CMS Educating Parents On Internet Safety

Ninety-five percent of children between the ages of five and 17 use the internet regularly. While on-line computer exploration opens a world of possibilities for children, they can be exposed to dangers as they hit the road to explore the information super highway.

According to the FBI, one in five youths between the ages of 10 and 17 has received an unwanted sexual solicitation online. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is sharing its concern with the online dangers by inviting the public to attend the workshop "Internet Safety: What You Don't Know Can Hurt Your Child" on Tuesday at Jay M. Robinson Middle School beginning at 7 p.m.

State Attorney General Roy Cooper created the program to educate parents about the dangers of unsupervised Internet access. With the potential dangers of networking sites such as MySpace, Friendster and Xanga, which are becoming very popular among young people, programs like this are helping parents avoid Internet-related problems before they occur.

Jay M. Robinson Middle School is located at 5925 Ballantyne Commons Parkway. The meeting is open to the public. The video and resource guide for parents presented during the meeting also is available online at www.ncdoj.com. Due to the content of the presentation, only adults should attend the session.