Should Social Networking Sites Be Banned From Schools?
I read this Huffington Post article a little while ago out of pure interest. I never really intended on writing anything about it, but I can’t quite get it out of my head. Basically, the article discusses the recent action that Rhode Island has taken against the evils of social networking (muahahaha <— that’s my evil laugh. Imagine me doing it right now while drumming my fingertips together a la Mr. Burns).
I understand the intentions behind the new bill, as it would be a means to protect younger students from the perils of cyber-bullying, but they’re taking it just a bit too far, no? I know that parents and teachers all the world over want to protect their children and students from the everlasting scars of childhood bullying, but I don’t believe it’s right to ban something which has become so integral in our society such as Facebook. I’m sure that being bullied is no picnic, but will the bullying really stop if, at the school, the sites are all down? Probably not. Bullies will be bullies, regardless of the outlet.
HA-ha
I think that the most ridiculous part of this proposal is that,should the bill be passed, they would announce it…wait for it…via social networking sites. Wow. The article’s author, Adam Goldstein, says it best when he writes: ” The bill would need Governor Lincoln D. Chafee’s signature. Of course, he has a Twitter account. And of course, if he signed it, he’d be ‘stopping bullying’ by preventing kids from reading his own words”.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Filed under: College, Education, School | 26 Comments
Tags: Bill, bully, bullying, Education, Facebook, Governor, Huffington Post, Rhode Island, school, Student, The Simpsons, Twitter
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I am a university graduate, and I now work for a private college. I began writing this blog as a means to inform people about issues pertaining to higher education, both publicly and privately funded.
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The internet is impossible to control: you can ban kids from social newtorking sites all you want, but they learn how to get around it. In my school, we used to put https:// instead of http:// – and it worked every time. When schools try and impose bans like this, all they do is teach students how to ignore authority and cheat the rules.
Yes, you’re right, Mary…it IS impossible to control. Kids these days have every opportunity to get around any technological barriers, so it seems to be rather pointless to try to impose them, I suppose. Great tip on using https…perhaps we should pass that around to all of the schools, no? 🙂
Thanks very much for reading and taking the time to comment!
Um yeah! What do students need a facebook page in school for? They are in school to learn to read, write, and do long division not tag photos or flirt.
I think it is a huge distraction for an already over technologically burdened youth. In my opinion, social networking sites have huge adverse effect on students.
I agree that it’s a little more important to learn how to do long division rather than learn how to cyber-flirt, but do you think that banning the sites altogether is actually worthwhile? There are several teachers that actually use the sites to teach…do you think that social sites are a viable teaching tool or just a waste of time? (To be honest, I’ve been known to waste time on social sites without learning a thing…just trying to be honest here. Haha.)
Well, I think first we have to look at what kind of networking a High School student needs to do. I mean, are they networking for business purposes?
Yes, I do think it is worthwhile. When I was in school (HS class of 95) we didn’t have cell phones, Facebook, etc. If we wanted to “chat” we passed notes or did it after class. When we did pass notes we at least used some manner of grammatical structure, unlike the texting and IM of today.
I don’t see any reason to need those sites. They are a distraction and unfortunately, in a lot of cases, dumb down the people using them. Especially in grammar and spelling. Pretty soon cover letters will be written in chat lingo.
If a teacher NEEDS to have a site in order to reach their students, then they have no business teaching.
🙂
Well said, Mitchell…well said. 🙂
ANYthing can be used for the wrong things. Any politician who pretends they can legislate away bad stuff by taking stuff away from people is either a) an idiot b) a liar c) power hungry d) all of the above. Now see what you did? Got my Scottish warrior side coming out 😉
Scottish warrior = good and noble. English bloodthirsty king = horrible and shameful. Put the two of us together, and we could really have a battle…over politics and social networking sites. (Not as cool as a battle for freedom, but it’ll have to do).
By the way, I’d choose d) all of the above.
Perhaps some sort of reach-out would be a better route (e.g., assemblies with speakers addressing bullying of all types). I’m showing my age, as I would have snoozed thorough something like this as a kid. I’m presently reading The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga–it’s intended for young adults–and am remembering bullying I experienced (and bullying I implemented like a jackass when I was a bit older). I think we all forget how hard it can be to be a kid. I can’t imagine adding cyper-bullying to the mix. I don’t have a Facebook account, so I don’t understand how it’s “so integral in our society.” I’m sure many kids wished it didn’t exist when they’re on the rotten end of it.
