News Release
December 9, 1999
GOVERNOR, FIRST LADY AND FAUX PAW
TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT INTERNET SAFETY
Governor Mike Leavitt, First Lady Jacalyn S. Leavitt and the governor's pet, Faux Paw the Techno Cat, today announced the state-wide distribution of Internet safety guidelines to all 2nd through 5th grade students.
"The Internet is a great tool to use for homework and to communicate with friends," said Mrs. Leavitt. "But safety guidelines must be followed. Each year, children are victimized by someone they met through an Internet chat room. We hope that parents, teachers and children will talk about these guidelines together so that our youth will know how to play it safe when they are using the Internet."
In the flier to be distributed to elementary schools, Faux Paw describes his love of computers, and reminds children and their families about Internet safety practices. For example, children should never give their names, addresses or phone numbers to anyone online. They should never agree to meet anyone they have connected with online. And if they feel uncomfortable about something they find, or someone they chat with on the Internet, they should tell a parent or teacher immediately. Parents can call the 24-hour tipline at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 to report a problem. Attached to the sheet is a sticker with these Internet safety tips that students can affix to their computers at home.
"Unfortunately, there are those who use the Internet to hurt children," said Gov. Leavitt. "We hope that through the wide distribution of these guidelines, children will learn how to avoid harmful situations."
This is the second phase of the governor and first lady's Internet safety campaign for elementary school students and their parents. In February, the governor and first lady presented donated mouse pads printed with Internet safety messages to all Utah middle school students.
