Yoakum Junior High Handbook

Section VI: Computers and Technology

Policies and Guidelines for use of the Internet
Purpose
Guidelines for Internet use
Yoakum Junior High Computer Use Policy

Yoakum Junior High School Policies and Guidelines for Use of the Internet:

To prepare students for an increasingly technological society, the district has made an investment in computer technology for instructional purposes. Use of these computer resources is restricted to students working under a teacher’s supervision and for approved purposes only. Students and parents will be asked to sign a user agreement regarding use of these resources; violations of this agreement may result in withdrawal of privileges and other disciplinary action.

The Internet is a vast, global network, linking computers at universities, public and private schools, science labs, libraries, and other sites. Through the Internet, one can communicate with people all over the world through a number of discussion forums, as well as through electronic mail. In addition, many files are available for downloading on the Internet, many of which are of educational value. Because of its enormous size, the Internet’s potential is boundless. The Internet expands classroom resources dramatically by making many resources from all over the world available to students, teachers, and media specialists, including original source materials. It brings information, data, images, and even computer software into the classroom from places otherwise impossible to reach, and it does this almost instantly. Access to these resources can yield individual and group projects, collaboration, curriculum materials, and idea sharing not found in schools without Internet access.

As a hands-on classroom tool, the use of online telecommunication networks can be a motivator for students in and of itself, and their use encourages the kind of independence and autonomy that many educators agree is important for students to achieve in their learning process. Because class, race, ability, and disability are removed as factors in communication while using the Internet, it is a natural tool for addressing the needs of all students.

With access to the Internet, your site can become a valuable source of information as students and staff begin to become producers and publishers of knowledge.

However, with such great potential for education also comes some potential for abuse. It is the purpose of this list of guidelines, as well as the contract for online use, to make sure that all who use the Yoakum Junior High School Internet connection, both students and faculty, use this valuable source in an appropriate manner.

Part of the School’s responsibility in preparing students for the 21st century is to provide them access to the tools they will be using as adults. We believe that use of this global information network is one of those tools.

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Purpose

The School’s system will be used only for educational purposes consistent with the School’s mission and goals. Commercial and/or personal use of the School’s system is strictly prohibited. Failure to abide by the regulations shall result in suspension of the Internet account; pending administrative review and actions which may include the revocation of the privilege of use.

Guidelines for Use

The most important prerequisite for Yoakum Junior High School student/staff to receive an Internet account is that he or she takes full responsibility for his or her own actions. Yoakum Junior High, along with the other organizations sponsoring this Internet link-up, will not be liable for the actions of anyone connected to Internet through this hook-up. All users shall assume full liability; legal, financial, and otherwise, for their actions.

In addition, Yoakum Junior High takes no responsibility for any information or materials that are transferred through the Internet. All data and information should be considered on its own merits on an as-is basis. The School has no control over the inherent quality of information and files found on the Internet.

Yoakum Junior High School makes no guarantees, implied or otherwise, regarding the reliability of the data connection. Neither Yoakum Junior High, nor the sponsor organization, shall be liable for any loss or corruption of data resulting while using the Internet connection.

Because of the size of the Internet, many kinds of materials eventually find their way onto the system. Should a user happen to find materials which may be deemed inappropriate while using his or her Yoakum Junior High School Internet account, he or she shall refrain from downloading this material, and shall not identify or share the location of this material. Be aware that the transfer of certain kinds of materials is illegal, and punishable by fine or jail sentence.

No users shall allow other individuals to use their account. In addition, the user is not allowed to give out or share their password.

Yoakum Junior High School reserves the right to examine all data stored in the machines involved in the Internet link to make sure that all users are in compliance with these regulations.. Furthermore, Yoakum Junior High School reserves the right to use electronic means to track and monitor use.

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No student shall incur, or attempt to input, any financial obligation through the use of the Yoakum Junior High School telecommunication connection without prior written parental permission.

No user shall use this telecommunication link to perform any act that may be construed as illegal or inappropriate, including the use of the link to gain unauthorized access to other systems on the network.