Man, I have never experienced cyber-bullying and even I sometimes wish that Facebook didn’t exist! Life is so much simpler without it. It’s tough for the kids who have to experience the bullying, but if that is the case, then students need to be educated on how to ensure that their privacy settings are at their highest, and only accept friends that are truly friends. Also, if someone is cyber-bullying you, there is an easy solution…delete them as a friend! I don’t think that you can ban social networking sites from schools because, for better or worse, they have become an integral part of our culture and work life. The sooner the kids “learn the ropes”, so to speak, the better.
I agree! Facebook has become very integrated in our society, although i must admit that sometimes it scares me. Like, an incredibly stupid example, but i remember during high school time that you didn’t start dating someone “officially” as long as you didn’t put it on facebook! Haha! And now there are even new social network sites coming up such as Google +, I wonder where it is going to stop! Loved your article, very well written 🙂
Haha…Facebook didn’t even exist when I was in high school! Oh, I feel so old! But you’re right; everyone seems to think that nothing is official, (whether you’re dating someone, meeting up with friends for dinner, etc.) until someone writes it on someone else’s wall. I have just created my Google+ profile…it’ll be interesting to see what happens with it. Already, I like it more than Facebook; it’s a little more “grown-up”, you know what I mean? 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting, Maya! It’s greatly appreciated! 😀
Telling kids that they cannot access social networking sites will only make the sites more appealing to children.
For instance, I’m from the States and my government tells me I cannot go to Cuba. That makes me feel even more compelled to get on a flight to Mexico and then fly into Cuba. Why? Because the rebel in me wants to be able to say I’ve done it.
The same can be said for drinking. Here, we cannot drink until we are 21. Kids start drinking here early into their teenage years simply because we tell them not to.
Yes, I think you’re absolutely right. Every time you tell a kid not to do something, he/she will be even more intrigued by the forbidden activity and just plain go out and do it. I think that there should be some guidelines set for social networking sites set out in the schools, but I’m not sure that banning them altogether will actually make a difference…in fact, it may actually make things worse.
As for Cuba, I’ve been there before…if you’ve been to any other island in the Caribbean, then you know what Cuba is like. They’re pretty much the same. But they do have pretty great cigars in Cuba… 😉
Thanks for dropping by and commenting, Elle!
Ellie, you can’t buy me season tickets to Fighting Sioux hockey. OR make me cookies. 😀
*Elle
My 4 years old nephew is smarter than me, i mean compared to him when i was his age, i was learning how to fix legos haha.
Yeah, I know! Kids these days are so much more into technology than I ever was at their age, and they can’t live without Facebook or Twitter! Ridiculous.
And when I was 4 years old, I was eating play-dough, so don’t feel too badly. 😉
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, Ibrahim! It’s greatly appreciated!
Really, don’t you think life just isn’t that simple anymore?. Recently i decided not to use anything related to technology like computer, cell phone, tv or stuff before going to bed, because we’re becoming machines, and i wonder little kids growing up in such a world, what would they be when they reach our age, besides being frighteningly aware of modern technology. Hope they keep their ethics in check.
And play dough?! You gotta tell me how it tasted 😀
Yes, I do agree with you regarding the fact that we’re all becoming machines now. That’s why, every Sunday, I refuse to answer texts, Facebook messages, emails, or even phone calls. It’s nice to have some peace and quiet for those few short hours. 🙂
And play-dough is awesome. It tastes like a salt-lick. Sometimes I spread it on my french fries.
Thanks for stopping in again, Ibrahim! 😉
Ahh yes, a quiet sunday without any technological intervention 😀 .
I’m 26 now, i don’t think i will look that weird if i tried some play dough, must try it haha.
You’re welcome, looking forward to read posts from you.
Yeah, I don’t think it’s at all weird for a 26 year old to eat play-dough. While you’re at it, you might as well try some paste as well.
Thanks again, Ibrahim! It’s always great when you drop by! 😉
very bad everyone is equal.