Should school officals regulate student blogs?

Question

The country over, students are being punished for legal activites. Where do we draw the line? Students speaking their minds on non-school owned blogs and or paying for lunch with pennies...how is this disruptive? Could adminstrators be thinking all is fair in the name of the revoultion?

Answer 1

Let's remember that the public school system's function is to provide education for it's students, not an outlet for free speech - if you want that, go to college.  Rules are made so that the organization can function for the majority.  There are intelligent ways to promote change - is it okay if I wear a t-shirt to school that says "kill all the *******?"  What about one that says "White People:  the new white meat?"  Is anything fair game?  No.

Students don't know enough (legally or ethically) in many cases to know where to "draw the line."  The penny incident - frankly, I applaud their initiative, but the result was that many students were unable to get lunch because of the time taken, and that was wrong.  There was a better way to get the point across without depriving some students of their ability to eat, especially when for many students in low-income neighborhoods - school lunch is the best meal they get all day.  Of course, you won't hear from them - they don't have a computer at home, much less Internet access.

Threats leveled against individuals on blogs or web pages, or the "bullying" that takes place is inappropriate and immature.  You'll notice that it doesn't happen among intelligent people over 30 years of age; threats are a violation of the law - you want those 12 year olds tossed in jail for exercising their so-called "freedom of speech" by organizing a "Let's beat up Billy" web page?

Movements to get teachers fired have gone back many years and are legitimate, a blog is simply a different communication medium.  Again, however, that action should only be taken for justifiable actions - not because a teacher gave you a grade of "D" because you put off doing your paper until the night before and did a crappy job.  Understand the criteria before you pass judgement.  You want to change the system, you have to change it from the inside.

I can't wait until you have to join the military or try and pledge a fraternity.  Tell me how you want to take action or voice your opinion then.

You won't like this answer because it's not what you want to hear - but it's the truth.

Answer 2

Censorship. No.

Answer 3

If minors use school facilities the school should regulate the usage.

Answer 4

Schools have SO much power over students these days, and most of the rules are unnecessary and more disruptive than what they're actually trying to prevent. Pennies are CURRENCY, whether or not the school likes that fact, so those people who get PAID to take money from children and put it in the cash register should get over it and accept the change. We do it at Tim Hortons all the time. Get over it, people!

And for the blogging, I can understand if there are THREATS on the blog about bombing, destructive things, harm to other students or to faculty. But if it's just a rant about how much you hate somebody and WISH they would get hurt, that's a different matter. Wishing someone ill and PLANNING to cause someone harm are two different things. Teenagers have emotions, damnit, and they need to vent somewhere. With all these school rules, you'd expect them to need to vent more and more. Where better to do so that on the internet?

I think the school should keep its nose out of things like that. If anybody's going to be charged with internet bullying or threats, that should be a matter for the police, if the incident is pressing enough. Not for the school.