Media today has a huge influence on pre-teens and teenagers. Be it television, computers, video games, social networking sites – it hugely impacts all aspects of a teen’s life. Social media has both positive and negative attributes.  Sadly, we see more and more negative factors with middle school students through inappropriate pictures and sexting.  

Over the last few years, the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office has worked closely with schools to educate and instruct students, parents and professionals about the potential implications of a student sending a sexually explicit photo or video.  We have hosted parent meetings and had assemblies for students to discuss these dangers as well as lessons through Mrs. Minna, TMS Media Specialist. 

Under Ohio law, a person can be charged with possession or distribution of child pornography for taking, sending, or possessing any explicit photo of or involving a minor.  This includes a minor taking a nude or sexually explicit photo of themselves and sending it to a boyfriend or girlfriend.  To address the severity of this issue, the Clark County Juvenile Court has implemented the STOP Program.  Please visit our website with more information including a video partially filmed at Tecumseh.

By Brian Dixon

Tecumseh Middle School Principal