Like I said in one of my previous blogs, my wife and I are expecting our first child later this year. After watching the PBS Frontline episode, I find myself fearing the technology that has made so many things good. I guess I can say, I’m from the “old school”. I grew up having to use the library, the telephone, and having to meet people face to face. My friends were mainly from school or activities I attended. I grew up in the city and Irondequoit. I rarely knew anyone from other towns, no less other cities, states, or countries. Today’s children who have grown up “on-line” a) have that going for them; and b) working against them.
I found this program to be very eye opening and very educational. Today’s adults and educators, which now include me, have to up to date with all which is going on. I feel like I have a lot to learn in this realm.
I know at the school I work at, there are many websites that are blocked, such as My-space, Yahoo, You-Tube, along with others. When some of these sites were first blocked last year, students along with some staff were upset. Some of my students said it was B*llsh*t. The faculty didn’t want them to enjoy their time on the computer. Honestly, I felt the same way in sorts. I’m just wondering if my students were given explanations on why these sites were blocked. These students MUST be taught why some site have a potential for danger. It MUST be explained to them in their own words. To this day, some students find PROXIES?? (is that the correct word?) These are ways to get through to blocked sites. Normally these shortcuts are caught and blocked within days.
I know I have time before my child is ready to sit down at the computer and “surf”, but how much time do I really have. If I’m going to be working in a classroom in the next few years, I’d better get going. It should give me a pretty good head start with my personal child.
March 2, 2008...1:04 am
PBS Frontline episode, Growing Up On-Line
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March 6, 2008 at 9:41 am
Peter, this is why it is critical as parents, teachers, administrators,… to “be in the know”. Ignorance breeds fear while knowledge allows one to make wise and informed decisions. Our children and our students NEED folks in their lives to teach them how to live and how to learn. I don’t think the issue in schools is filtering – it is the not giving of control to teachers as to what to unblock when they or their students need it.
As for access to irrelevant and inappropriate content on-line, whether at home or at school, the solution should be so simple – abuse your privilege? Lose the privilege. It is not that hard to monitor what students do at school when on-line.