National surveys reveal that more than a third of students in grades five through eight say their parents would disapprove if they knew what they did, where they went, or with whom they chatted on the Internet. More than half have given out their name, sex, and age online.

The virtual world is every bit as real as the physical world with consequences that can last a lifetime. The only difference between the two is the virtual world never sleeps. No matter what time your child is online, someone else is there. No nights, no holidays, no vacations. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, anyone with Internet connection has access to our children whenever and wherever they go online.

Our children are the first cyber generation. Everyday they face dangers that we never would have dreamed of as kids. We were taught by our parents to not talk to strangers, so we in turn teach our children to not talk to strangers.

What we do not teach our children often enough is to not to "chat" with strangers online. The scary truth is, not everyone online is who they claim to be. Someone who seems to be a like-minded teen may in fact be a predator. The potential for tragedy is higher than most people would guess. i-SAFE America Inc. surveyed teens and found that 10 percent met someone face-to-face after first meeting on the Internet.

i-SAFE, a government funded non-profit organization, recently completed a study on children, parents and the Internet. The findings compiled by i-SAFE’s research team and referenced throughout this are enlightening and disturbing. Ninety-two percent of parents say they have rules regarding their children’s Internet usage. More than a third of their kids said there are no rules regarding Internet usage. This means that too often, parents and children don’t have the same understanding of what’s appropriate and what’s not in regard to the Internet.

As a society we don’t allow our children behind the wheel of a car without a license. So why are we letting them drive the Information Super Highway when they are barely old enough to reach the keyboard? What they need is the Internet version of driver’s education – and in Putnam City, students are receiving it.

This year Mayfield students, like all students in the district, are receiving i-SAFE education. Meetings are being held at each school for parents to attend. i-SAFE provides students and parents with the awareness and knowledge to recognize, avoid and respond to dangerous, destructive, or unlawful online behavior.

The dangers our children face everyday on the Internet do not arrive one at a time. They’re constant. As a community of parents, educators, law enforcement, and community leaders, we must team up and take action. We must educate our children so they are safe as they wander the Super Information Highway. No matter what time it is.