Internet Policy & Practices
The goals of our web site
are to provide school information for our parents and children, to provide general
interest information to casual browsers from outside of our school community, to provide
sites of interest for our children and parents, and to provide sites associated with our
school curriculum.
The Clow School web site
and immediate links are suitable and appropriate for children. However, for practical
purposes, the Internet should be viewed as a limitless number of links to more links and
sites. Safe and suitable links may innocently connect to unsuitable sites. Additionally,
innocent "Net Searches" can yield result
options totally unsuitable for children. Remember, the World Wide Web is international and
virtually unregulated. Although misuse is possible, we believe the benefits to be gained
from accessing the Internet's legitimate information resources far outweigh any potential
risks. The opportunities that this network represents for collaboration with the
families and community of Clow School are great.
Parents should be aware
that some material accessible via the Internet may contain items that are illegal,
defamatory, inaccurate, or potentially offensive, and that students acting independently
may find ways to access these types of materials. Therefore, we recommend that you
carefully monitor your child when he is on the Internet. Ultimately, we believe that
parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards
that their children should follow when using electronic media and information sources. We
suggest that clear purpose and goals be defined for internet activity.
The Internet is dynamic and
always changing. Therefore, if you discover one of our links easily connecting to an
inappropriate site, please notify us immediately. Also, if you have knowledge of an
outstanding site for children or parents that may be appropriate for our web page, please
notify us of this too.
The World Wide Web is an
exciting addition to our world and lives. It offers a multitude of opportunities for
education. We are using the Internet for teaching the content of our curriculum such as
touring the White House. We are also using the Internet to teach technology to students to
promote life-long learning. The Internet is another opportunity for Clow School and
parents to work together for the benefit of our children.
CLOW IMPLEMENTATION OF DISTRICT
INTERNET POLICY
Goal: Provide common sense and practical direction to employ the
internet into elementary school curriculum and instruction.
Purpose of Internet: The Internet is to be used as an information resource; as an
extension of the LMC and the classroom curriculum. Internet sites are to be used in a
similar fashion as other resources found in the LMC. Sites included in our Schoolbag of Web Lessons
& Links will meet the district
selection policy criteria. Added cautions with the Internet must exist however because,
unlike the LMC, there are no controls of raw information or site changes.
Children
may use the internet under the following conditions:
 | Parent and
student permission form completed (district form). Permissions must be updated on a yearly
basis, obtained again for middle school, and once again for high school, as per district
policy. |
| No search
engine exploration by elementary students |
| Sites will
be pre-examined by teacher and/or LMC Director. |
| A clear
and precise purpose for use is defined ahead of time (top priority). |
| Computer
screens are always in view of a supervising staff member. |
| Printed
information is viewed by a staff member prior to students taking it with them. |
| A log is
maintained for building and district use; a data base of utilization will be developed.
This will also foster professional collaboration. |
