Post by Stephen*ahem*
- no computers in bed rooms
- I know your login password, and I reserve the right to use it
- If you use the computer in the study, I reserve the right to burst in
at any time
- trying to create an environment where questions like "why don't those
people have any clothes on?" were asked and dealt with early on,
creating a sane and sensible attitude (as I see it) in the child as
she has grown older.
In a school context, I don't see why you would be allowing email, chat
or Facebook use on school computers. Let parents enforce their own
policies for these things at home.
At any rate, thinking through a fair policy on usage, and thinking
about things like making it easy for teachers to wander along and look
over your shoulder, strikes me as a better and more practical response
than buying what sounds like a pretty flaky solution.
I see that Netsafe's recommendations in this area are entirely about
social and policy solutions, not technical ones. Interesting, eh.
I'd say the fact that there is no obvious free software solution here
is because it doesn't scratch an itch. I certainly would never bother
implementing the concept, because I think it's silly. The absence of a
free solution should be taken as a clue that it's not a problem with an
obvious technical answer.
Stephen
This makes an interesting assumption.
Look at it from the other side. Assume for a second that we're now
talking about, not the privileged I.T. literate people on this list,
but say... the poor folks of south Auckland where a computer may be
more of an abstract thing that can be sold at the pub for a couple of
bob rather than something to use which has parental responsibilities
within it's use:
Should the kids not gain the benefits that technology brings to them
and could potentially get them out of these areas (short generations,
unemployment, lack of context outside of their own community etc.)
because their parents aren't computer literate? Remember - we're
talking about real people in real situations here. It's not the
theoretical "everyone is middle class and has lived around computers
for a great deal of their lives".
Consider the fact that we're now entering an age of 1:1 programs. So
the kids own the computers and will therefore be taking these
computers home. Given that the school has enabled the use of this
technology for homes that would otherwise not have access to said
technology, it would be remiss for the school not to take a hand in
reducing the risk of cyber bullying and the like. Remember, NZ has one
of the highest suicide rates in the developed work. Hell, the project
I'm working on - The Manaiakalani Project - is even providing a
wireless network so that the student's netbooks can be used on the
internet within their homes.
Given the cost of licensing, schools are likely to consider Linux.
However, if Linux does not meet the need outlined previously, the
school effectively has no choice but to look elsewhere. Schools can
only provide a safe environment within it's grounds. For the rest,
they can help, guide, assist where possible but they must take the
community and type of community into consideration.
So yes. I think, within the right contexts, there is a place for this
type of software. This does not distract from the fact that any
programme of this sort HAS to support the parents in learning what
their kids are doing and the potential pitfalls.
Oh - and Stephen - lousy start to your post. Surely there was a much
more eloquent way of saying you disagree. That and taking away email
from students? That's just limited thinking. Very "children should be
seen and not heard"... Email is something that can be handled with.
(https://sites.google.com/site/eportfolioapps/overview/teacher-dashboard)
Regards,
Nevyn
http://nevsramblings.blogspot.com/
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