(26 votes, average: 4.27 out of 5)
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By Avery Maier, ’13, Contributor
CCDS’s acceptable use policy—the guidelines by which students and faculty operate their computers at school—states that laptops are “to be used for educational purposes that serve the school’s mission” and that “playing games, chatting, and watching entertainment videos are not allowed during the school day (unless associated with a class).” Despite these guidelines, students and faculty agree that students often violate the policy, both in and outside of class.
“We can do a better job of helping students keep focused on the work of the academic day,” Upper School Division Head Stephanie Luebbers said.
“It was a big deal to follow the acceptable use policy when we first got our computers,” said Freshman Annie Nesbitt. “But now that we have had our computers for awhile, it isn’t as big of a deal if you don’t follow the policy. We are so used to Facebooking and doing stuff like that at home that we find it all right to do it at school.”
Mr. Fred Carey, senior dean of students, said, “It’s true that the vast majority of Upper School students are in technical violation of the acceptable use policy virtually all the time. I don’t view this as an act of defiance so much as one of the realities of the new technological paradigm. I also believe that the school’s acceptable use policy is outdated and is in need of substantial revision.”
“I try to be conscious of the potential distraction [of computers], knowing that I am very distracted [by them] myself,” said Mrs. Pat Dunn, English Department chair. “When a student is going back and forth [between schoolwork and something else], is that multi-use or abuse?”
Mrs. Dunn said that she can definitely tell when students aren’t paying attention. “[I know] when the arrow keys are going around.”
“Social networking sites are so much a part of how humans go through a day that the computer acceptable use policy needs to affect how young adults interact,” Mrs. Dunn added. “For example, instead of sending out a press release saying he was talking to Notre Dame, Brian Kelly posted it on his Twitter page.”
“At school, teachers don’t really crack down on the policy, so there isn’t really a punishment for students visiting those types of websites during class,” stated Sara Fitzgerald, ’13. “If there aren’t consequences, then there is no reason for students to cease visiting those websites. Students then start visiting those websites in excess at school.”
Jack Willingham, ’13, said, “When a teacher is present, the acceptable use policy is very useful, but as soon as the teachers turn their backs, it isn’t useful at all.”
According to Mr. Carey, the punishment for defying the acceptable use policy “depends on the nature of the infraction. If, for example, a student is on Facebook during class, or is gaming in study hall, then a detention would probably be sufficient; however, if the inappropriate computer use involves cyber-bullying, or if it puts the larger network at risk by virtue of a computer virus, then the consequences would be much more severe and would probably start with an appearance before Honor Council.”
“Respect is definitely a big issue in all of this,” said Dr. Jeremiah McCall, Grade 9 Humanities Coordinator. “When you are playing a game in class, I think it sends a pretty clear message that you are not respecting the class and teacher at that point.”
“When I see people playing games such as Fishville during class, it bugs me and is disruptive to my learning,” Sam Fossett, ’13, commented.
Most students were unwilling to say whether they played games during class because they didn’t want to admit to violating the policy.
Jimmy Stafford, ’10, said, “I go on Facebook during school, but so does almost everyone else. Those people just don’t want to admit that they do.”
Drawing by Kaitlyn Morgan.
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Avery, I have a few points of constructive crititism. First, those are not my exact words, a quotation, without brackets, should be word for word. Second, I feel that you rely very heavily on quotations in your article. Other than that, it is a good article, and a well written one at that.
I’m sorry that Sam mentions he wasn’t quoted exactly because I thought it was the most honest and daring quote in the article. Just because “everybody’s doing it” doesn’t make it acceptable. Just because you won’t get caught doesn’t make it acceptable. The definition of ethics is doing what’s right even when you know you won’t get caught. Having said that, I believe students are masters at the techno-multi-tasking….just quick belly-aching about how little time you have to sleep. Life is about choices and some of you choose to harvest your imaginary crops and clean screen fish tanks rather than work. Own your choices!
