EDUCATION
ENCOURAGING THE SAFE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
BY MIKE PIERCY , HEADMASTER AT THE NEW BEACON SCHOOL , SEVENOAKS .
HOW MANY PARENTS HAVE DISCOVERED THE MORE WE TELL OUR CHILDREN NOT TO DO SOMETHING , THE MORE INCLINED THEY ARE TO DO IT ? GROWING UP INEVITABLY INVOLVES TEMPTATION , EXPERIMENTATION AND LEARNING FROM MISTAKES . DENYING THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA WILL RESULT IN DISAPPOINTMENT ; ENCOURAGING SAFE AND CAUTIOUS USE IS FAR MORE LIKELY TO MEET WITH SUCCESS THOUGH ANTICIPATE SOME BUMPS ALONG THE WAY .
We recently had a social media expert work with our pupils . He was impressed with their knowledge of the dangers of various platforms . All good schools will have social media education for the pupils as part of their personal and social development programme , warning of the dangers and of overuse . Heeding the warnings , and resisting the temptation or impulse is a different matter , entirely dependent upon the individual and his / her judgment . The consequences of misuse are potentially serious : most young people will know of someone who has come a cropper , which will hopefully moderate their own activity .
Schools ( and homes ) should be open , trustful places where children feel comfortable speaking about their worries . Peer pressure can be at its worst in the world of social media – bullying , boasting , lying , and the desire to impress through the often faceless , seeming anonymity of the web . A child who is the victim of such peer pressure or , perhaps more important , the child who has posted something she / he regrets should be able to tell someone without fear of recrimination .
Our boys ( boys ’ school !) are not allowed mobile phones ( or any media device ) in school – easier perhaps in a school where the oldest pupils are thirteen . The ages 11 to 13 are possibly the most vulnerable and impressionable , especially for those 11-yearolds who start in an 11-18 school . The influence of older teenagers will inevitably be felt and the younger ones will wish to impress the older ones . On the other hand , with guidance , the older students can be a positive peer influence on the younger children regarding the safe use of social media .
In the home , some families leave all their web connected devices in the kitchen overnight . Many do not allow computers in bedrooms . Adults often check their phones last thing at night and again first thing as they wake . Children do the same and some are communicating on social media very late into the night . They do not wish to miss out on anything ; to be the one who leaves the conversation first . Domestic rules about mobile devices , screen time and parental controls are helpful : discuss them with your children , come to an agreement and then stick to them .
All schools will have heavy duty screening software which monitors computer activity and flags up misuse . Similar practice can be adopted at home . Parents can enable ‘ parental controls ’ through their internet provider , through individual devices and on the various platforms . This allows the monitoring of their children ’ s online presence – not a ‘ big brother ’ activity , just a safety net : children may unwittingly stumble onto something that is inappropriate , or even dangerous . They may also do something wittingly . Whichever , a parent will normally want to know , to protect and to guide .
In all of the above it is easy to forget what a wonderful resource the web is – for research , information , knowledge , communication ; all at our fingertips , just a swipe away . In a lesson last week I was instantly able to find the answer to a question in my class . Roald Dahl , as an employee of the Shell Eastern Staff , was paid £ 500 annually in 1936 – a staggering equivalent of £ 33,799 in 2018 .
The next open day at the New Beacon School is being held on Friday 25th May 2018 from 2pm-3.30pm . This is an opportunity to see the school ' in action '. Guests should arrive by 1.45pm when the Headmaster will address visitors . Please book your place at www . newbeacon . org . uk / openday
www . newbeacon . org . uk
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