School District Readies Rules on Internet Use

When officials at the Capistrano Unified School District allowed students to surf the Internet, it was with education in mind--not nude women or trash talk.

But computers provide temptation for curious teen-agers. And these days, going on-line can mean a trip to the vice principal’s office.

Four students at Aliso Niguel High School lost their computer privileges last school year for straying in cyberspace. One was caught attempting to download a photograph from Playboy magazine. The other three were talking trash in a computer chat room.

Administrators are responding to this futuristic problem in a time-honored fashion--they are adopting more rules.

School officials have drafted a set of guidelines that regulates students, teachers and staff who access the Internet on school computers. A policy outlining computer rules was reviewed by school district trustees Monday night. The board is expected to approve the policy next month.

Equipment that tracks all computer use will be installed, giving administrators a record of every keystroke, said Patrick Levens, director of secondary instructional support services.

Parental permission will be required for students to sign on. Passwords will be issued for students and staff, and computer-use records will be reviewed.

Violations could result in loss of a password, suspension, expulsion or even--if necessary--a referral to police.

Levens said the policy is to ensure that a few students do not spoil things for all others. “We hope that the vast, vast majority of students will treat computer use as a privilege, and in a responsible manner,” he said.

The district has about 60 computers with access to the Internet, but that number will grow to 140 by the end of the fall.

Susanna Prentice, coordinator of instructional technology for the County Office of Education, said most Orange County school districts either have computer policies or are close to adopting them.

She said improper use of school computers has been sparse.

“I haven’t heard that many instances of it happening in schools,” she said.