Point Reyes Light - October 16, 2003
Protecting Valley kids from sex on net
By Ivan Gale
Lagunitas School students may have new computers and a high-speed Internet connection in the classroom, but more than 56,000 websites are still unavailable to them thanks to county-run servers that "filter" out explicit and inappropriate websites.
Trustee Richard Sloan warned the filter system can make it hard for students to access sites that are not inappropriate.
Access can be granted
However, Dane Lancaster, director of technology services with the county Office of Education, said if an appropriate website is screened out, teachers can request students get access to it.
Teachers are also encouraged to suggest specific sites to be blocked due to their inappropriate content.
Lagunitas supt. Mary Buttler said students must fill out a two-page Internet use policy, which prohibits them from viewing pornographic sites or sending pornographic materials via email, as well as using the Internet to conduct business, download music, or play games.
"Any student viewing inappropriate material would be quickly noticed," Buttler said.
Students who do not stick to the Internet use policy lose their computer privileges. To date, each student has followed the guidelines.
New computers were purchased in the spring with the help of a $48,000 grant from the California Department of Education.
Since then, teachers have regularly assigned research projects to be completed using the Internet.
Reaching across the state
The district’s high-speed connection has also been used for students to participate in a live, interactive videoconference with students in the Baldwin Hills area of central Los Angeles. County technology director Lancaster said the Baldwin Hills class gave Lagunitas students a presentation on an urban state park in their area, while Lagunitas students described Samuel P. Taylor State Park to the Balwin Hills Class.
"The kids were more fascinated by each other [than the parks]," Lancaster said.