Protecting our kids or using too much 'dettol'?

The need to protect our young Australians from predators in cyber world is accepted. Federal and state initiatives endorse the move with policy initiatives for schools, parents and the community. Rules and boundaries are essential as we all strive to maintain and pass on to next generation the belief systems we most value. At the same time our research of the past six years indicates that we don't as yet have an acceptable balance. Focus group interviews and school based observations suggest we may be overly-protective of our kids. Locking mobile technologies away in school lockers may seem to be sound management scheme. Using computers on special occasions or for students as treats may also seem reasonable. However, the reality is that our kids are reporting boredom, disaffection with school and motivation to learn - because the strategies are so twentieth century. Didactic approaches may appear to be the best way for kids to pass the tests and do well with the compulsory assessment scales. We consider this view is outdated and avoiding the need to bring our classrooms into the twenty-first century. Trusting our young people to do the right thing is part of growing up and we need to give permission for them to use the technologies that are integral to their lives in every other way but 'in school'.

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