"So it shall be written" Like the 10 Commandments, the Catholic School's AUP was written as well.

Though we as teachers never really want to admit it or even say it to the student's face, but sometimes they can be little devils! Unfortunately our biggest ally can be our biggest enemy. I am referring to computers and using the Internet. Technology has taken us so far and we haven't even begun to scratch the surface of what we can do. One of the biggest advancements we've had has been the Internet. With the simple click of the mouse or the tapping of some keys, one can pay bills, book a flight, do research for a history paper, blog about your thoughts, stay in touch with friends, register for classes or even talk and see someone who is thousands of miles away from you. On the flip side, the Internet can be a dangerous thing. People can become addicted to pornography or gambling. Post pictures and comments about people and causing the person or themselves harm. Steal information and claim it as your own. Get expelled from school or perhaps thrown into jail. As a famous saying goes, the Internet can be considered a "double-edged sword".

Fortunately my school has an AUP in place. Distributed in the family handbook, the AUP breaks down all the do's and don'ts of the computer usage at school. It goes through just about every possible thing that the students will do with the computers and what they can't do with them. As I previously mentioned, the Internet is a primary focus. As stated in my school's AUP, no student is allowed to use the Internet without adult supervision. As silly as it sounds, it is very important. As I have found out from experience, some students have no fear as far as what they are looking up on the Internet even with a adult supervision.

The only use for computers at my school is for educational purposes. No student is allowed to "play" around on the computer or to use it to look at their e-mail. The Internet is considered a right and not a privilege. The school also reserves the right to search student e-mails, Internet use and computer usage. This eliminates the student from having privacy and frees the school from violating any privacy laws. The AUP then gives a list of 12 different examples of unacceptable uses of the Internet. The one that I really like that seems to have been a problem within the last couple of years are the activities that happen outside of school. This means students cyberbullying or posting comments about one another on Facebook or other social networks. The school will take action if any of the activities causes harm or harasses a fellow student. I like how my school has extended the boundaries of care. The best intentions for the students are there and it's the school's job to enforce them.

I believe that the policy in place right now is very good. I don't think that it will need to be updated for at least a couple of years. That may be easier said than done considering how quickly technology changes or what other students will get involved in. The last thing that was in the handbook mentions how all students will need to sign a contract for Internet usage. I like how this holds the students accountable for their actions and they know in advance the repercussions of their actions. I also think that it would be helpful if the students had to pull out their contract every now and then to review what it is they signed and why they signed it.