District Administration - July 2006 - (Page 14)

Letters cer ned that all of Stager] spoke in his My Space Reacting to MySpace is public article. As an instructor for an edu- MySpace record. The police cat iona l/t reat ment setting where I JUST READ [Gary in our area used many children have emotional disor- Stager's] article MySpace recently ders, I am one of the few adults the Guess Why They to determine the kids really talk to. MySpace, in the Call It MySpace, location of several late fifties and early sixties, were the May 2006, page 78 . parties, which they `woods' behind our home, the `other' While I agree with subsequently visited kids basement, and yup, Bob's dad's him in principle, we looking for illegal repair garage, where Playboy and have blocked the site activity. other `girlie' magazines were tucked and others like it at We are experi- between the back wall and toilet our district. Why? ment i ng with a NET tank of the men's room. Because we had one class here at Ells- [ St a ger's ] and my opinions may student threaten to wor t h High School not be the popular ones, but thanks kill another student that involves students and staff for voicing the fact adults need to using MySpace. learning together as equals about continue to monitor and guide with The problem the Internet has various Internet topics we look at deliberate and caring intent, and created is that there are no more the history, ethics, uses and future not suppress what is developmental rumors. If you hear something you concerns of each topic strand as and necessary voicing for our can quickly see if it is true or not you might imagine online social children. I am delighted to read and simply by accessing the Internet and networking spurred great debate. hear from someone else that sees the site s where it originated. that not all of the needs for kids While this is a good problem Linda Fuller need to be fi xed by adults doing the to have, a school that has rumors Guidance Counselor thinking for them. posted on the Internet about other Ellsworth Maine High School students at that school would make Jeffrey D. LaBarrett THANKS FOR THE GREAT SENSE [Gary every student rush to fi nd a com- Delaware educator puter with Internet access. We want to encourage students to use com- Sports and Civics puters and use the Internet but there I ENJOYED READING your article on sports and their influence on civics Sports have to be limits to what should be & Civics, May 2006, page 42 . It was good to read that others associated with considered appropriate behavior. our profession realize and publicize the importance of athletics in producing good Jamie Morse citizens. Many in my profession have known for years that through athletics we can Director of Technology more directly reach kids to help develop a sense of leadership, teamwork, duty, Cambrian School District honor and respect. San Jose, Calif. However, I found this statement from the researchers to be somewhat comical: I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED [Gary Stager's] The researchers were not able to draw any direct conclusions as to why student MySpace article. I am the mother of a athletes were more engaged in their community, and con- 17-year-old as well as a public school sidered the possibility that people who choose to do sports guidance counselor and I couldn't might naturally be more inclined to participate in civic agree with his perspective more. affairs. The answer is probably much more complicated I've been stating for months than what I believe, which is to say that people coaches, that the online world is truly my teachers and parents are responsible for teaching these daughter's neighborhood we live life principles to those kids. ... We all realize that they in a rural area of Maine and she are our future, and we strive to help produce the best would walk at least two miles before possible person. encountering a peer. We talk about Greg George, Teacher/Coach her online life but I am the outsider Mansfield High School, Mansfield, Texas and she is free to share with me as is appropriate. I am a bit con- 14 July 2006 District Administration Letters 706.w.indd 14 6/19/06 11:36:54 AM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - July 2006

Contents
Editor's Letter
Letters
Update
Inside the Law
Curriculum Update
Administrator Profile
District Profile
Mixed Reviews
Making Reading Count
No-Nonsense Networking
Cover Story: Money Talks
Making Choices
The Online Edge
Speaking Out
Public Opinion
Problem/Solution
New Products
By the Numbers

District Administration - July 2006