Inappropriate Use Digital Media

Recently I attended a middle school volleyball game in a school outside of our area.  As I was watching the game I overheard two junior high girls talking.  When I looked at them I could see that they were using their school laptops in order to Skype.  After eavesdropping for a time I became sick to hear what they were saying to a 17 year old boy.  School computers should not be used as a means for students to communicate about inappropriate topics.  One thing that the school could have done was block certain sites so that the students are unable to communicate with each other in such a way.

Our school is pushing for computers to be purchased for the middle school students.  While I agree that this is going to benefit them in the long run I am concerned as well. I substitute at schools where all of the students walk around with computers. When we start an assignment I have to tell several of them to stop playing games.  I have passed onto our principle that before we give them computers have a class in place that will teach them how to proper use them and their consequences should be in place for when this is abused.   I also believe the school needs to make sure they have the technology to keep them from sites they should not be allowed to visit while on school time.