Student aides and "Passwords"

[Jen Schiller <schillj@SEFL.SATELNET.ORG>]

Hi!

I've recently posted to the listserv a question re card playing in the Media
Center.  Your responses were really helpful.

Here's a new challenge question.  Next year, I've been told that student
aides will assist students with the CD-ROM's (good idea), and will also LOAD
all the new CD-ROM's to "save professional time for other things".  Loading
means that the students will have to be given the PASSWORDS (I have a double
layered password on Dell 486's).  I've spent hours undoing student mischief,
i.e. redoing my config.sys, my autoexec.bat files, etc., and what my
principal now proposes seems like a nightmare waiting to happen.  Telling
her what has happened in the past doesn't help.  Her view is that "having
student's take ownership and responsibility in the Media Center" will
prevent those things from happening.  I HAVE let certain key "helpers" know
the passwords in the past, and EACH and EVERY TIME, they let their friends
know the passwords!  I think it's just an ego thing.  There was only one
student I was really able to fully trust, and he told me he was constantly
badgered for the password!

Are there any high school or middle school media specialists who use student
aides in this fashion (concept not all bad), and who allow these aides full
access to passwords?  Any repurcussions?  Any success stories?

Any good advice appreciated!  No, she doesn't interfere THAT MUCH in the
classroom! (But, she's starting to)

Jen Schiller
Media Specialist
Ft. Lauderdale High School
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida