"Appropriate use or Inappropriate restrictions?" by Diana Fingal

"Appropriate use or Inappropirate restrictions" by Diana Fingal is about the restrictions schools put on computers. Scott McLeod had to sign a waiver for his daughter saying all the websites she could not go on. Some of these websites included things like Google websites. McLeod was appalled that they had such strict restrictions and were limiting his daughter too much. McLeod wrote a blog called "Dangerously Irrelevant" talking about the restrictions at his daughter's school. On his blog many people commented such as librarians, teachers, parents and students. Everyone's view ranged from teachers complaining that they don't have necessary access to studnents saying that websites need to be block so students are not tempted. They argued how things like blogging are obscure things to block. I do think it is important for students to be able to blog but then again in the classroom this may become a temptation and keep students from their other work. Being a future teacher I will take a side more on this issue depending on how my school limits my students. I never thought before reading this blog that people may take different stands on this issue but now I see why people may become enraged by it.

Q1: How will this affect me in the future?

I may get parents who refuse to sign the papers agreeing to the limitations put on our computers. I will need to know and understand their view points but also be able to communicate the viewpoint of the school. I will need to evaluate if there is inappropriate restrictions and if so what kind. If I do believe that the restrictions are inappropriate I have to stand up for them and discuss them with the school board.

Q2: what kind of sites are inappropriate to be on at school?

Any website that doesn't help with my student's learning is inappropriate to be on. There are too many to list but I would consider things like myspace to be inappropriate but I do not think I would want blogging to be restricted because it teaches the students an alternative way for them to post their ideas for others to see.