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Thread ID: 54581 2005-02-16 07:48:00 Net pal for 10yo wotz (335) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
325573 2005-02-16 07:48:00 My girl has to find a pen friend overseas as part of her homework, and is allowed to use the net. I need a safe way for this to occur, with correspondance via email only. Anyone know of a site? wotz (335)
325574 2005-02-16 07:56:00 This is just asking for trouble. Best bet would be to try a relative/friend overseas with kids, or friends that would have kids.

That sounds like some pretty weird, bordering on dangerous homework.

<obvious>
http://www.michaeljackson.com/
</obvious>
ninja (1671)
325575 2005-02-16 08:05:00 :lol: Prescott (11)
325576 2005-02-16 20:32:00 That sounds like some pretty weird, bordering on dangerous homework.


Nonsense. Children need to learn to use the Internet as much as they need to leaen computing, as early as possible. It's dead easy to restrict what they access and or to monitor their use.
Greg (193)
325577 2005-02-16 20:38:00 www.penpals.co.nz Jeremy (1197)
325578 2005-02-16 20:41:00 Nonsense. Children need to learn to use the Internet as much as they need to leaen computing, as early as possible. It's dead easy to restrict what they access and or to monitor their use.

Is that so Greg.
Perhaps you would care to enlighten us how you restrict access or monitor their use when they are using some other computer such as at a friends house.
Safari (3993)
325579 2005-02-16 21:51:00 Is that so Greg.Careful Safari, Greg is a teacher (from memory).

With all the news and general stuff regarding child safety online, paedophiles lurking on the net, not giving out personal details online etc etc etc I think a teacher encouraging young children to get on the internet to find penpals is completely irresponsible.

I'm one of the first people to support online shopping etc but sending children out is just plain dumb.

So the child finds a forum or mailing list: "Hi I'm a 10 yo girl from Invercargill, New Zealand - I'm looking for a pen friend as part of my home work"

If thats not an open invitation to danger I don't know what is.
ninja (1671)
325580 2005-02-16 22:04:00 I agree. While Greg may be right in that it is possible to do this safely, the original post doesn't mention whether parents have been given instructions in how to do so safely. Now if it's an exercise in getting parents to learn how to let their kids use the net safely, that's one thing, but if kids are just being sent of to cruise the Net looking for pen pals -- and what teacher can guarantee the quality of parental supervision -- then it seems pretty irresponsible. Biggles (121)
325581 2005-02-17 00:52:00 What does exist is a huge amount of irrational paranoia.

Shock horror! The Internet.

What is proven is that kids are most at risk of (any) dangers in their own homes, from parents and other "trusted" adults.
Graham L (2)
325582 2005-02-17 03:05:00 Old fashioned I may be, but I've just got to suport Ninja on this one. :cool: Scouse (83)
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