Chapter 9 Reflection

            Chapter nine titled, “Policies, Procedures, and Contracts,” examined Acceptable Use Policies (AUP) in schools and in school districts.  The chapter discussed how school policies, permission slips, and school handbooks are all contracts that serve as a foundation for expectations, rights/responsibilities, detail of procedures and policies.  Contracts can be customized to address particular situations and groups.  District wide contracts can be tailored to suit the needs of individual schools.  Together with legal counsel, school leaders can draft contracts not only for students, but for parents as well.

            Although the intent to commit wrongdoing was not there, violating a schools computer Internet AUP can happen. That’s why it is important that school leaders keep up with the changing technology and forecast future risks for their schools.  Schools must be clear to both students and parents on how and what the schools Internet is used for, otherwise a lapse in communication can cause legal ramifications for the school and a scramble to update their AUP.
            The chapter gave a five step plan for drafting a school policy which includes: 1. Collect data, 2. Solicit input, 3. Draft the new/revised policy, 4. Circulate the draft of the new/revised policy, 5. Approve and disseminate the new/revised policy.  The chapter also discussed schools establishing a chain of command for reporting incidents and age-appropriate tests for students to pass in order to receive a license to participate in less structured Internet activities. 
            My reflections of chapter nine are: I do agree with the fact that schools need AUPs to protect and govern themselves. But my concern lies with the parents.  The chapter did discuss parental roles, but how many parents are truly involved with their child’s Internet usage?  Schools can have firewalls to protect the students from inappropriate sites, but at some home environments  it is clearly different.  Students are locked away in their rooms at home surfing the Internet and breaking through mom and dad’s parental controls - not to mention school firewalls.  Inappropriate material looked up at home is easily sent or printed out and brought to school and problems arise.  Do you think a change with a school’s AUP happened because of this issue? Please let me know your thoughts.