Developing Ethical Direction

The activity of having children think about their moral or "digital citizenship" I feel would be a very effective activity to conduct with an older group of students. I do feel that it is important to begin implementing lessons into our curriculum at younger ages that address the rights and wrongs of being a digital citizenship. With the introduction of technology our society has a new medium in which rules of etiquette need to be established and implemented. As in person to person interactions there are rules (whether written or not) about the appropriate ways to interact with one another. But interestingly enough while some of these "rules of manners" are taught in school, most are taught at home. This makes me wonder where the lines of responsibility are drawn between parents and schools in teaching children about being ethical, responsibly, and moral digital citizen. School teaches about stranger danger, but my parents took the responsibility of helping me understand the fears and worry that they have of someone taking me from them and really, how and when to determine if someone is safe to talk to. It was my parents who taught me how to use my please and thanks yous, and that sending thank you cards is the polite way to show someone that you appreciate their kindnesses. It was my family that taught me to be respectful of other peoples property and feelings. I believe that as this second generation of digital citizens grows up and have children of their own, that we will see more and more of this development of the moral digital compass being taught at home. That schools will be the introduction point, like stranger danger, but families and parents will be the primary educator and role models for their children in developing their moral digital compass.