Internet Policy
Morris School Technology Policy
(Under Revision - September 2008)
Mission Statement
The Lenox Public Schools are committed to the educationally productive and ethical use of technology throughout the district. Our goal in providing technology services to teachers and students is to enhance the school curriculum and promote educational excellence by facilitating access to information, resources, and communication on a global scale. However, with this technological opportunity comes responsibility on the part of the sponsoring school district, educators, parents, and students alike.
Policy Guidelines
Morris School supports each family’s right to decide whether or not their child will be permitted access to the Internet while at school. It is our policy that annual written parental permission be obtained in order for a child to access the Internet while at school.
Morris School respects the right of parents/guardians to restrict such access and will provide alternative educational opportunities for students under such restrictions.
Students will receive annual training regarding Internet safety and appropriate Internet conduct.
No student will access the Internet unsupervised. Direct teacher/staff supervision and monitoring is required when a student is accessing the Internet.
The majority of Internet use at Morris School is teacher-directed and consists of preapproved and prescreened bookmarked Internet web sites that pertain to the curriculum at hand.
If an Internet search is needed, students may only search the Internet under direct teacher/staff supervision preferably using child-safe search engines.
Classroom use of the Internet by a teacher (for example a teacher using a projector) on a curriculum topic for group instruction is allowed without written parental permission. An example of this activity would be a teacher using the Internet as a classroom instructional tool for a group presentation. All such web sites are preapproved and prescreened by the teacher for appropriate content and educational value and serve to enhance curriculum content.
Student safety, privacy, and the legal right to intellectual ownership are paramount. It is Morris School’s policy that student names, digitized photographs, video clips, audio clips, student written or art work identified by author, or any other personal identifying information will not be allowed on the Morris Web site unless written parental and student consent have been obtained. However, Morris School does allow anonymous posting of student art work and written work that does not specifically identify the student (for example an anonymous poem or drawing) on our school web site. The posting of such anonymous content enriches the school environment for students, parents and the community at large. Parents/guardians and students always maintain the right to prohibit such anonymous postings. All such prohibitions should be directed to the Principal in writing.
Morris School students are not granted a network account or a school e-mail account. In addition, Morris School students are not allowed to use personal Internet accounts, personal e-mail accounts, or personal instant messaging services while at school.
Internet content filtering software is used throughout Morris School. However, it must be understood that such software is not one hundred percent effective in filtering or blocking all objectionable material. The district cannot be held accountable for objectionable material retrieved via the Internet not blocked by filtering software or retrieved accidentally.
In addition, the school will not be held accountable for unsupervised students accessing the Internet outside of the school setting. Internet access outside the school is the domain of parents or guardians.
If Morris students are involved in an Internet telecommunications project involving ongoing communication with others outside of the school district (for example key pal or travel buddy programs) parents will be informed of the nature, purpose, and duration of the project and all such communication will occur only within the school setting and under direct teacher supervision.
To the greatest extent possible, students will be protected from harassment or unwanted or unsolicited contact. Any students who receive threatening or unwelcome communications should bring them to the attention of a system administrator or teacher.
School administrators always retain the right to review system use and communications to maintain system integrity and to ensure that students are using the network and the Internet safely and responsibly.
Students will be informed regarding Educational Fair Use and Copyright Law and will be expected to abide by all such rules and regulations.
All children will be informed of their responsibility for ethical and proper behavior in the use of all technology resources. Students not adhering to the code of conduct listed in the attached Student Internet Conduct Code document will be informed of the loss of technology privileges.
Tecchnology Student Conduct Code
Rules and Code of Ethics for Morris School Technology Users
As a technology user I agree to follow the rules and code of ethics as listed below:
Responsibilities:
I will only use the Internet at Morris School if my parents/guardians have granted written permission.
I will only use technology equipment and the Internet with the permission and direct supervision of my teacher or other designated staff member.
I will conduct myself safely online following the rules to insure full privacy and confidentiality. I will not release personal identifying information about myself, my school, or others while online.
I will only access educationally sound web sites that have been preapproved and bookmarked for use by my teacher that pertain to the curriculum at hand.
If I need to conduct a web search, I will preferably use preapproved child-safe search engines and only use such engines under the direct supervision of my teacher or other designated staff member.
I understand that use of the Internet is not allowed during indoor recess, or before or after school during non-school sponsored events and activities.
I understand that Morris School does not provide e-mail accounts for students and that I will not use my personal e-mail or other personal messaging accounts while at school. All online communications will occur only with my teacher’s permission and in his or her presence.
I will conduct all my dealings online with respect and consideration for others using appropriate and polite language at all times and will not use technology to disturb, bully or harass other users.
I recognize that software and attributes of authorship are protected by copyright laws; therefore, I will not plagiarize or make unauthorized copies of material found on school computers or on the Internet.
I will not download or install software, applications or other media of any kind without my teacher’s approval.
I recognize that all technology users have the same right to use the equipment; therefore, I will not use computer resources for nonacademic activities and will be fair in allocating time to all users.
I recognize that the work of all users is valuable; therefore, I will respect the privacy of other users’ files or work. I will not copy, change, read, or use other’s files or work without the owner’s prior permission.
I will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to restricted programs/areas within the Morris School network or on the Internet.
I will take care in the use of all technology equipment, operating such equipment in a safe, ethical, fair, and legal manner.
If I witness other students misusing equipment or acting disrespectfully or unsafe online, I will inform my teacher promptly.
The use of technology within Morris School is a privilege not a right. Violators or non-ethical or inappropriate use of technology resources will result in cancellation of technology privileges.
