Hello friends and neighbors,
I hope you had a wonderful weekend and were able to stay cool! I have a couple things that I would like to share with you before your week gets too busy, including a fulfilling opportunity for high school juniors at the Capitol during the next legislative session!
High School Page Program:
Applications for the 2018 Minnesota House of Representatives High School Page Program have now been mailed to our local schools. I encourage any high school junior interested in the political process to apply.
Throughout the week-long program, pages will assist state representatives and staff in the House Chamber during session, observe how committees are conducted, meet individually with their local state representative (me), and learn how legislation moves through the political process. This program also gives students the opportunity to meet with constitutional officers, members of the judiciary, lobbyists, and members of the media.
To learn more and to apply, visit: www.house.leg.state.mn.us/edprog/app.pdf.
Online Safety:
It is likely that many of our community’s students will be doing a lot of school work online this academic year. Whether it’s on a computer or a tablet, it’s important that they know how to stay safe online and for you to know what data is/can be collected by some of these online educational programs.
Consider asking the following questions:
- Will information be shared or sold and used to market my child?
- Will it be kept as a record of my child’s academics and online activity?
- For what purposes will the device be used? Some student online programs gives the student periodic “quizzes” that ask them personal questions. Will that be happening with my child?
- Will I have access to the data collected on my child?
- Who “owns” the data on my child?
- What are the “rules” my child must follow for the privilege of having access to the device?
- Will my child be required by the school to turn over passwords to social media they may access while using the school-issued device?
It’s important that you have a conversation with your children to discuss the possible dangers of the internet. From using web filters to limiting/blocking certain application downloads, there are multiple precautions that we can take as parents to make sure our kids are safe when using the internet. I’d recommend reading this article to learn more!
Stay In Touch:
If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding any issue related to state government, please feel free to contact me at either 651-296-3201 or rep.mary.franson@house.mn. I would love to hear from you.
I truly represent the best!
