sarahsthreads
10-08-2009, 10:47 PM
So the school sent home a document entitled "XYZ School District Internet and Electronic Mail Acceptable Use Policy". We are supposed to review it with our child and have her sign that she has read and understands it, and we need to sign that we have reviewed it with her and we give permission for her to use the internet and email through the school.
This happens twice in their schooling: before the first time they use the internet, and in 7th grade. However, the document is *exactly* the same - so the language is way over and beyond what even my advanced reader could reasonably understand, and IMO way too mature in content. In the list of things that are prohibited:
"Use of the Internet or e-mail to access sexually oriented/adult oriented chat rooms..."
"Forwarding, downloading or transmitting any profane, obscene, offensive, abusive, sexually oriented, racially offensive, threatening or defamatory language materials."
...and it goes on in this fashion for several other points.
I get what they're trying to do. I really do. And I understand that they need parental permission to allow the young kids on the internet in the first place. But I can't in good conscience have my child sign that she has read and understood the rules and terms of use, because I am not about to sit down with her and explain what a sexually oriented chat room is at the tender age of FOUR.
I really feel like this is over the top for kindergarten students, and while I understand that a teacher is not going to be able to fully supervise 20 students on the internet at the same time, if they have a content filter (which they state they do in this document) shouldn't it be enough that the kids have parental permission?
Would you sign it yourself and write that your child has your permission to access the internet and that she understands that she is only to visit sites specifically allowed by her teacher? It's likely that this would cause a Problem, because the form will not have been signed by the student, and she will likely not be allowed to use the computers with the rest of her class.
Would you just distill it down to: "DD1, you should never use the internet or email for anything that would hurt anyone's feelings, OK? Plus there are bad people on the internet, don't trust anyone or give out your name." and have her sign it and feel like that was good enough? (Not that I really want to have the "bad people" discussion either...)
Maybe I'm just over-thinking this? What do you all think?
Sarah
This happens twice in their schooling: before the first time they use the internet, and in 7th grade. However, the document is *exactly* the same - so the language is way over and beyond what even my advanced reader could reasonably understand, and IMO way too mature in content. In the list of things that are prohibited:
"Use of the Internet or e-mail to access sexually oriented/adult oriented chat rooms..."
"Forwarding, downloading or transmitting any profane, obscene, offensive, abusive, sexually oriented, racially offensive, threatening or defamatory language materials."
...and it goes on in this fashion for several other points.
I get what they're trying to do. I really do. And I understand that they need parental permission to allow the young kids on the internet in the first place. But I can't in good conscience have my child sign that she has read and understood the rules and terms of use, because I am not about to sit down with her and explain what a sexually oriented chat room is at the tender age of FOUR.
I really feel like this is over the top for kindergarten students, and while I understand that a teacher is not going to be able to fully supervise 20 students on the internet at the same time, if they have a content filter (which they state they do in this document) shouldn't it be enough that the kids have parental permission?
Would you sign it yourself and write that your child has your permission to access the internet and that she understands that she is only to visit sites specifically allowed by her teacher? It's likely that this would cause a Problem, because the form will not have been signed by the student, and she will likely not be allowed to use the computers with the rest of her class.
Would you just distill it down to: "DD1, you should never use the internet or email for anything that would hurt anyone's feelings, OK? Plus there are bad people on the internet, don't trust anyone or give out your name." and have her sign it and feel like that was good enough? (Not that I really want to have the "bad people" discussion either...)
Maybe I'm just over-thinking this? What do you all think?
Sarah