Comments on: When litigation fear rules the network http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/02/when-litigation-fear-rules-the-network/ Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:13:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Barbara Freedman http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/02/when-litigation-fear-rules-the-network/#comment-49635 Barbara Freedman Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:08:27 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/02/when-litigation-fear-rules-the-network/#comment-49635 I teach in Greenwich, CT that probably has more lawyers per capita than any other city in the nation! I teach Music Technology and if I am not on the cutting edge along with my 14 - 18 year old students, my class is dead in the water (translate that to no kids signing up for my class then translate that to I'm out of a job). Having the most sophisitcated equipment and software doesn't cut it any more. For generations, teachers have been responsible for making bulletin boards in classrooms and hallways to display student work. Today's bulletin board is the net and parents are, for the most part, thrilled to see their kids work "published". As part of our District Internet User Agreement (no student can use a District computer without signing one), parents can opt out of having their kids work post on the district server/website. I cover myself a few steps further. First, I never post student music on my own site or blog. I also make sure I have parents sign a separate release for student produced podcasts that contain student images, student first names only and student produced music. We are moving into the new realm of Digital Content Dilivery (what I call "The High Tech Bake Sale") via phones and music aggregators such as iTunes. Parents and students sign a separate release for that. Yeah, it's a lot of paper but I get to cover myself and the District. Everyone is happy. I teach in Greenwich, CT that probably has more lawyers per capita than any other city in the nation! I teach Music Technology and if I am not on the cutting edge along with my 14 - 18 year old students, my class is dead in the water (translate that to no kids signing up for my class then translate that to I’m out of a job). Having the most sophisitcated equipment and software doesn’t cut it any more. For generations, teachers have been responsible for making bulletin boards in classrooms and hallways to display student work. Today’s bulletin board is the net and parents are, for the most part, thrilled to see their kids work “published”. As part of our District Internet User Agreement (no student can use a District computer without signing one), parents can opt out of having their kids work post on the district server/website. I cover myself a few steps further. First, I never post student music on my own site or blog. I also make sure I have parents sign a separate release for student produced podcasts that contain student images, student first names only and student produced music. We are moving into the new realm of Digital Content Dilivery (what I call “The High Tech Bake Sale”) via phones and music aggregators such as iTunes. Parents and students sign a separate release for that. Yeah, it’s a lot of paper but I get to cover myself and the District. Everyone is happy.

]]> By: When it comes to the internet and schools and quality curriculum, let the lawyeres decide. « PREA Prez http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/02/when-litigation-fear-rules-the-network/#comment-49633 When it comes to the internet and schools and quality curriculum, let the lawyeres decide. « PREA Prez Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:32:21 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/02/when-litigation-fear-rules-the-network/#comment-49633 [...] curriculum, let the lawyeres decide. Posted in Technology by preaprez on March 3rd, 2008 Moving at the Speed of Creativity tells way too common a story: One of the teachers I visited with in Seattle this week told me that [...] [...] curriculum, let the lawyeres decide. Posted in Technology by preaprez on March 3rd, 2008 Moving at the Speed of Creativity tells way too common a story: One of the teachers I visited with in Seattle this week told me that [...]

]]> By: Lori Burch http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/02/when-litigation-fear-rules-the-network/#comment-49626 Lori Burch Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:18:46 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/02/when-litigation-fear-rules-the-network/#comment-49626 I understand the fears and the desire to protect our students. However, if we so isolate them and "protect" them by shutting out all real world experiences, good and bad, how do we ever hope to be able to teach them how to exist in the real world outside of schools and how to behave in a responsible, ethical manner when they are on their own time, publishing their "stuff" on their own, which we can be certain they will do and are doing? I understand the fears and the desire to protect our students. However, if we so isolate them and “protect” them by shutting out all real world experiences, good and bad, how do we ever hope to be able to teach them how to exist in the real world outside of schools and how to behave in a responsible, ethical manner when they are on their own time, publishing their “stuff” on their own, which we can be certain they will do and are doing?

]]> By: Tony Vincent http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/02/when-litigation-fear-rules-the-network/#comment-49617 Tony Vincent Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:53:33 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/02/when-litigation-fear-rules-the-network/#comment-49617 It's sad to hear about such strong fear when the benefits of online publishing are so great. When I was with Millard Public Schools, we had parents and students sign release forms allowing for web publishing. However, Millard continues to have the policy that online student work must reside on the school district's own web server. That means no external blogging sites like edublogs, no podcasting with services like Gcast, and no Google Docs. I guess they want to be sure that if anything inappropriate was published, at least they would be able to pull the plug very quickly since they control the server. It’s sad to hear about such strong fear when the benefits of online publishing are so great. When I was with Millard Public Schools, we had parents and students sign release forms allowing for web publishing. However, Millard continues to have the policy that online student work must reside on the school district’s own web server. That means no external blogging sites like edublogs, no podcasting with services like Gcast, and no Google Docs. I guess they want to be sure that if anything inappropriate was published, at least they would be able to pull the plug very quickly since they control the server.

]]> By: Silvia http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/02/when-litigation-fear-rules-the-network/#comment-49615 Silvia Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:41:47 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/02/when-litigation-fear-rules-the-network/#comment-49615 Thanks for raising such a complex topic. I am from Argentina and the story seems to be the same. FEAR of litigation many times rules the schools. The main problem is that the relationship between the school and parents has changed in the last decades. The school-parent alliance is broken and it is necessary to help parents be active partners in the education of their children. In my opinion, debate is the key. Debate between parents, school board members, school administrators, students and educators. We need to encourage professional reflection on how to face change in education. Thanks for raising such a complex topic.
I am from Argentina and the story seems to be the same. FEAR of litigation many times rules the schools. The main problem is that the relationship between the school and parents has changed in the last decades. The school-parent alliance is broken and it is necessary to help parents be active partners in the education of their children.
In my opinion, debate is the key. Debate between parents, school board members, school administrators, students and educators. We need to encourage professional reflection on how to face change in education.

]]> By: AllanahK http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/02/when-litigation-fear-rules-the-network/#comment-49609 AllanahK Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:20:19 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/02/when-litigation-fear-rules-the-network/#comment-49609 I am astounded at the fear that surrounds some American schools. Where did it come from? Was it always there and is growing feeding on itself? I think one of the prime reasons school itself exists is for children learn how to socialise- how to work through problems- to have a childhood. We live in strange times. I am astounded at the fear that surrounds some American schools. Where did it come from? Was it always there and is growing feeding on itself?

I think one of the prime reasons school itself exists is for children learn how to socialise- how to work through problems- to have a childhood.

We live in strange times.

]]> By: Soojin http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/02/when-litigation-fear-rules-the-network/#comment-49607 Soojin Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:11:50 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/03/02/when-litigation-fear-rules-the-network/#comment-49607 This is soojin, and I found your blog via twitter. I don't get why school enforces IT education when they block user created contents. That's nothing different than having a big computer lab in a school... it's retarded. There's been a similar law all the way in Korea. People were not supposed to stand in single file straight lines in the escalators because that might make people trip over. Anyways, if Fear is the case, the one should be educated first are the (retarded) PARENTS according to your post because if with parental consent everything will work fine. This is soojin, and I found your blog via twitter.
I don’t get why school enforces IT education when they block user created contents. That’s nothing different than having a big computer lab in a school… it’s retarded.

There’s been a similar law all the way in Korea. People were not supposed to stand in single file straight lines in the escalators because that might make people trip over.

Anyways, if Fear is the case, the one should be educated first are the (retarded) PARENTS according to your post because if with parental consent everything will work fine.

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