HB1314 in MO, USA seeks to Criminalize Social Networking with Students

Did a little more research into a post I did last week called Missouri is Criminalizing Social Networking with Students. Here is an except from a summary of the bill.

HB1314C-PROTECTIONS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN

By January 1, 2009, school districts must establish policies on teacher-student and employee-student communication, to cover oral and nonverbal communication and appropriate use of electronic media, with a policy covering use of social networking sites to prohibit teachers from maintaining a work-related Internet site unless it is publicly available on at least one open-access network and to prohibit a nonwork-related Internet site which allows exclusive access to current or former students.

Does that mean that my Think.com site that is password protected to protect my student’s safety would be illegal? Would it then have to be publicly available to every stranger on the internet? Or does it just mean that it has to be maintained on our district network, which is one more hassle for an already overworked IT staff?

What does “open-access network” mean?

162.069. 1. Every school district shall, by January 1, 2009, promulgate a written policy concerning teacher-student communication and employee-student communication. Such policy shall contain at least the following elements: (1) Appropriate oral and nonverbal personal communication, which may be combined with or included in any policy on sexual harassment; and (2) Appropriate use of electronic media such as text messaging and Internet sites for both instructional and personal purposes, with an element concerning use of social networking sites no less stringent than the provisions of subsections 2, 3, and 4 of this section. 2. As used in this section, the following terms shall mean: (1) “Exclusive access”, the information on the web site is
available only to the owner (teacher) and user (student) by mutual explicit consent and where third parties have no access to the information on the web site absent an explicit consent agreement with the owner (teacher); (2) “Former student”, any person who was at one time a student at the school at which the teacher is employed and who is eighteen years of age or less and who has not graduated; (3) “Nonwork-related Internet site”, any Internet web site or web pages used by a teacher primarily for personal purposes and not for educational purposes; (4) “Work-related Internet site”, any Internet web site or web pages used by a teacher for educational purposes. 3. No teacher shall establish, maintain, or use a work-related Internet site unless such site is publically available on at least one open access network. 4. No teacher shall establish, maintain, or use a nonwork-related Internet site which allows exclusive access with a current or former student.

I still don’t know what the pivot term Open Access Network means? I seems to have something to do with wireless internet access, but what does that have to do with social networks?

I also have privacy concerns about legislating school district policy
restricting my online, non-school related activity. If I allow my
students’ families to access to pictures on flickr
of my non-school related summer vacation (which would be restricted so
that stranger out there couldn’t see my children) I would be breaking
the law. What? <:o It is not directly school-related, but it
would be off school-time and it would allow my student’s families to
get to know me better. I would never harm my students, but this bill
treats me just the same as a child abuser. I understand that intent of
the bill, but that restriction goes too far. It is an unconstitutional
restriction on the control of my privacy. I do not leave my privacy
right at the school-house gate when I enter or leaver the school.

This legislator doesn’t seem to understand how social networks work in schools, and so seeks to ban it all. This bill tries to shape the future of School 2.0 by preventing it instead of directing it.

The two prohibitions on non-school related and school related web sites need to be taken out. This would then be a pretty good bill.

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Missouri is Criminalizing Social Networking with Students

Missouri State Teachers Association: Missouri Teachers and Social Networking

Missouri Representative Jane Cunningham is sponsoring a bill that would, in part, ban teachers from sharing password privileged profiles with students they’ve taught within the past two years. No penalties for doing so are outlined in the proposed legislation, however.
Take a look at this article. Opinions are welcome!

Whoa. Wait a minute!  You mean, if I use a social networking site for my class, I would be breaking the law if I did not delete their accounts at the end of the year?! 
  Social networks are not inherently evil.  They are web pages, that could be powerful educational tools if used correctly.  When did educational tools become criminal?  This is fear-mongering.
  I use Think.com, a password protected social networking site, to teach internet safety.  It is password protected for the safety of my students.  My students want to know what will happen to their writing  and work they had created throughout the year.  I allowed them to keep their accounts and their work.  Those who do continue to log on, can help me teach the next year’s students about internet safety. 
  I have serious free speech concerns about this bill.  I have to agree with NEA’s position on this.  The password protection is for my students’ safety, not my privacy.  This bill is wrong-headed and steeped in fear.  Am I the danger to my students and former students, or is some unknown stranger? 

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Digital Dialog Ning

I just joined Wes Fryer’s Digital Dialog Ning. I found it after reading his blog about a digital dialog workshop he is going to do at his church. I added this to my Ning profile and thought it sounded good enough to post here.

I think digital citizenship and digital dialog are two very important issues. I use Think.com in my classroom to teach my 3rd graders about Internet safety. However, I had 2 parents balk at the idea of their child being on the Internet. “The internet scares me and I am VERY nervous about having my child use Think.com.” The other didn’t even want her child’s first name anywhere on the internet. Do they believe the Internet is one big pedophile playground? The dialog needs to be about the balance between Internet safety and Internet access.
Have you had a digital dialog with your kids?

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