[!] [=title "Public Website Consent Form"] [=content-]

As part of their course in introductory web development at Trailside, your child may be given the opportunity to create and maintain a public-facing website through GitHub Pages (a reputable free hosting provider). This gives them the ability to use their newly-learned skills in a creative open format.

The point of the exercise is to practice an important facet of web development (web deployment). However, beyond this course, there are many uses for a personal website - for practice, as a writing desk or a blog, as an online art gallery, for publishing class notes, etc.

The main concern with managing a personal website is the same as any other activity on the internet - anyone will be able to view it, so accidentally or unknowingly posting sensitive information (real names, phone numbers, home addresses, etc) could be harmful. In the course we'll go over how to maintain anonymity and manage web sites safely and responsibly.

There are some potential misconceptions about other risks involved with creating and maintaining a public website. Rest assured that, should your child create a public website,

- It will NOT require a credit card or any payment - designing and hosting the website will be completely free using techniques learned in this course.
- It will NOT inherently expose sensitive private information (IP addresses, physical locations, etc) to other people.
- It will NOT expose you or your child to hacking or computer viruses.
- It will NOT expose your child to harmful or inappropriate material elsewhere on the Internet.
- Other people will NOT be able to contact your child through the website.
- It will NOT be stored on any permanent records tied to your child's identity.

If you consent to your child's participation in the public website project, please check this box.
If you would prefer for your child to be excluded from the public website project, please check this box.

Signature:
Printed name:
Child's name:

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