MISSION

The mission of the Berlin School District is to improve learning and teaching through interpersonal communication, student access to information, research, teacher training collaboration and dissemination of successful educational practices, methods, and materials. The district has established the Internet acceptable use policy to ensure appropriate use of this resource.

INTENT

It is the intent of the district to make Internet access available to further the learning of students in the district. This resource should be used to enhance the curriculum or assist students and staff in meeting their specific educational research needs.

With access to computers and people all over the world also comes the availability of material that may not be considered to be of educational value in the context of the school setting. There may be some material or individual communications which are not suitable for school age children. The Berlin School District views information gathered from the Internet in the same manner as other reference materials are identified by the schools. Specifically, the district supports resources that will enhance the learning environment with directed guidance from the faculty and staff. However, it is impossible to control all materials on a global network and an industrious user may discover inappropriate information.

At school, student access to and use of the Internet will be under teacher direction and will be monitored as any other classroom activity. The Berlin School District, however, cannot prevent the possibility that some users may access material that is not consistent with its educational mission, goals and policies. When using the district's access to the Internet, users are expected to abide by the policies established by the district which include generally accepted rules of Internet etiquette. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

ACCEPTABLE USE

The students' acceptable use of the Internet will include the following:

• using the Internet to research assigned classroom projects

• using the Internet to explore other computer systems

• respecting and upholding copyright laws and other applicable laws or regulations

• respecting the rights and privacy of others by not accessing private files

• following all regulations posted in the computer lab or other rooms where computers are in use

• following the directions of the adult in charge of the computer lab or other rooms where computers are in use

UNACCEPTABLE USE

The students' unacceptable use of the Internet will include the following:

• using the Internet for any illegal purpose

• using impolite or abusive language

• violating the rules of common sense or etiquette

• changing any computer files that do not belong to the user

• using the system for commercial use

• using an account other than their own or misrepresenting their identity

• creating and/or distributing a computer virus over the Internet

• using the system to illegally transfer software, otherwise known as pirating

• revealing personal addresses or telephone numbers of students or staff

• using the Internet in such a way that would disrupt the use of Internet by others

• causing damage deliberately or willfully to computer equipment or data or assisting others in doing the same

• accessing materials that are inconsistent with the school's code of conduct and district's educational goals or showing others how to do the same  

CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLATION

Consequences of violations include but are not limited to:

• Suspension or revocation of Internet access;

• Suspension or revocation of computer access;

• Discipline by administration;

• Legal action and prosecution by the authorities.

Guidelines for access to information have already been established in the Library Bill of Rights of 1980. These principles can be applied to the Internet as well. This document states that "attempts to restrict access to library materials violate the basic tenets of the Library Bill of Rights; however, school librarians are required to devise collections that are consistent with the philosophy, goals, and objectives of the school district." This means that students have the right to information, but the school has the right to restrict any information that does not apply to the approved curriculum.

Materials on the Internet can be considered part of a vast digital library. Electronic database and information search tools to access the Internet are becoming part of school media centers and libraries, and many public libraries offer some type of Internet access as part of their services. Users should be aware that use of the Internet and/or E-mail is not guaranteed to be private. System operators will have access to all user accounts, including E-mail. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the proper authorities.

Access to the Internet via the Berlin School District is a privilege not a right. This privilege may be restricted at any time for use not consistent with the educational goals of the District.

WHO'S ON THE INTERNET?

The global information networks on the Internet are "public places". You must always remember that you are sharing this space with many other users. Millions of individuals may be interacting across the Internet at the same time; your actions can be "seen" by others on the Internet. If you use a particular service on the Internet, it is likely that someone knows the connections that you are making, knows about the computer shareware that you are using, and knows what you looked at while you were in the system. Because these connections are granted to you as part of the larger scope of the curriculum, the Berlin School District has the right to monitor what you do on the Internet to make sure that it continues to function properly for all of its users.