Toronto, ON: As a mom of two young children, Mrs. Laureen Harper knows first-hand the importance of teaching today's youth to be safe and responsible texters. Mrs. Harper was on hand at Toronto's Runnymede Junior and Senior Public School today for the Canadian Centre for Child Protection's national launch of
textED.ca - an innovative website designed to help teach children safe texting practices.
"It's amazing to think that we live in a time where our children know more about today's technology than we do," said Mrs. Laureen Harper. "It's so important that we become familiar with the technologies our kids use and the risks they face so we are in the best position to help keep them safe. TextED.ca is a great resource to help familiarize parents with today's texting issues, but more importantly, one their children will enjoy and learn from as well."
Designed for students in Grade 7 and higher, the textED.ca website provides a fun, interactive platform for children to learn about the short-term costs and the long-term ramifications associated with texting. The initiative also includes lesson plans designed to help educators teach youth about safe texting and life skills that will allow them to fully benefit from what is now a very public, technological world. All lessons are tied to provincial curriculum outcomes, making them ideal for use in Canadian classrooms.
"Considering the main form of communication for much of today's generation is through text-messaging, the need for safe-texting education is imperative," said Lianna McDonald, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. "Texting is having an impact at home and in the classroom, and so there is a shared responsibility to teach our kids how to use this technology safely. Like parents, many teachers are struggling with the issues that arise from this technology. It's a completely new area they didn't have to deal with before. TextEd.ca will help them address texting in a fun, interactive way."
"Law enforcement officers, dedicated to online child sexual exploitation investigations across the country, have never been as well trained and equipped as they are today. Even so, we desperately need parents and young people to be more proactive about their online safety," said Det. Sgt. Kim Scanlan, with the Toronto Police Services Child Exploitation Unit.
"Cell phones - and especially text messaging - have become one of the most important tools for Canadian families to stay connected and keep safe," said Bernard Lord, President & CEO of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA). "But while wireless communications provide convenient and immediate contact, it is essential that young people be educated about the appropriate and responsible use of the technology."
In partnership with the CWTA, the Canadian Centre first launched textED.ca as a pilot project in January 2010. Based on feedback received from teachers, students and other educational professionals in the months that followed, the Canadian Centre made numerous improvements and enhancements to the textED.ca lessons and online components.
Included in the changes was the creation of an innovative text-based Rock, Paper, Scissors (RPS) game that also provides users with a safe texting tip following the completion of each game. Any potential text message fees associated with playing this game have been waived by Canadian wireless service providers, so the game is free to all Canadian users. Our thanks to: Bell, Fido, Koodo, MTS, SaskTel, Solo, Rogers, TELUS, Vidéotron and Virgin Mobile for waiving fees and for their ongoing support of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.
