Kewl Timez, Issue #1

The i-SAFE Kewl Timez is an interactive newsletter devoted to empowering students to navigate the Internet wisely. Created for you, by you, the Kewl Timez will be discussing the safety issues that affect your online experience. The Kewl Timez is about you, the student, what your opinions are, what you are doing online, and what thoughts you have as a ‘Net citizen. Above all, the quarterly newsletter’s mission is to educate. It does this by giving you the knowledge and tools to teach your peers and the younger students who look up to you how to be street smart on the Information Superhighway. I encourage you to challenge yourself to make a difference in the real world—by helping to make everyone safer in the cyber world.

Sincerely,

Teri Schroeder, President
i-SAFE America Inc.

You can find anything imaginable on the web, from homework help to codes for the latest video games. For schools, this means students can access the biggest research tool ever made. However, there are places out there in Cyberspace that students should not be visiting at school, and for this reason and others, Congress has mandated that schools filter the content that goes through their network.
Many schools have blocked websites that really do not impair the educational value of the Internet or contain questionable content. For example, public schools in Fairfax County, Virginia, recently blocked access to a website that offers a teen version of an Open Source community (a forum dedicated to discussing computer code) made by students. While this website does not contain material that would be needed in a typical learning environment, Student Mentors it brings no harm, and, in fact, encourages teen participation and creativity. This is just one example of the many websites being blocked by school filters.
Parents and schools are blocking resources that students everywhere should be able to access. Some sites are

not appropriate to be viewed during school. It is completely realistic that schools block video games from being downloaded and played on school computers. However, schools should not simply and routinely block sites that provide useful services at no charge to the public, cause no harm to students, and are created for the general good of the student-teacher body.

The First Amendment states that every American is entitled to freedom of speech. Filters are a form of censorship. We, as students in this great country, should not be denied access to needed educational sites at school. Increased Internet safety education, better monitoring systems, and stricter school punishments for those students who visit inappropriate sites would be my solution. Punish the individual student, not the entire student body. As the number of student Internet users rise, we need to continue to find the best ways to work with the Internet and not against it.

Alex, 16, Virginia

First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

i-SAFE is proud to announce that Jessica, 15, is the Most Valuable Mentor for the Month of August 2004. Jessica, a blind student from Rhode Island, is dedicated to bringing Internet safety to other blind citizens across the country. Her article for the i-SAFE Times and e-mails to blind publications is only the beginning. “People draw a line between the blind and the sighted when you live in the real world. However, there is no line of separation between the blind and the sighted when you are online because we are all classified as blind,” said Jessica. Support Jessica and other students across the country and take action. By joining the DRiVE Campaign you can get the word out about online dangers. The DRiVE Campaign wants you to get involved by telling others about ‘Net safety. You donąt have to take a backseat to the Predators, Pirates, Spammers, and Cyberpunks. i-SAFE has given you the keys…it’s your turn to DRiVE. Contact mentors@isafe.org if you are up for the challenge!

Welcome to Celebrity Corner. In this edition, we caught up with Rat Sult, X-Games Street Luge Gold Medalist, and asked him a few questions about living life on the edge.

KT: So, Rat, when did you start street luging?
Rat: About 1996. Before that I used to race downhill mountain bikes. One day I just tried it, and the rest was history. I even took third in my first amateur race.
KT: What’s it like to go downhill at 50 miles per hour with nothing between you and the road but a board and some wheels?
Rat: It’s sick! It’s surreal. Itąs just you and the road. You have to know when to break and how hard to lean. Itąs a rush!
KT: You take a big risk when you ride. What safety precautions do you take to prevent injury?
Rat: Man, I take all kinds of precautions. I wear a helmet with full leathers and gloves. Before we go out, we scout the mountain roads and everything. I always dress ready for a crash, ’cause you just never know.
KT: What is your motto in life?
Rat: “Go big or go home”…just charge wide open and go tilt. That is the way I live my life, from my truck to the way I charge the hills…just wide open.
KT: What do you wanna tell the students about online dangers?
Rat: You just can’t trust anybody on the computer…anybody can be on the other end. They could say that they are a kid but it could be some 45-year-old man. Never trust anybody on the computer that you don’t personally know. Man, go outside to talk to people…get out of the house…there are people all over. Have fun with life and be safe!

Mentor Mike Cartoon

Stay tuned for future adventures of Mentor Mike and Mentor Mary. Create a story for Mentor Mike. Write to mentors@isafe.org with future script ideas, and we will write you into the story.

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