Norris School District

“MySpace.com” article raises concerns about some Norris students' behaviors

            A recent Voice news article on MySpace.com (February 9, 2006) raised the specter of Norris as a “party school” and suggested that the popularity of this website with Norris High School students has “grown”… “in popularity” and that the content of some of those web pages is “alarming.”  The article stated that “some” of these websites “had a common theme” of inappropriate content.

            There are several key clarifications that must be made about this article and the related issues.

            (1) Students cannot and have never been able to access MySpace.com or similar websites when they are at school.  The sites are blocked because they serve no school-related purpose.  Any attempts by students to do so would violate their network use agreement and result in being kicked off the Norris network.  Computer use at Norris is for educational purposes only. 

            (2) Norris works diligently to counteract any inappropriate use of the internet.  Technology Coordinators have reviewed MySpace.com and will continue to do so in order to learn whether Norris students are using this website and documenting high-risk behaviors or any behaviors that are violations of our student code of conduct.  We will proceed accordingly to address the matter with parents and respond at school with disciplinary measures as suits the situation.

            (3) Students have absolutely no expectation of privacy for their school network folders and we will search the contents of these (and do so) whenever there is a suspicion of inappropriate content or questionable use.

            (4) Students face disciplinary action when they engage in any flagrant or repeated rule violations at school.  Students are subject to parental supervision at home and when they are not at school or under the supervision of Norris staff at a school activity. 

            (5) If a student uses the internet as a forum to maliciously attack, injure, defame, or slander any student or staff member, that student is subject to harsh disciplinary action from the school.

            The article brought to light some important issues.  These issues include internet safety specifically and safe behaviors generally.

            The Norris district takes a proactive stance from the elementary through the high school levels in teaching kids media literacy and safe and appropriate internet use.  We trust our parents also do all they can to help their kids be safe.  Our first concern in relation to the MySpace.com and other, similar website use that may occur by students outside of school is that students may naively divulge personal identifying information about themselves that is then available for predatory criminals who regularly sift through such sites to mine information with the very worst intentions.

            The second area of concern are high-risk behaviors in general.  Whenever a Norris student uses drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, we are concerned because these behaviors are unsafe and illegal.  We want our students to engage in safe and legal behaviors at all times – at school, at home, and elsewhere.  Allegations regarding student behavior are common place at school, yet action is never taken without a thorough investigation of the facts and circumstances behind each charge.  In the absence of fact, speculation becomes the basis for action or reaction, phenomena that usually lead to misinformation and a jump to a conclusion.  However, when the facts show that students have been engaged in

behaviors such as these, the school responds appropriately through various means. 

Appropriate school responses include referrals through the SCIP program (School Community Intervention Program) sponsored by various health agencies in the Lincoln area.  We educate students about the dangers of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use through an excellent health education program.  When a student engages in drug, alcohol, or tobacco use at school or is under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school, we take disciplinary action.  We contact parents immediately.  If appropriate, we also seek the involvement of local law enforcement to have the Sheriff’s department issue citations or make arrests.

We respond swiftly and appropriately as a school when patrons, parents, or students bring us information about student internet postings that are defaming or insulting to our students.  We take action within our legal bounds to eliminate this behavior and remove these materials.  In the last year, several students received the harshest disciplinary consequences from suspensions to expulsion for computer violations and inappropriate internet use. 

            Norris High School vigorously combats high risk adolescent behaviors and inappropriate school use of the internet.  We will continue to diligently emphasize the need for all students to make healthy choices to promote personal health and foster academic achievement.