What schools do
Pornography
- schools will use filtering software that either blocks access to listed sites or only allows access to certain sites
- a log of children's internet activity can be held and regularly checked by the school
- some schools use an Acceptable Use Policy - an agreement signed by students and their parents, guardians or carers which explains what is considered acceptable, and unacceptable, online activity
- students will be expected to allow teachers to check any personal discs for inappropriate content
- a walled garden is often used for younger children in schools
Bullying and abuse
Schools want to stop all forms of bullying and abuse. Various techniques for dealing with issues have been adopted. These include:
- Pikas Method of Shared Concern attempts to find practical solutions through discussion
- Circle Time is where pupils sit in circles and discuss their concerns
- Peer Group Programmes are set up in some schools to encourage pupils to look out for younger children and support their peers
- Telling Schools - if the person being victimised is too afraid to tell a teacher, other children can tell without fear of being accused of telling tales
Paedophiles
- many schools ban chat rooms altogether because of the risks they present and how difficult it is to monitor what's going on
- some schools do allow educational chat rooms. Teachers will supervise these in a group or class situation. An example of an educational chat room can be found at GridClub SuperClubs, which offers safe places where children can chat to other GridClub members
SPAM and viruses
- a school may opt for a closed email system. This means that children can only send or receive messages through their teacher. Or they can be given private email addresses through the school server, which are more secure and easier to monitor than free webmail addresses
- schools will use filtering software which recognises and blocks certain words, phrases and attachments
Privacy
- all schools should have a policy in place that minimises risks to any children whose pictures are used on their website - this should include never naming an individually pictured child and never using pictures of children in inappropriate situations or clothes
- schools should always seek permission from a child's parent, guardian or carer before using any images for promotional materials
- if you are unsure of your school's internet privacy policy you should ask to see a copy
Copyright
- schools actively discourage any kind of plagiarism or intellectual theft
- work that has been copied but not referenced will be marked down and in some cases failed
Homework
- schools will give advice to pupils about relevant sites
- some schools will also compile lists of good sites for their students - see if your school does - if it doesn't, maybe you could help them set one up?
Shopping
Shopping shouldn't be an issue in schools - however, they can install filtering software that blocks access to retail sites and they can monitor a student's online log. If internet shopping is against the school's Acceptable Use Policy they will deal with the situation.
Health and Safety
Schools should follow all of the same health and safety procedures that you should practice at home. If you are unsure if they do, you should ask.
The best way to find out if your child's school is doing everything it can to protect your children while they're online is to talk to the school. Ask to see a copy of their Acceptable Use Policy or any other rules or guidelines they adhere to and discuss your safety concerns with them.
Next Steps
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'Using computers and the
internet'
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