Teachers can be Hypocrites

News Type: Event — Thu Feb 9, 2006 9:00 AM EST

technology, education, school, computer, teachers, usage, acceptable-use-policy, computer-resources

At my school in Wayne Township, Indianapolis, Indiana, our Acceptable Use Policy which can be read here, states that "Communication unrelated to the School District" is prohibited when using any "technical resource" which is defined as "voice systems, e-mail, network access, Internet access, facsimile transmission and receipt, and other computer resources provided by the School District, accessed through the School District, or accessed on School District property or at a School District event or activity". Also, note that this policy defines "users" as "a person using School District communications or computer resources" which would include both students and staff. You may be thinking "So... what's your point?" Well, the point is that some of my teachers are being hypocritical about following our Acceptable Use Policy. For example, at our school, it is highly "frowned upon" if students access their blogs (e.g. Xanga, Blogger, LiveJournal, etc.) at school because this clearly breaks the Acceptable Use Policy. Also, students are not to check their forums (e.g. Pro-boards, etc.)at school. But how can our school's staff make such a big deal about students breaking our Acceptable Use Policy, when our teachers themselves are also breaking it. For example, one of my teachers, who shall remain nameless, accesses his forum site while his students are taking a test. Furthermore, I have had several substitute teachers who have done the same thing--one was even playing Fantasy Football during class! Of course, I daresay that one could say that I myself am breaking the Acceptable Use Policy since, as I write this article, I am sitting in homeroom waiting for the bell to ring. However, I could certainly argue that this excellent site provides me with information on current events.
My question: What makes it so right for teachers to break the Acceptable Use Policy, when students are, in some cases, severely punished, if they even think about breaking the aforementioned Policy.

Please leave comments with your opinion!

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{"commentId":26799,"authorDomain":"smaran"}

Smaran

Your bang on there Kyle, many teachers are hypocrites. But you talk about them as if their superior or something. You students aren't kindergarten kids. You're smart enough to know that they are just people like the rest of us. About the punishments... well that's them throwing around their power. Don't governments do that? It's almost the same! Do you think presidents (one comes to mind) are very honorable and do just what they preach? Well.... they don't! I remember one teacher in my school was the head of the computer lab and he wasn't too smart I tell you. He used to download porn and watch it on his computer. He never deleted the files or his browsing history. Many of my classmates and kids from other classes, found all sorts of things on that computer. Not that they looked, it was all thanks to the auto-complete feature in IE6. Also we were banned from using MSN messenger or anything similar. Wanna know something interesting? There were, at any time, at least 4 different instant messengers active and signed in on the admin computer. I value equality and fair treatment, but it just doesn't work with people that have power. It's their natural instinct to abuse it.

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#1 - Thu Feb 9, 2006 9:41 AM EST

{"commentId":26830,"authorDomain":"nebulaclash"}

NebulaClash

Kyle, you have noticed the way of the world. Here's a real world secret: A lot of these workplace (or school) rules are in place in order to set a policy that can then be used against you if need be. Everything's going along well? Fine, do a little web surfing and no one cares. But if you ever cause trouble, and they want to get rid of you (or suspend you from school), they can dig up your web habits and say, "Oh dear, you seem to have been violating the rules."

I guarantee that if those teachers were caught doing something illegal, you would hear from the school administrators that they were fired for cause, among other things they were "using school equipment improperly." It's just a stick they can hold over your head in case they need to get rid of you without you being able to sue them for it.

Chill out and have fun. Just don't get caught doing something really wrong or else your Newsvine activity will be held against you. Otherwise, you'll probably sail along just great. Oh sure, if a teacher catches you, you'll be told to stop. And no, you can't tell a teacher to stop. That's another way of the world: Life's not fair, and those in charge get to abuse the system, and you don't. Lesson: Become in charge.

{"commentId":26830,"threadId":"7978","contentId":"90850","authorDomain":"nebulaclash"}

#2 - Thu Feb 9, 2006 10:12 AM EST

{"commentId":26859,"authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}

Behind My Screen

Are these teachers that are breaking the policy also the ones that discipline students for breaking it? If not, then they are not hypocritical, they just do not care about breaking the use policy.

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#3 - Thu Feb 9, 2006 10:40 AM EST

{"commentId":26984,"authorDomain":"jonnyd"}

jonny dover

HOLY SMOKES THINGS AT A HIGH SCHOOL ARE NOT FAIR

I AM BLOWN AWAY

{"commentId":26984,"threadId":"7978","contentId":"90850","authorDomain":"jonnyd"}

#4 - Thu Feb 9, 2006 12:03 PM EST

{"commentId":49156,"authorDomain":"21apples"}

arvind s. grover

Kyle, you make some important points. Schools are often tied-in to making more and more policies to cover every possible situation that could arise. The result is huge reams of documents, that no one has the time to enforce. The impact for students, is that they see that there are rules that aren't enforced, so why should they listen to them? For me, I think that in terms of rules/policies, less is probably more.

Another thing that schools should consider when making policies, is to involve the people they impact, students.

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#5 - Sat Mar 4, 2006 7:13 PM EST

{"commentId":69345,"authorDomain":"wbrianwhite"}

Brian White

This post has now been attached to your permanent record :)

Back to class now kid.

{"commentId":69345,"threadId":"7978","contentId":"90850","authorDomain":"wbrianwhite"}

#6 - Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:08 PM EST

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KYLE BANDY

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Teachers can be Hypocrites

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