1. If you charge students how do you address the equitable use issue...the
"haves" vs. the "have nots". Hate to see a kid lose out because he couldn't
afford the service. Just a thought.
2. Be careful with providing a local internet "on ramp". I've known a
couple places that got into trouble because they ended up getting sued by
local internet providers because they were "competing" with them. Just be
careful if you do that type of access scheme.
3. I guess I'm a bit confused by what you mean with "account". If you
bring a 56K line into a building then each PC in the building can be
assigned an IP address and given access to the internet. Or you can install
hardware/software that will dynamically allocate IP numbers as needed from a
smaller pool. If you are "buying" these IP numbers from someone and getting
an email account I can see what you're saying. But if you are not buying a
service from some provider then there is no "account", per se. Maybe I just
need to be cleared up on that issue.
For example: if you're not getting email from someone...post office
boxes...then you'll have to put up your own email server and give out post
office boxes on that machine.
Anyhow, with direct internet access I'm always concerned about two things:
1. Equitable access. Everyone should have access in a school setting
without regards for financial status (i.e., ability to purchase an account).
2. Full access to "everything" on the net anywhere in the school. There
are a few places I don't want the students to have full access to and the
only way to control that I've seen so far is direct supervison. Anybody
that has that type of full access everywhere in a school...I would
appreciate hearing your comments and successes/failures.
Jim Barton (barton@InforMNs.K12.MN.US) wrote
>>I need some input and advice from those that have internet access in your
>>schools (K-12). We are soon to install a 56K line. All staff would
>>(could?) be provided with an internet address account - and possibly
>>students. My feeling is that the school should provide such services as a
>>part of doing business - subject to acceptable use policies of course. My
>>superintendent is considering charging staff (maybe students?) if they want
>>an account because they would probably use it at home for personal use
>>rather than school use. This would also be a way to recoup some of the
>>cost to the district. What are you doing in your district in this type of
>>situation?
Simon Bryan <sbryan@jolt.mpx.com.au> responded...
>We now have a permanent (modem) connection to our local ISP (Microplex)
>and our own domain name, thus we give out our own e-mail addresses that
>can only be used from the school unless we provide dial in access, this
>costs us a flat rate of $100 per month (14.4 connection), regardelss of
>usage, so who cares if staff use it for other than strcitly business?
>Staff will receive a free account, whilst students will be charged a
>nominal fee.
Timothy A. Ladd, Sr. ctladd@eastnet.educ.ecu.edu
Technology Coordinator
Currituck Schools
Currituck NC 27929
919-232-2223