Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Cyber bullying
Make sure everyone know's the rules. Make sure they know that their emails will be scanned. Would you censor private mail written by hand and snail-mailed? How do you justify the distinction?
Well, if someone is sending out snail-mail using the schools headed note-paper, to pester some one, etc then could you be justified here also ... ? It is not quite a privacy thing, but more a reputation thing. All email from the school is labelled from the school. There is nothing to stop the said bully going home, and using his personal account to do the same - but that is a problem for his ISP. This is the key issue. Make it very public that the use of the schools facilities is encouraged, but that they use them on the condition that all traffic is monitored (internal and internet), whether you actually do it or not :-). You may need to spell it out in terms of email, web, news, IRC, etc - maybe even in some sort of policy document, with the agreement of the school management ... (I don't know how these things work) - It is not an easy issue to sort out, but the key thing is that *everyone* should know where they stand (staff and pupils) IMO. It may also be worth considering things like disclaimers on outgoing email/news posts, etc, but only if you *really* feel that it could be a problem, and that someone could come back to the school and shout at you for something the kids have done :-) (and this is before you get into the acceptable use of things like FTP and installing screen savers and games and virus checking, etc). I think the key thing is leave them in no doubt about an acceptable use policy (the same as with any commercial organisation too). There is a similar problem with a sysadmin having access to a packet sniffer to debug network problems, or the 'root' account on a server where you could go poking around in peoples 'private' files ... There is a basic trust thing too. Just my thoughts Kevin. (usual disclaimers apply - ie assume I don't know what I am talking about :-)
On Fri 16 Jun, kevin.taylor@powerconv.alstom.com wrote:
traffic is monitored (internal and internet), whether you actually do it or not :-).
No. I don't think you can say that, especially if you don't do it.
There is a basic trust thing too.
Here you have it entirely. If you set up an obstacle, somebody will attempt to jump over it. Minimal rules and a quiet word when, very occasionally, abuse comes to light are by far the best policy; here at any rate. -- Martin Devon Stonar
participants (2)
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kevin.taylor@powerconv.alstom.com
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Martin Devon