Hi neighbors — The following notice about a parent information session on the recent phenomenon of ‘sexting’ went home with middle and high school students this week, and I thought I’d share it on Front Porch Forum. The meeting is scheduled for April 29, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. at Burlington High School, and is open to all members of the public. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Fred Lane
Chair, Burlington School Board
12 Catherine Street
802-318-4604
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“CAN YOU SEE ME NOW?”
High Schools and Middle Schools Wrestle with a New Cell Phone Phenomenon — ‘Sexting’

Over the last couple of years, school administrators, parents, and law enforcement officials have noticed a new trend occurring among teenagers: the use of cell phone cameras to take and share nude and semi-nude photos of themselves and their partners. The practice has been dubbed “sexting” and is a growing problem in high schools and middle schools around the country.

A informational meeting for parents and teachers will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of Burlington High School (childcare will be provided). The meeting will be led by Burlington School Board chair Fred Lane, who has written extensively about the social and legal developments associated with emerging technologies. Chairman Lane lectures frequently at colleges and universities about student privacy and the consequences of creating and distributing electronic information.

The meeting will offer adults clear and straightforward information about the technologies that teens are using today and discuss the often severe consequences of ‘sexting.’ These can range from teasing and harassment to charges under child pornography laws.