June 2007 archive
Ask a Presidential Candidate
Last night, PBS hosted a debate among the Democratic candidates running for president. After the event, I had a chance to speak with four of the candidates about their perceptions about the digital divide and the role schools might play...
Supreme Court Rules Against Student in “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” Case
In the first major Supreme Court decision on student free speech in almost a generation, the Court ruled against a student who was suspended for displaying a banner with drug-related messaging just off the school campus. What does the ruling...
New Study Analyzes Parental Practices Regarding Children’s Internet Use
A new report on parents’ attitudes towards their children’s media consumption suggests that parents are doing more than ever to promote online safety. Is that actually the case, or do we just feel like we’re doing a better job?...
New Initiative Seeks to Educate Teachers About Online Security
In the wake of the Julie Amero legal battle, a group of technology experts and teachers is pulling together an initiative to improve the Internet security skills of teachers and administrators....
It’s Never Too Early for Student-Generated Political Videos
With the election kicking into high gear, there’s no doubt we’ll see some interesting uses of student-generated content in the classroom over the coming school year. But that doesn’t mean that some students aren’t getting a head start....
How Not to Use MySpace in the Classroom
Just when you thought you could avoid yet another educational controversy breaking out on MySpace, a teacher in suburban Washington DC is finding herself in hot water for comments she wrote on her MySpace blog, and the online discussion with...
Getting Out the Message on Online Safety
I’ve often heard from educators and parents that there’s a lack of powerful messaging out there to help students understand the impact of cyberbullying and online safety in general. While it may sometimes seem like that’s the case, there are...
Julie Amero Granted New Trial
This morning, a Connecticut judge granted substitute teacher Julie Amero a new trial. She’ll now have a chance to present evidence that she accidentally exposed students to online porn due to malware....
Olivia’s Letters
News coverage about a middle school student victimized by online and offline bullying has prompted a grassroots solidarity campaign. She’s received over 1,400 letters of support so far, and it’s serving as a teachable moment that no school should ignore....
