How far can a school go in restricting student use of blogs on the internet? What can we as educators do to help our students use this technology appropriately?
Blogs are increasingly used as a method for students to communicate their thoughts publicly on the web, much like an online diary. “Of the 21 million teens online, 19% keep a blog (about 4 million), and 38% read blogs. “ Numerous cases are documented where students have been arrested because of threats posted publicly to a blog. The article, “Student Blogs Mark a New Frontier for School Discipline” looks at the benchmark cases that are currently used in suits involving blogging and First Amendment rights.
The article also cites two recent instances where schools have attempted to inhibit student blog use. The first is a private school who declared that any student maintaining a journal posted on the Internet would be risking disciplinary action. In the second instance, the Community High School Board of Education, in Libertyville, Illinois has set a policy that students involved in co-curricular activities “must sign a pledge agreeing that any illegal or inappropriate Internet postings could result in school disciplinary action.“ These cases have not yet reached the courts. Both of these incidents involve preventative actions taken by the school in an effort to avoid situations that could create conflict or even dangerous situations in the school. To date, blog postings not created with school equipment or on school time have been protected as free speech, unless the postings have created a specific situation that significantly disrupts the educational process.
I found the article both interesting and informative, and agree with the authors that it is essential that our schools create clear policies that spell out the appropriate use of school technology and the Internet, and clarify the disciplinary actions that will be taken when the policies have been violated. Additionally, this information must be communicated to both parents and students alike.
WORKS CITED:
Kirby, Elizabeth and Brenda Kaillio. “Student Blogs Mark a New Frontier for
School Discipline.” Education Digest, Jan 2007: Vol. 72 Issue 5, 16-23.
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1 comment:
Hello, I just want to begin by introducing myself. My name is Matthew and I was viewing your blog site for a Educational Technology class that I am participating in.
I would like to add to this article because this is an issue that we have touched on in class:
I believe that a lot of these restrictions will finally need to come down to educating the students , faculty, and parents alike. Blogs are increasing in popularity, especially with young students and students are beginning to trust more and more of their personal information (i.e. emotions, phone numbers, pictures, etc.). I agree with the article that you referenced to saying that there needs to be a policy for blogging for young people. But I feel that there will also need to be a heavy emphasis on teaching students what and what not to put into their blogs and educating the faculty and parents on weblogs and how they can work with their children/students blog smarter and safer.
I agree, there needs to be disciplinary action for students who miss-use weblogs. But I guess the question I would have to ask you would be: Where would you personally draw the line? How far would students have to go to break the rules of a policy? How do you think that these policies will affect bloging for students?
I can't wait to see what you feel will happen with these policies. I'll keep watching your weblog, I find the subject of Technology in Education very interesting.
Matthew205
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