Principal Responds After Point Road Students Post to Instagram During School
School districts are trying to adapt and stay on top of devices infiltrating the classroom along with snacks and homework.
After learning that students were using their electronic devices to access the district's network and post photos on Instagram during school hours, Point Road School's principal sent out a stern reminder to parents last week about the district's acceptable use policy (AUP).
“The school district’s networks, Internet access, and computers are provided for pupils to conduct research, complete school assignments, and communicate with others. Access to computer networks/computers is given to pupils who agree to act in a considerate, appropriate, and responsible manner," according to district policy.
Students, and parents, were warned by Principal Dr. Pamela Albert that anyone found violating the AUP -- which both parties signed off on at the beginning of the year -- would be subject to consequences ranging from suspension of network privileges to expulsion from school.
In Oceanport, students at Maple Place work with personal devices to connect to the district's network and access programs on the server and documents stored in the cloud. Principal Matthew Howell said in February that these connections would be subject to the district's security filters.
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Point Road School
357 Little Silver Point Rd, Little Silver, NJ -
Maple Place Middle School
2 Maple Pl, Oceanport, NJ
Alice
3:32 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The fact that Mrs. Albert chose to respond to this incident by asking parents to reeview the policy is INSULTING! There are so many reasons why children in grades K-4 shiould NOT be allowed to take Nintendos and Ipods to school it is ridiculous!! What happened to checkers and card games during lunch recess? This is teaching POOR habits to our children. Here - go sit on a tablet. It's easier than providing other activities. Not to mention that these ipods have all differnt types of games and photos saved on them. Whtat if I dont want my child playing someone else's GUN SHOOTING game? There's no one to stop him! It's entirely unsupervised! How can I possibly have no control over this when my child is AT SCHOOL?!?! Is the administration CRAZY? These are little kids! I'm just waiting for a lawsuit of some kind once an inappropriate picture is looked at or posted or shared. Maybe THEN they will realize how dumb this is.
Eileen
9:30 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Problem with schools?? All you need to do is read this post!
Bob
10:08 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Does seem silly that kids this age are allowed electronic devices in the school. I can understand a laptop or Ipad for the 4th graders as they may be necessary for class, but phones and other non-learning devices should stay at home. JMHO
MOM
12:53 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
I think that the administration needs to address this with the parents of the children attending Point Road if they do not put a stop to this quickly. I'm sure there are valid points to both sides of the argument, however, keeping the kids busy and entertained is not a good argument. This really doesn't have anything to do with the schools network, computers, or ipads. The kids are using their own equipment for their enjoyment - not educational purposes. They are taking pictures and showing pictures of others and playing games that some parents would prefer their child didn't see or play. They don't need the network to do this. As long as the app is already on the phone the kids can play away - no wifi needed. Plus we all have to remember that these are prek -4th graders. Is this a NEED or a WANT? The kids just don't NEED this and the school has no way to properly supervise. Bob - I agree that a laptop or ipad in the classroom for learning is a good thing, but i don't think that is the issue that many parents. The kids are using them before school in the multi-purpose room and during recess.
Bob
2:32 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Agreed 'Mom'. My son asks us on occasion if he can bring his IPod Touch on days when they have indoor recess. We just say no.
Eileen
9:29 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Thanks for being a responsible parent!!
Rick Scott
10:35 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
I would agree with all of you who are concerned that part of personality development and socialization requires human interaction. In 2012, the school system bought all 4rd and 5th graders netbooks. I hope they put them away for recess. It is said in science that "every experiment yields precisely the result it is designed to." http://littlesilver.patch.com/articles/little-silver-gives-all-4th-and-5th-graders-netbooks
beachlover
12:31 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
How do they know the kids aren't just using their smart phones to post to instagram. In my son's school they all have iPhones and are constantly posting pictures of themselves and their friends while in school. Usually at lunch or in the bathroom. They are supposed to leave their phones in their lockers, but they never do. I am glad to see a school enforcing their policy!
MOM
2:32 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Exactly the point - the kids are savvy, even at this young age and are sometimes able to "get away with it". The kids are playing apps during recess and in the room before school actually starts. I don't allow my child to bring the ipod touch to school. I don't want my child playing a video game during school. The kids could have pictures on there that inappropriate for my child to see. I hope that the school makes a better decision than just reminding the students and parents of an agreement they signed back in September. I honestly feel that there is no way to effectively monitor and supervise this - except not allowing them in the building!