Not allowed to place restrictions on student devices

[Staff Member]

One of the challenges is that we, as district personnel, are not able to put restrictions on the devices. This is a challenge because kids are exposed to so much (including pornography and other dangerous sites). To me it is very irresponsible of us to do this. Sure, we have our own filters, but when they are out of our reach, they are like little baits to so many sharks.

Again, it is irresponsible bordering on criminal. Granted, the families can place the restrictions if they wish. The problem is that too many of our families are not computer lit at all, and we are perfectly aware of this! I'm not talking about limiting their rights;  I'm talking about acting responsibly and ethically. 


Personally, it’s like washing our hands as soon as our students leave our schools.

[MS Teacher]

I agree in that restrictions should be put on the students iPads. Some sites need to be blocked at a District level; two of them that created the most class management issues at my campus were Facebook & Instagram. The students need to realize that while they are in school & using the MISD wireless network that MISD is in control of the wireless service, which includes limiting access to anything that would hinder the learning process. Once they are out of school & using their own wireless service, their parents can be the ones to limit what they see fit.

My campus is considering putting restrictions on all of the students iPads at the beginning of this next school year.

[A Junior]

I'm sorry but I don't agree with the idea of censorship during a period of learning in a child's mind. Pretending that things don't exist in the world and learning about these things later isn't going to do anything but create awkward situations and impede learning. My parents never buried my head in the sand and I turned out fine. As for students using apps that hinder their attention span, such as Facebook, teachers need to put in more character effort when iterating the rules. So often I see a teacher going "Don't do this please, m'kay" and it frustrates me that I haven't seen a single teacher at least attempt to show that not paying attention in class is the students choice and it will have clear consequences that only they as a student of free will can inflict on themselves. I feel like a problem with today's education is we treat students so much like they're cattle, and only see them as thoughtful human beings when they hit college.