Allen Parish School Board
Acceptable Use of Internet Policy
The Internet and the Allen Parish Network are a vast source of information for teachers and students. Some of the information on the Internet may not be of educational value and may be considered controversial. Some of the material may contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate, or potentially offensive. Allen Parish will take precautions to restrict access to those materials, but because of the nature of the Internet and the phenomenal increase of information on it, it is virtually impossible to know of all controversial materials let alone control all access to them. However, we believe the tremendous educational potential for our students and teachers far exceeds the disadvantages.
It shall be the policy of the Allen Parish School Board that any use of the Internet that adversely affects its operation in pursuit of teaching and learning or jeopardizes its use or performance for other community members is prohibited and may result in loss of Internet privileges, suspension of the student, or other appropriate disciplinary action. The School Board does not condone the use of the Internet for any illegal or inappropriate activities and shall not be responsible for any such use by staff or students. Parents shall be made aware that Internet usage is only partially controllable by supervision. Students may use the Internet only if under the direct supervision of a teacher or other professional designated by the teacher.
Use of Internet Regulations
The School Board provides access to the Internet to students, teachers, staff, and administrators. The Internet is a very exciting educational tool that can greatly benefit schools. Research, collaborative learning, and exchange of educational ideas and information are regularly pursued on the Internet. The Board believes that there are appropriate regulations to maximize effective educational use of the Internet and minimize abuse of the opportunity being provided to our schools. Ethical, efficient, and legal use of any network is the key to a successful linkage with the Internet. Accordingly, regulations for participation by anyone on the Internet shall include but not be limited to the following:
1. Users must demonstrate honesty, integrity, and respect for others at all times. Appropriate manners and language shall be required.
2. No individual student shall be permitted to have an e-mail account. Only teachers and classes as whole may be permitted e-mail. E-mail is not guaranteed to be private on the Internet, Therefore only appropriate messages shall be allowed.
3. No photographs, personal addresses, personal phone numbers, or last names will be permitted in student use of the Internet. Furthermore, students may not agree to meet with anyone they have communicated with via the Internet.
4. Illegal activities, including copyright or contract violations shall not be permitted. Resource information taken from electronic sources must be cited as a reference. Parish equipment is not to be used to make illegal copies of software.
5. The Internet may not be used for financial or commercial gain.
6. Threatening, profane, or abusive messages shall be forbidden.
7. No activities shall be allowed which may damage or interrupt equipment or any networking system. Users may not post chain letters or sending annoying or unnecessary messages to a large number of people.
8. Any attempt to alter, harm, or destroy the data of another user of the Internet, or any network on the Internet shall be forbidden.
9. No user is permitted to upload, download, or create a computer virus on the Internet or any networking system.
10. Resources offered by the Internet and paid for by the Board may not be willfully wasted.
11. Invading the privacy of another user or using their account shall not be tolerated.
12. Posting personal messages without the author’s consent shall be forbidden.
13. Accessing information on manufacturing bombs, illegal drugs or other illegal devices or substance shall be forbidden.
14. Product advertising, political lobbying, or sending messages involving illegal activities shall not be permitted. Violations shall be reported to the teacher when evidence of such is encountered on the Internet.
15. When a security problem is detected, it shall be reported immediately to the teacher. The problem shall not be demonstrated to other users.
16. Appropriate discipline shall automatically result for a user who accesses, sends, receives, or configures electronically any profane or obscene language or pictures.
17. Users are not permitted to visit chat rooms or any similar sites.
18. Submitting, publishing or displaying any defamatory, inaccurate, racially offensive, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, or threatening materials or messages either public or private. All users are expected to follow existing copyright laws, copies of which may be found in each campus library.
19. Student use of the computers and computer network is only allowed when supervised or granted permission by a staff member.
20. Attempting to log on or logging on to a computer or email system by using another’s’ password is prohibited. Assisting others in violating this rule by sharing information or passwords is unacceptable.
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