School forbids MySpace accounts

[sow the seeds]

This is pretty funny and ridiculous. I don't think a school should have any say in what a student does outside the school.

St. Hugo of the Hills, an exclusive Catholic school for kids K-8, says it will expel any student with a page on MySpace.com or any similar site.

In a message to parents, the school says the ban is necessary at least partly because it's found "offensive language or pictures... and innapropriate language" on students' MySpace pages - a violation of St. Hugo's Internet Use Policy. The school also cited the danger of Internet predators.

"Students... must delete their 'myspace.com' accounts if they wish to continue to attend school at St. Hugo.," said the message on the school's website. "If a family chooses to allow their children to continue their 'myspace.com' account, they will not be allowed to continue as students at St. Hugo.

ENTIRE MESSAGE FROM ST. HUGO OF THE HILLS

News Update: Myspace Policy

The school is in the process of presenting the “Think First, Stay Safe” program to the parents. One of the topics addressed in this series is Internet predators. Over the last several weeks there has been an arrest of a teacher and a police officer, both of whom posed as children on the internet to arrange meetings with unsuspecting children. It is out of this concern that we have determined that the school must take a stand and set forth its position on the “myspace.com” phenomenon.

At the beginning of each school year, students and a parent are required to sign the school’s Internet Use Policy. The policy discussed the expectations of the school regarding the students’ use of the Internet at school and at home. It also acknowledged that, “ultimately, parents are responsible to set and convey the standards their children should follow when using all media and information sources.” It was STRONGLY encouraged that parents monitor the students’ home Internet use. It was also stated that the following behaviors are not permitted:

Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures ON OR OFF the St. Hugo network.

Using inappropriate language to harass, insult or attack others.

The “myspace.com” sites of many of the students violate these rules. Therefore, it is the RULE of St. Hugo School that NO ENROLLED STUDENT SHALL have a “myspace.com” webpage or any similar type personal internet site. Students were informed on March 20, 2007 that they must delete their “myspace.com” accounts if they wish to continue to attend school at St. Hugo. If a family chooses to allow their children to continue their “myspace.com” account, they will not be allowed to continue as students at St. Hugo.

Article taken from
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=54a019b1-6837-4ce0-b7be-2fb6deb02b77

 

[Guest]

private schools can do pretty much anything they want

 

[NOKUY]

I guess they can do that since its a private school.

That would NEVER fly in public schools..although the way things are going...thats probably next (they sure are starting the censorship at a mighty young age these days)

 

[sow the seeds]

True that private schools can do pretty much anything they want...but it should be only in school. I actaully went to a private high school and they had some dumb rules for outside school, but it was just stuff to keep the school's name from looking bad.

I mean I can see students not being allowed to look at myspace at school...but simply having a myspace account can get you expelled or not accepted? C'mon thats total BS.

 

[Guest]

yep. pretty insane.

 

[daisy jane]

That is pretty ridiculous. It is a shame that kids don't have the freedom to do what they want outside of school. There are always alternatives to myspace...sites that have the same basis. But then again, they wouldn't be cool.

 

[sow the seeds]

Its actaully not only myspace...the alternatives are banned too. Not sure if the article says it but I heard it on the local news (which is what made me search to find the print story).

I wonder how they'll find if a student has a myspace (or alternative site account).

 

[daisy jane]

Oh damn, I didn't know that the alternatives were banned also. If only they had an "emoticon" for sticking your foot in your mouth. This will do.. Haha. I am pretty sure that you can just type in a person's name on any of those sites and the results of that person will come up.

 

[sow the seeds]

Haha its all good daisy...I don't think the article I posted mentioned the alternative sites at all.

I'm thinking this whole thing would be pretty easy to outsmart...make a myspace without your real name and they can't find it! The question is are k-8th graders that smart...lol.

 

[robobond]

Come on! Even the pope has a myspace.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=9201429

 

[daisy jane]

Haha that is true! I just wonder how many kids will do that since they all value myspace so deeply and want all of their friends to know who they really are. This just makes me glad that I went to a public school.

Although, I have to say, even in public schools the rules are getting a little ridiculous. In my hometown, students can't have facial hair. This is because it is considered distracting....I don't know how they came to that conclusion. Haha. In my old high school, we could not wear anything moderately revealing (shirts must overlap your pants by two inches, skirts have to be an inch below your fingertips, no logos that are bigger than 3inx3in., no hats or any sort, and no long coats..I could keep going) Which, of course, conflicts with the major styles for teenagers these days. Personally, I think the schools (at least my old school) focus too much on dress code and not enough on what is being taught in schools. A t shirt and jeans has always worked with me though!

 

[genkisan]

Nazi control-freak decendants of Puritan fanatics........



FEH!!

 

[daisy jane]

Come on! Even the pope has a myspace.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=9201429

Hahaha! The pope has some pretty busty friends on there. Not to mention Spicoli from Fast Times.

 

[Guest]

I'm so glad I'm going to an alternative school now *by choice*. Public schools are so freakin stupid and so anal about every little thing. Who cares if a person is wearing a hat?! Schools should stay out of life outside of the school building. My old school use to make all of the sports players sign a form saying they wouldn't go to parties and drink and such, why not do that for everyone too!? Honestly everything is about sports at public schools.

 

[Guest]

big deal... fuckin rich kids SHOULD be severely sheltered for the price their parents pay for private schooling, so they can grow up to be hard drug/wife abusing rockstars

DUH\

this post brought to you by rumpleminze peppermint schnapps

 

[eatlikekings]

who cares, there was no myspace when i was in 8th grade and also i never even owned a cell phone until i graduated high school. these kids have none of my sympathy

 

[Guest]

(they sure are starting the censorship at a mighty young age these days)

Shouldn't they have always done that lol?

 

[Guest]

who cares, there was no myspace when i was in 8th grade and also i never even owned a cell phone until i graduated high school. these kids have none of my sympathy

Yea! What the hell does a 1st grader need a cell phone for?!

 

[marx2k]

Yea! What the hell does a 1st grader need a cell phone for?!

So mommy can get in touch with the child in the bubble in case the nanny's cell phone isnt functioning, of course!

 

[genkisan]

Somehow I don't think that MySpace site is actually from the Pope........seems a bit "fly" fer the Vatican......