How so? I'll tell you - it's because the students are violating the Acceptable Use Policy that all students sign and agree to. If they disagree, then can use their parents' computers to accomplish those things that are explicitly forbidden at school (and that they are required to enforce by law - the CIPA, in fact), or find other public use computers that do not have those restrictions.

I'm not sure why folks don't understand this - it doesn't MATTER if you, or anyone else thinks that having an Acceptable Use Policy is a good idea or not. What does matter is that they agreed to it, then violated that agreement. That means they will face a consequence for that violation.

That's like getting a library card - you agree to borrow a book, and return it. If you think that because you're impoverished, or need the money to buy medicine for chemotheraphy for your sainted mother, and so sell the book and fail to return it, that you WON'T be prosecuted for violating the law, then you're delusional.

The school enforces policy that the local school board approved. The parents elect the school board, and so they delegate the responsibility to the board to come up with school policies. We DO still live in a representative democracy, after all. Sheesh.

I agree with an earlier post - it's far better to teach our youth that there are consequences for our actions, and that THEY are responsible for their own actions. Get this hard lesson learned when the only consequence is missing Grad Night at Disneyland or a big school dance, and not getting fired for violating the company AUP when your wife is pregnant, the car needs new tires, and your doctor says you need an operation.

Sometimes those consequences are things that we disagree with. Great. Go out, fight the good fight, and get those policies changed. Run for school board. Get petitions signed. Make REAL change. And find out that it's hard, thankless work.

But for pete's sake, stop with the whining!

Joe G.
Mono County Office of Education
Mammoth Lakes, CA