Use of Facebook questioned
By TERRI PEDERSON
Staff Reporter
The Beaver Dam Unified School District board of education heard concerns about student use of technology during the district’s board meeting on Monday.
“My concern is with the use of Facebook in school, on school property and with school computers,” board member Marge Jorgensen said.
The use of social networking cites for cyber bullying and theft of personal identification topped Jorgensen’s concerns.
“Social networking sites are not the sites to have in school,” Jorgensen said.
According to Jorgenson, one local school has blocked access to Facebook after a concern on campus.
“My concern is not only what might happen but with the liability for the school district,” Jorgensen said.
Board member JoAnne Tyjeski said not all students are accessing Facebook with district computers during school hours.
“Any student with a cell phone better than mine can access it using their phones,” Tyjeski said.
Also, other sites will be created that will be more popular than Facebook so blocking the one site may not be the best alternative.
“We need to teach consequences of misuse of these sites,” Tyjeski said.
Board member Jean Hill said the bigger concern is using the sites during the school day and that the students are limiting the time they are learning in the classrooms.
Superintendent Donald Childs said that district policy shouldn’t be used to block Facebook and that helping students to learn how to use the site responsibly may have more advantages than disadvantages.
“The acceptable use of the site should be in the student handbook,” Childs said.
Although he agreed that the use of such sites should not interfere with classroom time.
Students and staff sign off on acceptable use sheets for the computers and can be banned from using school equipment if they inappropriately use technology.
In addition, Childs said the district network administrator can monitor and update school administration if someone is viewing inappropriate sites or using the sites in an inappropriate way.
“We’re mandated by statures and DPI requirements to promote anti-cyber bullying and teach students acceptable use of those sites,” Childs said.
For example, he said students have to learn that there are inappropriate information that could interfere with their ability to get jobs in the future if it is posted on Facebook.
The board will continue discussing the issue and possible changes to the student handbook during their board meeting in December.
Tpederson@madison.com