Helping Your Kids Become Good Cyber Citizens By Example
Imagine a parent, sitting in a car with his kid in front of a Tom Thumb convenience store and telling him, "Robbery is a bad thing. Robbery will get you in trouble, maybe even land you in jail."
Then, having proclaimed this, that same parent removes a gun and ski mask from the glove compartment and sticks up the aforementioned store. No parent would ever do that, right? And if he did, he'd not be a very good parent, would he?
Advancing a step toward reality, a question comes to mind. What does a parent, guardian or trusted adult's attitude on the subject of software piracy say to a kid? Is the message he receives a confusing one, such as, "They've got lots of money, they don't need mine." Or, "Why should I pay for a Windows upgrade? Uncle Freddie got the latest copy with his new computer and he loaned me a disk."
English: Rally in Stockholm, Sweden, in support of...
BSA Goldstar Owners Club Stand
BSA MOTOR CYLCEStudent attitudes are often a composite, largely based on a combination of what their peers, their parents, and trusted persons around them do or have to say concerning a given issue. When that issue is software piracy, kids are likely to lean toward the path of least resistance.
It takes more than attitude for a kid to become a software pirate. Availability plays a key role as well. Therein lurks the body of the iceberg.
Widespread computer availability at home, at school and in libraries is providing America's nearly 61 million school-age kids with unprecedented Internet access. This year, as kids log on more than ever before, a technology trade group is cautioning teachers and parents that increased on-line use may also lead kids to big trouble.
Although typically fun and educational, surfing the Internet nonetheless...