March 13, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 45 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
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MOBILE MAMMA; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 45
(Senate - March 13, 2019)
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[Pages S1836-S1837] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] MOBILE MAMMA Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on behalf of my constituent, Christy Teslow, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record information about a program she founded to help educate children of all ages about the importance of being a good digital citizen. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: Mobile Mamma is a non-profit organization which was founded in 2017 in Cresco, Iowa. We are 6 moms who are working professionals that use a common-sense approach to educate about the impact of technology. We personally have children ranging in age from kindergarten to college and wanted to be better educated about using devices of daily use, with the common goal to keep our children safe and secure while being online. From our own research, we felt compelled to design a curriculum to share with students and adults of all ages. Statement of the Problem. Children today are so self- reliant on their mobile devices which in turn has caused a social disconnect with society. Children are more concerned with their ``e-reputation'' and not as much of what their real-life reputation is. Parents have an ethical and moral role to provide children with online safety. The problem is, children are not safe online and parents are unaware of the detrimental dangers, harms, and effects of social media. Conceptual Framework. Clear and concise communication about parents' expectations are especially important. Research has demonstrated that teens, whose parents use effective monitoring practices, are less likely to make poor decisions such as having sex at a young age, smoking, using illegal drugs, drinking alcohol, being physically aggressive, or skipping school (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Teens who believe their parents disapprove of risky behaviors are less likely to participate in these behaviors. Teens rely on their parents and other adults in their daily lives for information about online safety. In 2013, a study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention titled ``Adolescents, Technology, and Reducing Risk for HIV, STDs, and Pregnancy'', a participant stated ``I multitask every second I am online. At this very moment, I am watching TV, checking my email every two minutes, reading a newsgroup about who shot JFK, burning some music to a CD, and writing this message'' (a 17-year-old male). According to Farrukh, Sadwick, and Villasenor (2014), parents seek information on how to best protect children online through various channels. Parents utilize general news media 38% of the time, other parents 37%, and school teachers 29%. Statement of the Purpose. The purpose of the Be a B.E.A.R. program is to educate children of all ages about the importance of being a good digital citizen. The Be a B.E.A.R. curriculum is designed to teach children from kindergarten through high school about what is acceptable to portray on social media and what is not acceptable. The intention of the Be a B.E.A.R. program is not only designed for children but can be applied to adults as well. The purpose of the program is to gain a positive structured approach to handling online situations. Significance of the Program. There is an ethical and moral responsibility of schools and adults that give these devices to children, to properly educate themselves and their children. With the rising mental health crisis, not only in Iowa but across the Nation, the devices of daily living (also known as Smartphones, tablets, etc) are causing these issues. Some of these issues include: low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, sadness, sleeplessness, and paranoia. Due to the mental health concerns, if we can get this program in schools it will help give a positive [[Page S1837]] use to technology by determining what a good digital footprint and digital citizen are. This program continues to educate both parents and children about cybersecurity/safety, the potential harms and dangers associated with the evolving virtual environment, and discusses in detail about the responsibility needed by all ages when it comes to the constant influx of technology in our children's lives. With the increasing suicide rates, there is a direct correlation between human trafficking, cyberbullying, and sexting that are negatively impacting society. Definition of Terms Good digital citizen: While online portraying yourself as a positive person and using appropriate etiquette Good digital footprint: Leaving positive markers when using the internet and social media sites B.E.A.R.: B = breathe, stop and take a breath before reacting to a situation that may cause you negative feelings E = explain to the other person or parties how the negative behaviors that are being portrayed are impacting you personally A = affirm actions, your choice is to walk away, block the other party on social media, and ignore R = report the unwanted behavior to a trusted adult such as parents, teachers, or counselors. Timeline. Currently, we are involved with two Northeast Iowa School Districts. We are using a 7-week program to educate the students in the following grades kindergarten, third, sixth, eighth, and eleventh about the Be a B.E.A.R. program. Each student has completed a pre-test about the different objectives that are covered in the core curriculum. After completion of the program there will be a post-test administered to determine the learning curve of the students. Currently, we do not have substantial results because of the initiation phase we are in. After the completion of our 7-week program we will have results to support our statement of intent. Conclusion. By implementing these steps of the Be a B.E.A.R. program with children and adults, we can bring positivity and education while being safe online. ____________________
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