Acceptable Use Policy
for Moscow Public Schools USD #209
Moscow School District #209 is now providing Internet access to students and teachers.
This service is being provided by Pioneer Telephone of Ulysses, and the District
pays a flat monthly fee to connect our computer network to the Internet.
The Internet is an electronic highway connecting hundreds of thousands of computers
around the world, and millions of individual subscribers. Students and teachers
have access to
electronic mail, information databases, electronic discussion groups, public domain
software, and access to many library card catalogs including the Library of Congress.
Our connection to the Internet vastly expands the resources available to our staff
and students. In fact, the type of connection we have now was largely limited to
Universities, major colleges, and government agencies until a few years ago.
Unfortunately, there are pitfalls as well as jewels in the use of Internet. Being
a world-wide network means there is no overall authority in charge of maintaining
order or appropriate behavior of those people using it. There are approximately
25 million people on the "Net" now, and not all of those people share what most of us would
regard as "good and decent" beliefs and behaviors. Also, what we might regard as
illegal behavior may not be illegal on a computer in say, Thailand.
Since it is impossible for us to police the Internet, and impossible for us to keep
students from accessing inappropriate areas, we instead switch the responsibility
to the students. The student will not be allowed access to the Internet unless both
the student and their parent/guardian sign this "Acceptable Use Policy". This policy will
detail the responsibilities of the student while "on-line", and the consequences
if inappropriate behavior occurs.
Network Responsibilities
1. Using someone else's network account is not acceptable.
2. Allowing someone to use your network account is not acceptable
3. Downloading unauthorized commercial software is not acceptable.
4. Obtaining inappropriate graphics or text files is not acceptable.
5. Keep files in your personal folder to a minimum. Disk storage space is limited.
If your folder gets too full, the system administrator will go through the folder
and delete the files.
6. Trying to access files in other users folders in not acceptable.
E-mail and Newsgroup Responsibilities
1. "Forging" E-mail is unacceptable. Do not assume that e-mail sent to you was indeed
from that person. If you do receive a questionable e-mail letter, forward it to
kmitchel@pld.com, and I will track down the culprit.
2. Use of inappropriate language is unacceptable.
3. Rudeness or insulting behavior in e-mail or newsgroup posts is unacceptable.
4. Subscribing to newsgroups/mailing lists where other users use inappropriate language
and behavior is unacceptable.
5. Delete unwanted messages immediately since they take up disk storage space.
6. Do not assume that e-mail is private. Think of it as an electronic post card.
7. Do not give out your full name, address, phone number, parent's credit card numbers
to ANYONE on Internet.
World Wide Web Responsibilities
1. Searching for or accessing sites that contain inappropriate materials is unacceptable.
We are aware that it is impossible to know what might be on a site before you actually
see it, but if a teacher tells you to "freeze" , and checks the history of your web movements and sees questionable search items... the student will be out of
luck.
2. Personal Web pages ( if allowed) will not contain inappropriate materials.
Failure to follow this general code will mean the loss of Internet access, possible
loss of school network access, and any other disciplinary action that such behavior
may require.
Appropriate materials or behavior will be at the judgment of the teacher. This means
that reading e-mail/newsgroups during a time when the student is supposed to be doing
other tasks, or downloading or playing games, can result in the loss of the student's Internet access. The teacher will determine the number of warnings, if any, that
the student will receive if the conditions of this Policy are breached. The student
may appeal a loss of access through the Principal.
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Contract Portion of the Policy
STUDENT
I have read the three (3) pages of the Moscow School District's Acceptable Use Policy
and understand and will abide by these Terms and Conditions. I further understand
that violation of these Terms is unethical and may constitute a criminal offense.
I also understand that if I violate any of these Conditions, my access privileges will
be revoked and school disciplinary and/or appropriate legal action may be taken.
Student Name (please print) : __________________
Student Signature: ___________________
Date: _____/_____/_____
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PARENT OR GUARDIAN
As Parent or Guardian of this student, I have read the three (3) pages of the Moscow
School District's Acceptable Use Policy. I understand that this access is intended
for education purposes, and that Moscow Schools must take precautions to limit access
to subjects and areas that assist us in our efforts to educate my child. I also recognize
that it is impossible for USD #209 to restrict access to all controversial materials,
and I will not hold USD #209 responsible for materials that might be acquired on the network.
I understand that although my child will be supervised, it will be his/her responsibility
to use this resource in the proper manner. I hereby give my permission to issue
my child an account allowing access to the Internet.
Parent or Guardian (please print): ___________________
Parent or Guardian signature: __________________ Date: ____/____/____