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I think every school should put a internet policy in place. It's so crazy how anyone can tap into our kids just by clickink a mouse. I, for one, will not allow my kids to have that much access to the internet. Of course by the time they're old enough...it'll be a whole new technology to monitor.

Happy Saturday evening, Jacer ! How are you ?

I think it is a good idea. 'My Space' is trouble...
I wish this was a universal poilcy at all schools from grade school through high school.
By college, it is okay, but before that... I'd rather my kids were protected... Better safe than sorry...

Thank you for the nice comment you left on my blog today ! I'm glad that you came by to visit !

I think this is outrageous!!! There is nothng wrong with MySpace as a whole. I have a MySpace page. I use it to connect with my friends. I blogged about this on my MySpace blog. This is what I said there:
Subject: Can I parent my own child please?

"So I was watching the news (it happens) and saw where this Catholic school is making their students sign pledges to not create and or delete their MySpace pages. I'm sorry, but can the PARENTS please be allowed to decide if their kids can have a MySpace page??????

I don't have a problem with them saying that MySpace is banned from the school's computer or anything like that. But COME ON!!! Just because the parents pay for their kids to attend a school, does not mean that school can dictate what the kids do in their home life (unless it's an illegal activity such as drugs & alchohol). They can have them sign a pledge, but do NOT make it mandatory. This school is saying that any child who does not sign will be suspended. WHAT??????????

It is no one's responsibility to act as a child's parent except the PARENTS (including step parents)!!!! It is not the grandparents responsibility (someone please tell Joanne, my MIL, this!!!), it is not the neighbor's responsibility, it is not the school's responsibility, it is not the GOVERNMENT'S responsibility. It is the PARENTS' responsibility!!!"

Sorry so long, but that is my views on this particular subject...

Oh yeah, when I say "including stepparents" I mean that as the step can act as a parent...not including them in the list of those who can't....

I say-- good on St. Hugo! Kids K-8 have no business being on myspace anyway... U14 are not allowed. It's great that they actively acknowledge the presence of kids and hammer another nail in that closed door.

Now, I'd like to see places like St. Hugo (who publicly scorn & banish such sites) implament myspace-informational programs. Tell kids WHY, give them the facts. Give reasons why it's not a good place to be-- examples, scare 'em a bit! I remember in Junior High when we had to sit through a drinking & drugs presentation in the gym. It scared the crap out of me.

There will always be the kids who don't listen, who don't pay attention, who consistently put themselves in stupid situations... but if we can AT LEAST try to give the facts in an open environment, maybe we'll catch a few before its too late.

What are some other techniques that you (any of you) believe could be useful in the social networking arena (ex. myspace) that could help prevent & protect?

I went to a school where I think my parents had to sign a similar agreement (they did not have the internet then).
That said, I disagree with the idea a school should dictate to the parents what a child is allowed to do away from the school. This would be really dangerous in the public schools.
I have rewritten this comment several times as I think about the subject. A real thought provoking post.

That is not fair. The school can't make decisions like that! There isn't anything wrong with Myspace. It is the user's fault for giving away too much info on Myspace that causes problems. Myspace is essential to me for keeping in touch with old friends that I otherwise would not be able to. Schools like that really annoy me because it's none of their business. Sure, block it in school, but they can't make the decisions for the home.

Hi Tay. Thank you for stopping by. I need to follow up on this story, as I'm quite curious how that has all unfolded--banning it from home.

And from what I've personally witnessed, and of course read time after time after time, your generation is the connected generation-the social networking, always "on" generation.

I will disagree with you, on one point. Although it may not be "fair" or "legal" to ban social networking sites from home, as it is "none of their business", when it comes to cyber bullying, no matter where it is done, home, a friends, the library, that should NOT be condoned or allowed and there should be serious consequences for the bully, no matter what his or her location!!

Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

i really dont think that it is the school's place to decide what it's students do on the computer at home. It is the parents responsibility to decide whether or not a child can have a myspace account.

HI Terms Of Service.

As a mother of two teenagers, and someone who works with hundreds of children every week in a computer lab. Sometimes the schools do need to intervene, especially when it comes to electronic bullying.

Most children do not cyberbully on campus, but do it from home. Most parents are unaware that this is occuring, either that their children are being targeted or are the actual cyberbully. Cyberbullying and other online behaviors can greatly affect the learning experience of the target and can actually cause a "substantial disruption" in what is supposed to be, a safe learning environment.

I have written an anti-cyberbullying policy that states just that. In certain cases, it does not matter if an incident occurs on school grounds or at home, the end result is the same. There needs to be consequences for such actions, no matter where it happens or occurs.

Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!

This is wrong.

I don't like Myspace, true ... but this is disgusting. What right do schools have to dictate what students do in their own home ? It's the parent's job to parent, not the schools.

The second we pass that responsibility onto the schools, is the second we loose a little more of our hard-earned freedom.

Ok It is not Myspace's fault. If people are stupid enough to talk to people they don't know or whatever, that is their fault. Don't blame Myspace for your children's behavior. And i personally think that not allowing a child to go to school, due to having a Myspace account is RUBBISH! ...but thats is just my opinion.