Rights, Risks and Responsibilities: Students and the Internet
Jennifer E. Burke · 2000
Student access to the Internet has increased dramatically in the last few years. In 1994, 54 percent of public schools reported that students had some access to the Internet. Today, about 86 percent of schools in the Southeast report that students have Internet access; of those schools, 42 percent report that students can access the Internet in their classrooms. With this increased access comes the possibility of children’s exposure to sexually explicit or violent materials on the Internet. Recent news reports have increased awareness about this problem and have prompted demands from parents, teachers and legislators for ways that schools can prevent children from seeing inappropriate or adult materials online. However, protecting students is only one part of the equation. Students, especially those in middle school and high school, are savvy users of the media. Many are experienced in using the Internet but cannot judge which materials are most useful. Schools also need to manage students’ access to the Internet to ensure that Internet use supports school and classroom learning goals. Although the Internet can be a powerful learning tool, the materials available can be inaccurate or even dangerous. Students may find themselves the targets of predatory adults, and some may threaten their classmates or others with devices or ideas they find on the Internet. Many schools use several methods to ensure that students’ use of the Internet is safe and rewarding. These methods include: � using appropriate-use policies to manage Internet access; � supervising students’ access to and use of the Internet; and � using technology tools to supervise Internet access.