Policy:

Computer networks have been established for the enrichment of learning in the school.  They provide students with the opportunity to prepare for the technological world in which we live which includes access to online resources enabling integration in all areas of learning.  In addition to the vast educational resource base that may be accessed, there exists material which may be pornographic, racist, or in other ways offensive.  This policy will address acceptable use standards for students, and responsibilities of the Board, school, and individual teacher to prevent misuse of these systems.

Please note that while this policy may seem extreme at first, it is really only extending the norms that already exist in the classroom to the computer.

The issue of  “hacking” is one that is covered in the Criminal Code of Canada, and thus for students own safety they should be made aware of these laws and consequences for failing to comply with them.

Guidelines:

Board and School: The school has the right, but not the obligation, to monitor and supervise all computer use, communication, or system accounts.

The network administrators will have the following authorities to be exercised in conjunction with school principal:

·         grant or revoke user accounts (which allow access to computer network)

·         provide teacher supervision of students using network.  Due to lack of explicit standards and monitoring technology, the individual teacher, acting within these guidelines, shall have final say on what is deemed appropriate use of the computer.

·         allow use of specific computer applications (which applications allowed to be decided by individual schools)

·         monitor which Internet sites are being accessed

·         block access to Internet sites

·         read all outgoing electronic information (i.e. email).

Student Responsibility: 

The use of computers and networking is advantageous to the student, yet remains a privilege rather than a requirement.  Therefore students are required to adhere to the following guidelines to keep this privilege:

·         computers are to be used for educational purposes only; World Wide Web searching and browsing shall be limited to appropriate sites.  Further to this point:

¨       The Internet contains information which may be pornographic, racist, vulgar or otherwise offensive. The School will attempt to limit access to sites which contain offensive material.  However, it is the responsibility of the student to not access or attempt to access sites containing prohibited information.

¨       Students shall not access or attempt to access a site which contains information which is pornographic, racist, vulgar or which is prohibited by the School/Network Administrator.  If a student accidentally accesses a prohibited site he or she shall immediately notify their supervisor or Network Administrator.

¨       Students who access or attempt to access sites which contain pornographic, racist, or other prohibited information will have their computer privileges revoked and may face other disciplinary action including expulsion and/or criminal prosecution.

·         language in email is to be of the same standard as other forms of communication.  Therefore use of profane, harassing, or otherwise inappropriate language is forbidden.

·         harassment of other users in any way is forbidden

·         use of anonymous email sites or any other method of disguising source of electronic communication is forbidden

·         copyright laws are strictly followed by schools; accessing or storage of copyrighted software or information for which school does not have license is forbidden

·         computers are expensive and fragile pieces of equipment, and as such extreme care should be taken so as not to damage them

·         students are responsible for their own accounts. System security relies on maintaining the secrecy of user’s passwords; if user’s password is known to anyone else, they should inform the Network Administrator and change their current password.

·         use of accounts by anyone other than registered account owner is prohibited.  If an account is being used by someone other than registered user, both the unauthorized user and registered owner will have computer privileges suspended.

·         students shall ensure that their account is used for lawful purposes only, and no material is transmitted which is prohibited, inappropriate, or infringes on rights of privacy

·         further to above guideline, students (particularly using IRC groups) should not post information that would reveal their address or telephone number

·         users should ensure they are logged off before leaving a computer

·         accessing or attempting to access any computer, network, or resource for which student does not have authorization is strictly prohibited and will lead to immediate and permanent revocation of computer privileges

Penalty for contravention of any or all of these guidelines will range from revocation of any/all computer privileges, and/or other disciplinary action including expulsion and/or criminal prosecution.