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HE
SAYS:
No
Many individuals are failing to see how the Internet is changing broadcast communications. Traditionally, communications such as print, radio, and television were distributed across well defined areas. The Internet has suddenly changed all of this. There are no longer any boundaries. Information is no longer available to just a few that limited to a specific area. Schools are funded in part by the federal government which can not, by law, limit the freedom of speech. Just as the courts have determined that students consititutional rights are not shed at the door of a school, they are also not shed on the school web server either. There should be no difference between what
a student does on the school server or any other server. I
understand that if a web site is illegal, then it's illegal. I have
no problem with that. However, just because you don't agree with
someone else's viewpoint doesn't make it illegal or unworthy of publishing.
What implications does this present for allowing students to publish web pages? Schools need to tackle the real issue -
that students need to be taught about slander, libel, copyright, etc.
Just limiting students to where they can speak doesn't solve the problem.
Additional Resources
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SHE SAYS:
![]() YES
Just as any business has the right to assure that the equipment and resources are used for the good of the company, schools have the same right. Schools can limit a web servers use to only those activities that are directly related to its ultimate mission - education. Student material needs to be controlled
on the school server, but if students have something else to say they are
certainly welcome to get their own personal account on another service
provider.
What implications does this present for allowing students to publish web pages? Again, schools should be reassured that
they have the right to control the content on their web servers.
Additional Resources A
Legal and Educational Analysis of K-12 Internet Acceptable Use Policies
Court
rules suspension over web page violates student's free speech
Court:
Student web site can trash teacher Downey,
Gregg
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