This September first, the BSA hopes that thousands of kids will log onto their anti-piracy site to help them take a poll of five names for their new BSA mascot. The most popular name selected will be incorporated into a comic book type piece of voluntary curriculum offered to fourth grade teachers.
'Play It Safe in Cyber Space" is the Business Software Alliance's (BSA) education program that teaches children the importance of responsible computer and Internet use, respect for digital creativity and copyright protection. 'Computer usage is commonplace in youth education today, and good legal and ethical behaviors need to be taught with the technology," said Diane Smiroldo, vice president,public affairs for BSA. 'We hope that naming the ferret and creating a comic book curriculum that focuses on respecting digital copyrighted works will be a fun way to remind kids and educators about the importance of learning and practicing good cyber ethics." The four-page comic book about cyber ethics created by BSA and Weekly Reader, a leader in educational publishing, will debut in early January. The storyline, which features the ferret as the 'Copyright Crusader," is designed to educate children about the importance of protecting and respecting copyrighted works such as software, music, games and movies. The comic book and companion teacher's guide will be mailed nationwide to fourth grade teachers who subscribe to Weekly Reader and will be available for free download at www.playitcybersafe.com. |
The reasoning behind this campaign is a direct result of a Harris Interactive poll, commissioned by BSA, that indicates young people from the ages of 8-18 understand the meaning of copyright, yet still illegally download and copy software and other digital materials. The BSA encourages teachers to utilize educational resources, such as the cyber ethics curriculum, 'Play It Safe in Cyber Space," co-developed with Weekly Reader, in their lesson plans for students.
This seems like a fine idea to help educate children about respect of copyright and I have no problem with the BSA trying to do their job. However, the time spent on such curriculum should be limited it seems, due to all the material a child must absorb these days. In addition, it would be upsetting to me if every business could potentially become part of the lessons being taught in school, by merely commissioning their own poll as a justification. Perhaps it would be better to focus their campaign on the various media available to get their message across. Leave the classrooms to teach reading, writing and arithmetic.
It might also be a good idea to encourage your membership to sweep around their own house first. Because a lot of kids know, that the CD's they get from the school library are there as a direct result of federal litigation from the price fixing scandal, where the music industry was found guilty of cheating consumers out of their money. You need to have credibility to earn the respect of another, even a child. If only one kid brings that legal action up, the whole program becomes a joke. In light of that, I might not have chosen a member of the weasel family as a mascot. But, I guess it's appropriate.
Source: Business Software Alliance
