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National Heritage Academies Addresses Digital Safety in Schools

As part of the annual Safe Schools Week initiative, taking place from October 19 to 23, National Heritage Academies (NHA) is implementing vital measures to ensure students' safety, both in physical classrooms and online. This year, the focus extends to protecting children from various online threats that they encounter daily.

During Safe Schools Week, NHA schools engage in a variety of activities including visits from local emergency responders, safety drills, and spirited events. Students learn essential skills for coping with severe weather as well as strategies for building effective safety plans for both their home environments and the internet. This broad approach underscores that safety is a multifaceted issue.

With nearly half of adolescents admitting to spending excessive time online (as reported by Pew Research), it is crucial for educational institutions to address digital safety comprehensively. NHA has made a concerted effort to educate students on the importance of safe online practices, thus mitigating potential physical and emotional risks derived from their digital interactions. This year’s initiative emphasizes the critical role that both educators and parents play in fostering a secure digital landscape for children.

Chris McKenna, the founder of the advocacy group Protect Young Eyes, collaborates with NHA's leadership to enhance digital safety measures. During a recent webinar, McKenna provided invaluable insights on the importance of open communication about online behaviors, particularly for parents with teenagers. He advises that these discussions should not be confined to one time but should be ongoing communications that accumulate over time.

"Technology is intertwined with school and students' academic tasks, making it vital for parents to engage with their children online," states McKenna. He elaborates that having casual and frequent conversations about online activities can significantly lower the barriers for children to reach out when they face difficulties or crises online.

Leveraging Technology for Safer Schools

NHA has partnered with BARK for Schools, a monitoring platform designed to oversee student online engagements. The tool is instrumental in detecting alarming behaviors or signs of distress, such as discussions of self-harm, bullying, or inappropriate content searches. Each day, BARK examines around 80,000 instances of student activity through Google accounts and school internet use. Alerts generated by the system allow NHA's Safety Team to intervene promptly and provide necessary support.

In one reported case, a family expressed how BARK facilitated access to counseling for their child. NHA's Brian Gard highlighted that the proactive interception of threats is crucial in ensuring student well-being, noting, "We get alerts about potential self-harm threats, allowing us to step in before things escalate. It’s scenarios like these that make our initiative vital."

Despite the protective efforts in the school, the risks remain when students are off-campus. McKenna highlights, "There are 17 hours outside of the school day where parents need to maintain that responsibility and engage in guiding their children online." Fostering a bond around digital topics can be uncomfortable for parents, but McKenna suggests breaking the ice by participating in their children’s online engagements, like gaming or watching their favorite videos together.

McKenna also emphasizes the significance of maintaining a calm tone during these conversations. Preparing parents with strategies to respond to inevitable digital missteps can help build a safe environment for children. He explains, "If the dominant theme of your discussions revolves around consequences and negativity, children may be deterred from confiding in you when genuine issues arise."

The integration of NHA's Moral Focus™ program, which teaches virtues such as respect, wisdom, and integrity, also plays a critical role in equipping students to make wise decisions online ahead of any potential troubles. This well-rounded approach aims to empower students to navigate their digital environments safely and responsibly.

About National Heritage Academies

National Heritage Academies (NHA) is a network of 105 public charter schools serving over 65,000 students across nine states. The organization provides free and extensive educational services that prioritize safety and character development. For further information on NHA and to locate a charter school nearest to you, please visit nhaschools.com.