Are student web pages a right or a privilege?

Are student web pages a right or a privilege?
HE SAYS Right This is another classic example of how adults say one thing and then do another. Over the last few years, schools have been in a mad dash to add the latest technology into their classrooms. Why? Because they believe that it will have a positive impact on student achievement. They believe that students will need to be technologically literate in order to compete in the 21st century. However, they still believe that student network access is entirely a privilege. Perhaps they feel the need for total control? If something goes wrong, do they feel like they have to have the power to yank access and accounts away from students? If technology is really as important as we say it is, then network access needs to be regarded as a right. Not a right that can't be taken away, but instead a right that comes with specific responsibilities. The only real different that a right gives students is due process. With due process, students access to the Internet can not be revoked before their side of the story is told. What implications does this present for allowing students to publish web pages? Students have a right to an education, and if technology is really as important as most schools claim it is, then student access to the network is essential for students to complete their work. Additional Resources Speak freely, act responsibly Author unknown. Details the major points of the responsible freedom campaign. Should my university allow students to post to Netnews or have Web pages? A question from the Computers and Academic Freedom Project A short question and answer essay dealing with universities and their student web page policies. Provides insight into how network access can play an important role in meeting a university's mission. If a state university calls computer or network access a "privilege" can they remove an individual's access arbitrarily? A question from the Computers and Academic Freedom Project A short question and answer dealing with privileges vs. rights for network use with college students. It doesn't conclusively decide between right or privilege, but does draw relationships between the 14th Amendment and the issue of rights vs privilege.	HOME	SHE SAYS: Privilege Just as private businesses have the right to control how their employees use a computer network, schools reserve the same right. This enables the school to guarantee that the network is being used productively. The Internet is not provided in schools for general access. Schools have a very specific purpose - to educate children. Everything in school must be there to enhance the delivery of education. If this isn't the case, then we must question whether it needs to exist. When students enter the work force of the 21st century they will likely be in a work environment where the network will be there for limited purposes. We need to prepare them for this type of work environment. Again, if students want greater freedom, they can get their own personal accounts somewhere else. What implications does this present for allowing students to publish web pages? Classifying it as a privilege means that schools have ultimate control over student accounts. Schools must have this is order to guarantee that students are producing web pages that are productive and in line with the schools mission. Additional Resources Student Web Pages: Freedom of Speech or Liability Problem by Dominique Roelants This paper examines possible ethical and legal problems associated with student web pages, and the current practice at a number of institutions. The paper will also discuss some possible solutions to the student web page problem. Government as K-12 Educator by Larry Lessig, David Pose, Eugene Volokh. A lesson presented by the Cyberspace Law Institute and Counsel Connect. Discusses why K-12 educators have the legal right to control student speech whether it is on-line or not.