Information for schools on Internet access issues
A number of points have been raised regarding the security of Internet use. Many schools have expressed concerns with the problems and issues that have been highlighted by the media. Whilst some of the media interest is hype, there is real cause for concern and it is important that schools consider the issues carefully when allowing pupils access, supervised or unsupervised, to the Internet.
In the opinion of the LA, there is no present or likely future technical solution which
can completely guarantee the protection of pupils from unsuitable Internet content. Much
of the development work has concentrated on removing access to pornography, although
achieving 100% success is unlikely. Bedfordshire Schools access the Internet
either through
a filtering service provided by the E2BN protex system or through the Redstone
service filters for those few schools still waiting to be connected to
broadband. Although thes systems are very
effective and include limiting access to sites providing pornographic, violent and other
unsuitable content, some sites will slip through from time to time. It is therefore
appropriate to treat this as an issue for education and parental involvement. The
development of detailed school policy and practice, together with parent/school contracts
in an "Acceptable Use Policy" is an informed and advised action.
Draft letters for parents, school policies and procedure documents are shown below for your school to consider and amend or adopt as necessary.
Bedfordshire LA acknowledges the initial work from Bellingham Public Schools in the US, which formed the initial ideas and ACITT for making them available to use as necessary for schools in the UK. If after careful consideration and debate your school feels that the enclosed examples are not suitable or would be better suited to your own school by rewriting or amending, we would be grateful if a copy of the finished documents could be the ICT team at Russell House to enable the authority to pass on examples of good practice.
As part of the school's IT programme we offer pupils supervised access to the internet, the global network of computers you will have read about and seen on television. Before being allowed to use the internet, all pupils must obtain parental permission and both they and you must sign and return the enclosed form as evidence of your approval and their acceptance of the school rules on this matter.
Access to the internet will enable pupils to explore thousands of libraries, databases,
and bulletin boards while exchanging messages with other internet users throughout the
world. Families should be warned that some material accessible via the internet may
contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate or potentially offensive to some
people.
Whilst our aim for internet use is to further educational goals and objectives, pupils may
find ways to access other materials as well. We believe that the benefits to pupils from
access to the internet, in the form of information resources and opportunities for
collaboration, exceed any disadvantages. But ultimately, parents and guardians of minors
are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow
when using media and information sources. To that end, the school supports and respects
each family's right to decide whether or not to apply for access.
During school, teachers will guide pupils will toward appropriate materials. Outside of
school, families bear the same responsibility for such guidance as they exercise with
information sources such as television, telephones, movies, radio and other potentially
offensive media.
We would be grateful if you could read the enclosed guidance documents and then complete
the permission form which follows.
Yours sincerely
Headteacher
Internet Access - Parent Permission Form
Please complete and return this form to the headteacher.
Pupil
As a school user of the Internet, I agree to comply with the school rules on its use. I
will use the network in a responsible way and observe all the restrictions explained to me
by the school.
Pupil's Signature ____________________Date: ___/___/___
Parent
As the parent or legal guardian of the pupil signing above, I grant permission for my son
or daughter to use electronic mail and the Internet. I understand that pupils will be held
accountable for their own actions. I also understand that some materials on the Internet
may be objectionable and I accept responsibility for setting standards for my daughter or
son to follow when selecting, sharing and exploring information and media.
A parent's guide to the internet
What is the Internet?
The internet is a large number of computers all over the world linked together with
cables. In most cases, each of these computers is also linked locally to a number of other
computers, in a local network. It is possible for someone using one of these computers to
access information on any of the other computers. This system was established by those
working in Universities and Government organisations for the fast and efficient transfer
of largely text-based information around the world directly from one computer to another.
It is possible for other people, outside these local networks, to connect to the Internet
by using standard telephone lines between their computers and those already connected to
the Internet. A number of companies specialise in providing this service for a fee, in
addition there are several companies now providing this service for free (excluding
telephone charges).
What is the World Wide Web?
To make the appearance of information available through the internet more attractive, and
to assist people in finding information more easily, it is now possible for special pages
of information to contain text, colours, and pictures, sound and even video. These pages,
collectively, make up what is known as the World Wide Web. Most of these pages include
information on the location of other pages on the World Wide Web, and it is possible to
follow up links between pages with similar or related content. Moving from one page to
another, regardless of where in the world they might be located, is called browsing, or
surfing the net or web. Many of these Web pages contain information which may be useful in
the classroom, and it is presented in a way which is often easy to use.
What is Electronic Mail (E-mail)?
This is merely a way of sending messages from one person to another via the internet. Each
internet user has a unique e-mail address (such as anybody@bedfordshire.gov.uk) and by
sending a message to this address, the recipient can read the message the next time he or
she connects to the internet. Internet e-mail addresses are usually provided along with a
schools' connection to the internet and individual pupils will be able to have their own
email address. It will be an anonymous address along the lines of
'xx123@school.bedfordshire.gov.uk' the e-mail program used has been developed by the ICT
team and works 'inside' the Internet browser window.
What are the dangers of the Internet referred to in the media?
