On Wednesday, October 1, Detective Jamie Blevins with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office visited Damascus Middle School to present an Internet Safety Program to students.
Since most middle school students do spend a lot of time using the Internet, whether they are watching YouTube videos, communicating with friends, or doing homework, it is very important for them to be aware of the dangers that exist online. Detective Blevins shared the heart-wrenching story of Amanda Todd, whose suicide as a result of both being victimized and bullied online brought to light the negative impact the Internet can have on people’s lives. He stressed the importance of using ethical online behavior, protecting themselves while online, and guarding their own privacy by not posting personal things online. This was a timely message for our students, as October is both Information Literacy Month and Bullying Prevention Month.