For those of us who are school librarians, we know that we have the responsibility to insure student Internet safety CIPA for those working on computers within the library. This can be a huge task as we are usually managing ten other jobs at the same time, i.e. checking students out, recommending books, doing the endless paperwork required in the library, etc. I have a screen monitoring program, at my circulation desk. Although I can monitor the students screens using this program, I must constantly minimize the screen so that I can do my many other tasts requiring my computer. Our district is not flexible about the number of computers within the building per student. Therefore, I am not allowed a computer dedicated to screen monitoring alone. Sigh, I must deal with what I have.
Our school has a policy that, if the students are caught on game sites or other inappropriate sites, the student must suffer the consequences. Depending on the severity, the student offense is punishable by one week off the Internet for the first offense, two weeks off the Internet for the second offense, and the rest of the school year for the second offense. We have found that students have found back ways into the Internet through our online reference services within the library. We now have to ban them from the online services as well. I often feel more like a jailer than a librarian at the middle school.
At my previous school, I felt like we enabled the students to use the computer. At my new school, I feel like the IT department is “Big Brother.” They even monitor the staff’s use of the Internet. At times, they will go onto the staff member’s computer and even take it over. It’s repressing for the students and for the staff. I am of the opinion that with Web 2.0, we should be creating competent users of the computer and not students who find back ways around the system. I’ve actually learned many new ways to use the Internet from the students. If you make the Internet a “no-no”, they will take the challenge to countermand you at this age. Why not make the Internet the learning experience that it should be? If we as teachers and librarians don’t do so, then we are missing out on a great opportunity to expand a teachable moment.
