LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Thanks to everyone who responded to this request. The concensus of
those responding are seriously looking at adopting a default appproach
to the student use of the internet; however, some are considering this
with caution. Responses are listed below:
Be sure to read what Walter Minkel said about them in last month's
(March)
SLJ.
In my daughter's high school they included a copy of the AUP with her
registration papers. There was a line on the "official" registration
form -- sign if you DON'T want your child to have internet access.
There are 2200 students in the school, only 4 don't have permission --
easy to keep track of for teachers, librarians, and lab aides.
Don't know if I'll have to re-sign (or not sign) in subsequent years.
Obviously, there are no ID cards to display at the computer terminals.
In my school we still "fight" with students to get them to display their
IDs. We have a large collection of lost IDs (students pay $2.00 to
replace a card); students in the library "with a teacher and class"
don't have to display their ID, others do (that's hard to minotor!!);
students "borrow" cards from others (not even bothering to get the right
race or gender); students hassle us over hassling them; students attempt
to forge parent's signatures; students try to get their
administrator/dean to write an OK on a pass to the lab (how to I really
know how really wrote that "OK")...the list goes on!
I've suggested my school adopt my daughter's policy...
I think you read my mind. I wanted to know similar information. We
have a
filter on our system and I am inclined to go the route of permission is
assumed unless otherwise denied.
The policy you describe is what I have been advocating for years.
The guidelines for Internet use should be in the student handbook.
All students would be able to use the Internet unless they are
restricted. One of the last issues of School Library Journal
has an article about this type of policy. I'd say by doing it
the way you suggest you are headed in the right direction.
In the past we have gone on the assumption that
unless we have a "no" from parents, the students have permission to use
the
Internet and the school has permission to use pictures and names of
students
for public relations purposes. This is a dangerous assumption, as we
have
found out the hard way. Our new policy is to require that every student
return an AUP and permission form signed by both student and parent.
The
permission form has several sections: permission to use pictures and/or
names for purposes other than web sites, permission to post pictures
and/or
names on the school web sites, and permission to use the Internet for
educational purposes. Parents may say "yes" or "no" to any or all. In
my
middle school (I'm not sure how it is done in the other buildings), a
loose-leaf binder is kept in the office with names of all students and
check
boxes for the various kinds of permission. Periodically, a list of
those
who have <not> turned in forms or been given permission is printed and
sent
to staff members who have the need to know. Students who do not return
forms are continually bugged to get them in, even if their parents will
not
give permission. We're down to about 5 students out of 400. If a
special
need for permission arises, we will contact the parent by phone and ask
them
to consider giving permission for a particular use. Most of them do.
Our server is smart enough to know which students have internet
permission
and which do not. We have very little trouble with students using each
other's accounts, since that results in ISS for both parties.
If I didn't have that system, then I would insist on a system like what
you
already use. Every teacher would have to know (on sight) every student
who
did not have Internet permission if you went with your proposed system,
and
that would work only for very small schools. I assume that you operate
on a
"no card, no internet" basis, so that a student can't just say he forgot
his card.
Maybe I'm just an old fuddy-duddy, but the reason we can operate with
all
students watching videos unless the parent specifically requests that
their
child not watch a particular one is because the videos have been
selected
(and presumably previewed) by competent people. Who selects and previews
the internet?
Another argument for requiring parents to specifically give permission
for
their children to use the internet is that the parents are still in
charge
of their children. There are many good resources available only via the
internet, but there is also much that is junk (or worse). Let the
parents
decide whether the good outweighs the bad, or the bad outweighs the
good.
My own children use the internet, but only at home while a parent is
handy.
The computer is where everyone can see it, and we have a large monitor.
They do not have permission to use the internet at the public library
(which surprised the "librarians" there) because there is no supervision
or
filtering. For that matter, there really isn't any knowledge, either,
since
the "librarians" are really just clerks, and not one of them knows
anything
about the internet.
By the way, you might want to check out Clifford Stoll's books. He is
not a
fan of computers in the classrooms. He spoke at our MASL Spring
Conference
Tuesday, and I really liked what he had to say.
We used to require a card, and now the AUP is part of the registration
packet. It
is up to the office staff to make sure that all students have a signed
form and
/or if the parent doesn't want a student to use a computer. Easy for us
in the
library, but a headache for them
We are hoping to go into the direction of only identifying those who
have
not signed also. We are including our AUP as part of the student
handbook
that is given to all students and which students and parents are to sign
as
having read. Part of that AUP will be something that tells the parents
we
need a signed note from them if they do not want their student to have
access to the Internet.
We are going the latter way next year. Each student will receive the
handbook. In it will be a form to be returned if they refuse access to
their
children. The number of refusals are so small now that it is not worth
the
paperwork hassle for file the approvals. We hope that this will also
encourage parents to read the entire handbook.
Pat Jones, Library Information Specialist
Page High School
Franklin, TN 37064
pajones@telalink.net
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