Area Students Attend Program for Responsible Online and Cell Phone Use

 

May 24, 2023

On Tuesday, May 16, Turner Public School students in grades 7-12 travelled to Harlem High School (HHS), where they joined Harlem Middle School and HHS students, as well as students in grades 6-8 from Chinook for an assembly on Responsible Online and Cell Phone Use. The student group heard speaker, Richard Guerry share his thoughts on topics that included cyber bullying, digital citizenship, social media, and cell phone safety.

The group was welcomed by Mr. Paul Condon, Junior/Senior High School Assistant Principal. Before he turned the microphone over to Guerry.

Designed to promote responsible use of technology, prevent digital abuse, and influence positive behavior and good judgment with powerful digital tools, Tuesday's program stressed mindfulness, empathy, and safety. The program was presented by the Institute for Responsible Online and Cellphone Communication (IROC2). Based in New Jersey, IROC2 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated "to helping Digital Citizens use technology and the power of Public and Permanent™ to open windows of opportunity - not close them." In 2017, IROC2 received the Anti-Bullying Award from the School Safety Advocacy Council.


In his fast-paced vocal style, Guerry, who is the Executive Director for IROC2, spoke to students and educators gathered in HHS's gymnasium on the importance of maintaining a Digital Consciousness™ to prevent and avoid current and future digital issues. With illustrative multimedia content and through various anecdotes, Guerry exposed examples of the pitfalls that can ensue from any blind, careless, and misinformed use of digital tools and technologies.


"Help the next generation," Guerry pleaded with the students. "Mentor them so that they can wield their power with wisdom and avoid the pitfalls. The first generation always pays the price for the next. You want to be statistics of promise, not one of the pitfalls."

Guerry went on to say that every digital tool has immense power for good or ill. According to Guerry, we can use these tools with either the power of informed decision-making or without regard for the consequences.

"A cell phone is one of the world's most powerful tools, and it was put in your hands without guidance and before anyone taught you how to use it," Guerry told students. "In fact, it's not a phone. It's a window to the world, and your actions will raise or lower your risks, so you have to use this communication tool wisely and make it work for you."

Guerry shared with students strategies for harnessing the power of this tool and using it with mindfulness and empathy. "If you wouldn't want someone sharing content about you that can be public and permanent, you need to be mindful about how you share content about others. Before you upload that funny video, ask whether you would want the information shared if you were the subject."

He further shared strategies for developing responsible citizenship so that the audience would understand the need for empathy and kindness in their digital decision-making and learn to prevent issues like cyberbullying and poor social media decisions.

"The tools and aps change, but our attitude should not. We're connected to the world through time, so show the world you're amazing and use that mindset to rock the world," Guerry told the group gathered.

Earlier in the day, younger students in grades 3-6 heard Guerry's speech, and Tuesday evening, parents, child advocates, and law enforcement personnel were invited to hear Guerry's message. Although Dodson and Hays-Lodge Pole Schools were also invited, they were unable to attend.

 
 

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