Yoakum Junior High School strongly condemns the illegal distribution of software, otherwise known as pirating. Any students caught transferring such files through Internet, and any whose accounts are found to contain such illegal files, shall immediately have their accounts permanently revoked. All users should be aware that software piracy is a federal offense and is punishable by fine or imprisonment.

All federal copyright laws apply to materials located or transferred on the Internet or other online resources.

Finally, all users should keep in mind that when they use Internet, they are entering a global community, and any actions taken by them reflect upon the school as a whole, As such, all users must behave in an ethical and legal manner.

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Yoakum Junior High School Computer Use Policy

I understand that my use of the Yoakum Junior High School computer Internet and e-mail resources is a privilege, not a right. This privilege may be taken away from me at any time for inappropriate use of the resources.

I understand that Yoakum Junior High School reserves the right to monitor any and all Internet, e-mail, and other activity on the computers purchased and maintained, in whole or in part, by Yoakum Junior High School. I understand that Yoakum Junior High reserves the right to change at any time the terms and conditions of usage of School resources.

Some information on the Internet or that may be transmitted by e-mail may be inappropriate for students, obscene, defamatory, inaccurate, derogatory, abusive, profane, threatening, racially offensive, or illegal. Yoakum Junior High School shall take every reasonable precaution to prevent such information from being viewed by students, but I understand that I am responsible for my own actions. I understand that possession and usage of such material is strictly prohibited by Yoakum Junior High School. Users found in possession of such materials may be disciplined. The school reserves the right to determine conduct which is inappropriate.

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Prohibitions:

1. Acquiring, storing, or displaying any obscene, racially offensive or otherwise objectionable material.
2. Attempting improper unauthorized access to any other computer system.
3. Willfully preventing or impairing the use of the Yoakum Junior High School’s computer equipment.
4. Doing anything that might bring the Yoakum Junior High School or faculty into disrepute.
5. Engaging in any illegal activity.
6. Distributing or releasing personal information, including but not limited to a person’s address, telephone number, e-mail address, etc., without that person’s permission, or if the person is less than 18 years old, without the permission of that person’s parent or legal guardian.
7. Violating the provisions of the Texas Education Code and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act regarding students’ rights to privacy.
8. Publishing any information which may violate or infringe upon the rights, either statutory of common law, of any other person.
9. Conducting or soliciting any business for monetary profit unless specifically permitted in writing by Yoakum Junior High School
10. Submitting, publishing, displaying, possessing, using, retrieving, or distributing information that contains pornographic, defamatory, abusive, threatening, profane, obscene, or information otherwise inappropriate or offensive to an average person in the community, material at school, on school property, within 300 feet of school property, or at a school-related activity.
11. Reposting or forwarding personal communication without the author’s prior consent.
12. Violating copyright infringement laws.
13. Using impolite or abusive language or other methods of communication.
14. Changing or altering computer sites that do not belong to the user.
15. Making defamatory or derogatory remarks about a person that would violate common or statutory laws.
16. Uploading or downloading software or computer files with the purpose to damage Yoakum Junior High School or another member’s computer, Internet and electronic mail resources (i.e. computer viruses).
17. Attempting to or harming or destroying data of another user’s or entity’s computer, Internet or e-mail resources, including other students and Yoakum Junior High School.
18. Seeking to gain or gaining unauthorized access to other computer resources.
19. Committing fraud on another person or entity.
20. Any political activity prohibited by law.

I understand that Yoakum Junior High School shall not be responsible for any financial obligations I incur from use, either authorized or unauthorized, of School resources

I understand that resources could fail or malfunction, and that the School shall not be responsible for my losses. I understand that I should make personal back-ups of my material in the resources.

I understand that my use of computer resources is for primarily educational, not personal, purposes, and that any information contained on the resources or related to my usage are accessible by Yoakum Junior High School. I understand that an individual search may be conducted if there is reasonable suspicion that I have violated this policy.

I understand that to the extent applicable, Yoakum Junior High School Student Code of Conduct and any other disciplinary rules apply to use of School resources.

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