  A pianist since the age of four, his love of the arts has inspired his continued involvement with music. Golden has enjoyed playing piano in variety shows, summer theatre, and clubs such as the Playboy Clubs in Chicago and Lake Geneva.

    February 9, 2012

  • District 80 receives recognition

    City Schools District 80 received a 3.8 out of a possible 4 points on its 2012 Financial Profile Designation from the Illinois State Board of Education.
    This is the second year in a row the district has received the “financial recognition” category from the state board; the district received the same score as 2011.

    February 9, 2012

  • WILLIAMS JCAAHC highlights citizens

    Karl Williams, the inbound manager at Walgreen’s Distribution, has worked there for 39 years, 20 of which has been in the King City.
    Debbie Kendrick-Hopgood followed in her grandmother’s and father’s footsteps as the head of Kendrick Paper Stock Company, and has worked there since 1980.

    February 9, 2012 1 Photo

  • Start Smart program to start second season

    MT. VERNON — The Mt. Vernon Department of Parks and Recreation will host a second season of Start Smart, a program that helps parents teach their children sports skills.

    February 8, 2012

  • Mayor declares February Black History Month

    MT. VERNON — February is Black History Month across the United States, but it is officially Black History Month in the city of Mt. Vernon as well.

    February 8, 2012

  • Church to host revival

    MT. VERNON — Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church will be hosting a three-day Black History Month Celebration/Winter Revival in conjunction with Jefferson County Crusaders for Change.

    February 8, 2012

  • City approves track construction plans

    MT. VERNON —  The Mt. Vernon City Council on Monday approved a resolution allowing a rail spur to be built onto Continental Tire the Americas property.

    February 8, 2012

  • fire fighter Fire fighters tour with military truck

    MT. VERNON — Mt. Vernon Fire Department firefighter and Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Chris Heiken brought a military tactical fire fighting truck to the 42nd Street Mt. Vernon Fire Department station on Tuesday.

    February 8, 2012 1 Photo

  • Chamber of Commerce seeks nominations

    MT. VERNON — Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its 2012 Citizen of the Year and Small Business Person of the Year.

    February 7, 2012

  • Crime Stoppers to release Watchdog Quarterly

    MT. VERNON — The Jefferson County Crime Stoppers is gearing up to release its first Watchdog Quarterly.

    February 7, 2012