If the future of learning is ever to come about with the help of school 2.0, we need to embrace the technologies of web 2.0. Apparently, Congress isn’t ready for these innovations and is trying to ban social networking from our schools and libraries. Will school 2.0 only be in private schools?
Last summer, over the objections of civil libertarians, librarians and educators, the House overwhelmingly approved the Deleting Online Predators Act, which would restrict ambiguously defined social-networking sites in schools and libraries that receive federal funding. The proposal ultimately died last year, but on the first day of the 110th Congress, Sen. Ted Stevens, a veteran Alaska Republican, reintroduced identical language in what he portrayed as a renewed effort to protect children online.ZDnet
Social networking as in IMing? That’s just wrong.
/gradster(1)
These are some popular social networking services which might get banned. Instant messaging already is in most schools. (although it shouldn’t be)
I think there is a lot of fear around these social networking sites. I work in a school where there was discussion about blocking these sites last year. Finally there was agreement that the job of teachers is to teach, and in the case of social networking that means teaching the possible ramifications of posting personal/embarrassing/illegal material. Ultimately teaching means giving people enough information to make their own decisions. Just banning something does nothing to further that end.
Funny you should mention instant messaging in schools too. Our IT department blocks IM during study hall hours, (we are a boarding school) that is the policy and we carry it out. Yet I can see it’s usefulness as a communication tool, so I am torn about it.
Thank you for your detailed comment; welcome to my blog.
I feel that the purpose of schools is to educate, not protect. If we simply block all services, students never learn how to make good decisions about their intellectual property and personal information. Then, when tossed out into the harsh world, they are likely to make stupid mistakes and risk stalking or identity theft. Every decision a school makes should imbue a goal of educating students.