Delco students warned: Beware of online predators

The subject was one kids don't want to talk about: online predators.

On Thursday, the entire student body at the Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Radnor Township - about 400 in kindergarten through eighth grade - participated in Project iGuardian, an online safety initiative started last year by the Department of Homeland Security.

"Law enforcement cannot arrest our way out of this problem," said William S. Walker, assistant special agent in charge. Education is key to warn parents and children of the "perils of the Internet," he said.

The presentations at the Delaware County school were tailored to different grade levels.

"It is really about the safety of the children," said Sister Matthew Anita MacDonald, the head of school.

For the high school students, the messages were right to the point:

Don't friend someone on social media you don't know.

Never post inappropriate pictures.

It's not a good idea to post a blanket message asking for cellphone numbers should you happen to lose all your contacts.

Don't discuss sexual or sexually suggestive subjects online or visit such websites.

"We are seeing a big rise in sexting," said Nat Evans, an analyst with the Pennsylvania Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program, who participated in the program.

Third and fifth graders were shown a short cartoon in which the characters, along with a mischievous squirrel, talked about how to handle cyberbullying and what to do if it does not stop: Tell parents.

Radnor Police Officer Mark Stiansen was on his knees fielding questions from about a dozen kindergartners, talking to them about "good guys and bad guys."

Even at that age, children have access to the Internet, said Tina Loughrin, an intelligence research specialist with Homeland Security and Stiansen's partner for the presentation.

"They all play with something a cellphone, iPad, or computer," Loughrin said.

Their message to the youngest students was to check with their parents before they give their phone numbers to anyone. They were told to say no if someone tried to touch or hurt them, and to tell a trusted adult about anything that disturbed or frightened them.