Sam, when I interviewed you I took direct notes. I then put those responses verbatim into the article. If you care to see how I directly quoted you and didn’t add to your responses, please see me.
The whole thing was very well written, in my opinion.
Good job.
I agree with Sam in saying that it is not what I said exactly, some of the words are the same, but I don’t remember saying some of it.
This is a good article but doesn’t show much perspective as the vast majority of the quotes come from freshmen. Quotes from a diverse group of upper-school students would give the article some needed depth.
Hannah,
I disagree with you in your claim that it doesnt offer a large perspective.
Avery interviewed freshmen Sam, Jack, and Sara, senior Jimmy Stafford, and faculty members Mrs. Luebbers, Mrs. Dunn, Mr. Carey, and Dr. McCall.
I think that covers a pretty wide perspective of people, and think that the comments above have been overly critical of Avery’s work.
Jules,
Though I do agree that some of the comments made previously were critical to say the least, I feel that the constructive criticism that Avery is receiving is valuable to her, and her writing. I feel that having the ability to give writers feedback on their work is what makes this website great. I guarantee that the constructive criticism Avery is receiving will ultimately better her writing.
Sincerely,
Michael Barton
While I cannot speak for how directly Avery quoted, I must say that this is a very well written and informative article. Though it relies heavily on quotes, they enhance the article and give a feel for the attitude towards this policy around the school. Very good job Avery.
There’s something I notice that hasn’t been given the consideration I feel it should. If a student is breaking the (current) acceptable use policy DURING class time, there is every reason for them to get in trouble. Some teachers give detentions to students who work on homework for other classes during their class period. Why should there be any less of a penalty for students that are working on something that has nothing to do with school?
But in some ways this is not the issue. Maybe I am in all the wrong classes, but the main time I see people using Facebook (or otherwise supposedly breaking the acceptable use policy) is during free periods. I don’t see this being disrespectful or interruptive in any way. The acceptable use policy, however, does not reflect this, and it’s a good thing that it is not followed to the letter as written.
I also find it ironic that visiting the Scroll website during class time, though it will probably still get you in trouble with your teacher, is not technically in violation of the acceptable use policy as I understand it.
And on that note, perhaps an acceptable use policy is not necessary at all. Visiting websites during class time, such as Facebook or even the Scroll, is disrespectful to the teacher and the class, and should be dealt with accordingly, just as somebody using their cell phone or finishing homework for another class would.
The only difference I can see would be in the case of a virus or something that compromised the school network, as mentioned in the article–and yet this issue is not once directly mentioned in the acceptable use policy. Given that this is one of few situations that I feel merits the existence of the acceptable use policy, I find it curious that it is never discussed in the document itself, and I’m glad that Mr. Carey brought it up.
I don’t know if anyone is still looking at these responses, but your article appeared while one of my co-workers was looking for examples of online newspapers. I’m an English teacher in Maine, where every student has some sort of laptop (we have Macbooks; other schools have netbooks and those sorts of devices). I have a few comments about the article.
1. I love the writing. Nice work!
2. I worked for Yankee Magazine in NH before becoming a teacher, mostly as a fact checker. Taping interviews protects a journalist against charges of misquoting. My experience as a fact checker taught me that nearly everyone thinks they are misquoted in some way, usually because one line from an interview always seems to make a stronger point than the interviewee intended. In other words, it’s not that the subject didn’t say those words, it’s that he or she didn’t mean to sound so forcefully opinionated about the subject.
3. We have major issues at my school with the acceptable use policy. I’ve come to believe that managing internet distraction is a real-world skill that needs to be taught and learned. Kids will face the same issue sitting in a dorm room or at their future office computers as they do in class. Simply blocking every new distraction does not teach them how to manage their time effectively or the difference between multi-tasking and multi-distracting.
And, by the way, I’m sitting here during my prep period responding to your work instead of preparing for class. Am I violating the acceptable use policy?