HIT: Re: Student aides and "Passwords"

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

>Subject: Re: Student aides and "Passwords"
>
>Jen, please post a hit.  I'm sure many of us would be interested in your
>responses.
>Thanks.
>Cathy Hay
>Abbott1029
>
>Sorry!  A "HIT" it was!

I received about 20-25 responses regarding allowing student aides to have
access to passwords in order to load CD-ROMs and other software in the Media
Center.

Those who have networked workstations (ie Novell or other) responded
strongly that they would NOT permit it because of the problems it most
certainly would cause.  The majority of those not networked do make use of
student aides in assisting other students with use of CD-ROM's (no problem
there!), and several did allow 1 or 2 very trusted students to have level
one password access, OR, THEY entered the password, then had the student's
load, etc.  Several stated that they also, as I had done, had given student
aides the passwords only to find that they were "leaked".

The best ideas were:  1)  to give only 1 very trusted student the passwords,
then you KNOW where the leak came from and THEY lose their "privileged"
position. 2) Ask the principal if she would give the password to the
school's Appletalk network (where grades, etc. are stored) to a trusted
student helper so that student's could feel "ownership" ;-) in that area, also.

Other ideas were to change the passwords daily, etc., or politically, go
over the principal's head - district media personnel, etc.

I want to make it clear that I am FOR student aides assisting other students
in the Media Center, particularly with technology, and that I have
frequently had students load software for the Macs.  However, I have
Foolproof for the macs - so once the programs are loaded and Foolproof is on
again, my concern is nil.
The Dells are a different matter, because the hackers LOVE to get into C and
have "fun", or just explore.

I appreciate all who responded, and will forward the responses I received to
our district's Learning Resources department because I think that this is an
issue many Media Specialists may soon have to deal with.

Jen Schiller
Media Specialist
Ft. Lauderdale High School