Health classes get a 21st century update - Internet Safety

April 9, 2009 - PRLog -- Health classes in Utah schools are about to get a 21st century update. In addition to the traditional health curriculum including lessons about sexual abstinence, sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy, and drugs, the State Board of Education is proposing lessons examining "the dangers and inappropriate use of current technology."

Proposed topics to be covered by the new curriculum include the dangers of revealing personal information online, the presence of online predators, and the legal and social consequences of certain actions online.

The addition of these topics come after many national news stories have covered students' committing suicide after being victims of cyber bullies or being charged for "sexting" -- sending nude photos via cell phones.

"[Online dangers] really threaten the safety of children in our society today," said Frank Wojtech, health and physical-education specialist at the Utah State Office of Education.

The addition of Internet safety to the Utah state health curriculum has been generally met with support. Not all parents are as technologically savvy as their children, and a statewide curriculum could help teens become more aware of the dangers of the Internet and the consequences of their actions.

Internet safety for teens is a growing concern for parents and educators alike. Yoursphere, a safe online destination for kids and teens up to 18, offers a social networking site where parents can be assured that their children are interacting without fear of predators, cyber bullies, or inappropriate sexual behavior.

Yoursphere.com is trying to raise the bar on internet safety. For more information see http://yoursphere.com/welcome or join the parent safety conversation at http://internet-safety.yoursphere.com. This resource available at http://internet-safety.yoursphere.com/press/health-classe....

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Yoursphere.com is trying to raise the bar on internet safety. For more information see http://yoursphere.com/welcome or join the parent safety conversation at http://internet-safety.yoursphere.com.