Our View: Raising awareness about what’s going on in cyberspace
is key to making sure trouble started in cyberspace doesn’t spill
into our schools
News that Gilroy school officials are struggling with student cyberspace issues that are surfacing on MySpace.com – harassment, inappropriate sexual content, mean-spirited rumor spreading and gang symbolism – isn’t surprising. The Web gives children a sense of empowerment and freedom. Free from the usual societal constraints, students descend into the abyss of Web anarchy. It’s rather like William Golding’s novel “Lord of the Flies” where the children, absent adults, form a society in which the basics of right and wrong are lost.
Which brings to the most important point concerning MySpace.com: Parents must monitor what their children are doing online and intervene if necessary.
Ask about MySpace.com, ask to see your child’s site. The discussion should be frank and clear. It’s not cute, for example, for your son to post a shirtless picture at the center of “his space” flipping the bird at everyone or for your daughter to pose in a skimpy outfit.
And it’s certainly not acceptable to spread vicious rumors, threaten other students or promote gang activity.
School administrators have a difficult job in this arena – and the school district needs to support our administrators by revisiting the harassment policies with an eye toward what’s going on in cyberspace and how it’s affecting students’ lives at school. Where is the line between acceptable speech and harassment? What happens when a student is posting rumors? What should students report to administrators?
Guidelines and policies need to be in place to deal with cyber trouble. Gilroy Unified should issue a white paper for staff members and for distribution to parents to communicate the
pitfalls and spell out the consequences for cyberspace infractions.
Administrators have taken some common-sense steps thus far. Gilroy High School Principal James Maxwell has cut off access to MySpace.com at the school. If it’s not already, that should be the case at all Gilroy school sites. GHS Assistant Principal Greg Camacho-Light created his own false account to monitor what was going on with students. “There’s just about anything you want to see on there … if you can think of anything on the Internet, it’s on the Web site.”
Support from the Gilroy Police Department is also needed. This topic should be on the “A” list with the school liaison office and the Gang Task Force.
Understanding that this is a brave new world should advance the notion that our community should be pro-active in defining the issues and supporting solutions.
Cyberspace threats, harassment and gang activity are not harmless, and our students must understand that there are consequences for inappropriate behavior both at school and at home.