It is true that there is some material on the internet which would be offensive to most
people, such as pornography, racist and fascist material, and this can be accessed by
children if using the internet unsupervised. The main educational providers try to
'filter' known offensive locations of material of this kind, however the locations
can change. The only way to block access to this kind of material is to have a
restricted range of pages available, in which case many of the advantages of the global
and dynamic nature of the Internet may be lost.
It is a feature of the Internet that the information available is free. Increasing
restrictions will undoubtedly lead to systems of charging for access to specific material,
in addition to the other costs described. An alternative system is to educate pupils and
encourage an acceptable use policy and partnership between home and school in dealing with
the less savoury side of internet use. All Bedfordshire Schools' go through a filter run
by our Internet Service Provider (NTLI/Cabletel) who maintain the blocking of undesirable
sites.
How can I get more information?
There are many magazines in newsagents that cater for beginners-advanced use of the
internet. If you have any specific questions please contact the school and ask for the ICT
co-ordinator.
Suggested Sample School Internet Policy
Pupil access to the internet
Adopted: (date)
The school encourages use by pupils of the rich information resources available on the
internet, together with the development of appropriate skills to analyse and evaluate such
resources. These skills will be fundamental in the society our pupils will be entering.
On-line services significantly alter the information landscape for schools by opening
classrooms to a broader array of resources. In the past, teaching and library materials
could usually be carefully chosen. All such materials would be chosen to be consistent
with national policies, supporting and enriching the curriculum while taking into account
the varied teaching needs, learning styles, abilities and developmental levels of the
pupils. Internet access, because it may lead to any publicly available site in the world,
will open classrooms to electronic information resources which have not been selected by
teachers as appropriate for use by pupils.
Electronic information research skills are now fundamental to preparation of citizens and
future employees during the coming Information age. The school expects that staff will
begin to investigate possibilities and blend use of such information as appropriate within
the curriculum and that staff will provide guidance and instruction to pupils in the
appropriate use of such resources. Staff will consult the IT co-ordinator for advice on
content, training and appropriate teaching levels consistent with the school's IT
programme of study.
Access to on-line resources will enable pupils to explore thousands of libraries,
databases, and bulletin boards while exchanging messages with people throughout the world.
The school believes that the benefits to pupils from access to information resources and
increased opportunities for collaboration, exceed the disadvantages. But ultimately,
parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards
that their children should follow when using media and information sources. To that end,
the school supports and respects each family's right to decide whether or not to apply for
independent access.
However, by 2008, all students will have a access to a personal learning
platform and areas of the curriculum will increasingly be offering access to
learning resources via these online learning platforms both from within school
and outside of the normal school environment and day.
School Procedures
Resource Development
In order to match electronic resources as closely as possible to the national and school
curriculum, teachers need to review and evaluate resources in order to offer "home
pages" and menus of materials that are appropriate to the age range and ability of
the group being taught. The ICT co-ordinator will provide appropriate guidance to pupils
as they make use of telecommunications and electronic information resources to conduct
research and other studies. All pupils will be informed by staff of their rights and
responsibilities as users, before their first use, either as an individual user or as a
member of a class or group.
As much as possible, information has been organised (via the Bedfordshire Schools' Web
Site 'Home Page')in ways which point pupils to those which have been reviewed and
evaluated prior to use. While pupils may be able to move beyond those resources to others
which have not been evaluated by staff, they shall be provided with guidelines and lists
of resources particularly suited to the learning objectives.
Pupils may pursue electronic research independent of staff supervision only if they
have been granted parental permission and have submitted all required forms. Permission is
not transferable and may not be shared.
School Rules
The school has developed a set of guidelines for Internet use by pupils. These rules will
be made available to all pupils, and kept under constant review.
All members of staff are responsible for explaining the rules and their implications.
All members of staff need to be aware of possible misuses of on-line access and their
responsibilities towards pupils.
Pupil guidelines for internet use
General
Pupils are responsible for good behaviour on the internet just as they are in a classroom
or in the school corridor. General school rules apply.
The Internet is provided for pupils to conduct research and communicate with others.
Parents' permission is required. Remember that access is a privilege, not a right and that
access requires responsibility.
Individual users of the internet are responsible for their behaviour and communications
over the network. It is presumed that users will comply with school standards and will
honour the agreements they have signed.
Computer storage areas and floppy disks and memory sticks will be treated like school lockers. Staff may
review files and communications to insure that users are using the system responsibly.
Users should not expect that files stored will be always be private.
During school, teachers will guide pupils toward appropriate materials. Outside of
school, families bear responsibility for such guidance as they must also exercise with
information sources such as television, telephones, movies, radio and other potentially
offensive media.
The following are not permitted:
1. Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures
2. Using obscene language
3. Harassing, insulting or attacking others
4. Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks
5. Violating copyright laws
6. Using others' passwords
7. Trespassing in others' folders, work or files
8. Intentionally wasting limited resources
Example Sanctions
1. Violations of the above rules will result in a temporary or permanent ban on internet
use.
2. Additional disciplinary action may be added in line with existing practice on
inappropriate language or behaviour.
3. When applicable, police or other authorities may be involved
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