http://oneandfour.org/archives/2006/05/nyras_statement.html Alex's Blog Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:09:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 http://oneandfour.org/archives/2006/05/nyras_statement.html#comment-488 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://oneandfour.org/archives/2006/05/nyras_statement.html#comment-488 I just got this via my Google News Alert... This is insane. Not only can the schools define "inappropriate behavior" way beyond what they're supposed to be able to (you know, materially interfering with the educational process), now they can keep you from doing those "inappropriate" things online? So, what, if a student goes and gets an avatar that says "Fuck You Ageists" or something, the profanity being inappropriate the school can do what they want? Especially with all the crazy things schools consider inappropriate nowdays... oh, look, my shirt is too short on my MySpace profile picture, guess I better change into my schoolgirl outfit instead; look, a tattoo or ink drawing (!) that isn't covered or washed off, am I going to get suspended? "He said posting a photo of bad behavior on a Web site is the same as if a student dropped the picture on his desk." Yeah, except you have to go *out of your way* to find the picture, instead of having it rudely invading your space... "He said the issue gets more complicated if the posting is of something deemed objectionable, rather than illegal. Then the student's right to free speech comes into play. In such cases, a district must prove the behavior violates a law or a school rule, that there's a definite link of the behavior to the school and that the behavior constitutes a true threat to the students, staff or school property." If the behavior constitutes a true threat, &c. then wouldn't it be illegal? And if they're just guessing, why don't they just use clairvoyants and have them predict who's going to commit a crime and then arrest them...oops, not Minority Report is it? Pretty soon schools will be able to discipline students who keep a diary, and students will have to try in the alcoves of their rooms, out of the line of sight of their telescreens... I just got this via my Google News Alert…
This is insane. Not only can the schools define “inappropriate behavior” way beyond what they’re supposed to be able to (you know, materially interfering with the educational process), now they can keep you from doing those “inappropriate” things online? So, what, if a student goes and gets an avatar that says “Fuck You Ageists” or something, the profanity being inappropriate the school can do what they want?
Especially with all the crazy things schools consider inappropriate nowdays… oh, look, my shirt is too short on my MySpace profile picture, guess I better change into my schoolgirl outfit instead; look, a tattoo or ink drawing (!) that isn’t covered or washed off, am I going to get suspended?
“He said posting a photo of bad behavior on a Web site is the same as if a student dropped the picture on his desk.” Yeah, except you have to go *out of your way* to find the picture, instead of having it rudely invading your space…
“He said the issue gets more complicated if the posting is of something deemed objectionable, rather than illegal. Then the student’s right to free speech comes into play. In such cases, a district must prove the behavior violates a law or a school rule, that there’s a definite link of the behavior to the school and that the behavior constitutes a true threat to the students, staff or school property.”
If the behavior constitutes a true threat, &c. then wouldn’t it be illegal? And if they’re just guessing, why don’t they just use clairvoyants and have them predict who’s going to commit a crime and then arrest them…oops, not Minority Report is it?
Pretty soon schools will be able to discipline students who keep a diary, and students will have to try in the alcoves of their rooms, out of the line of sight of their telescreens…

]]>