Richard Allen Schools

Internet Acceptable Use Policy

Educational Purpose

Richard Allen Schools’ Internet system has a limited educational purpose.  Activities that are acceptable on Richard Allen Schools Internet Access (RASIA) include classroom activities, career development, and high-quality personal research.  You may not use RASIA for entertainment purposes except for those specific periods of time that the school has designated as “open access.”  RASIA is not a public access service or a public forum.  Richard Allen Schools has the right to place reasonable restrictions on the material you access or post through the system.  You will be expected to follow the rules set forth in Richard Allen Schools’ Handbook and the law in your use of RASIA.  You may not use RASIA for commercial purposes.  This means you may not offer, provide, or purchase products or services through the Internet.  You may use the system to communicate with elected representatives and to express your opinion on political issues, but not for political lobbying.

Student Internet Access

The Web is a global database system providing access to information from around the world.  Students may have access to Internet Web information resources through their classroom, library, or school computer lab.

E-mail is an electronic mail system which allows students to communicate one-to-one with people throughout the world.  Elementary students (Grades K – 8) may have e-mail access only under their teacher’s direct supervision using a classroom account.  Elementary students may be provided with individual e-mail accounts under special circumstances, at the request of their teacher and with the approval of their parent.  Secondary students (Grades 9 – 12) may obtain an individual e-mail account with the approval of their parent.  You and your parent must sign an Account Agreement to be granted an individual e-mail account on RASIA.  This Agreement must be renewed on an annual basis.  Your parent can withdraw approval at any time.  Students may not establish web e-mail accounts through RASIA.

If approved by your principal, you may create a personal web page on RASIA.  All material placed on your web page must be approved by your teacher and your principal.  Material placed on your web page must relate to your school and career preparation activities.

Unacceptable Uses

The following restrictions are designed and intended to help RASIA protect the personal safety and personal privacy of students.

Personal Safety and Personal Privacy

You will not post personal contact information about yourself.  Personal contact information includes your address, telephone number, school address, work address, etc.  This information may not be provided to an individual, organization, or company, including web sites that solicit personal information.  You will not agree to meet alone with someone you have met online without your parent’s approval.  Your parent must accompany you to any such meeting.  You will immediately disclose to your teacher or other school employee any message you receive that is inappropriate or makes you feel uncomfortable.

Illegal Activities

You will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to Richard Allen Schools network or to any other computer system through RASIA or go beyond your authorized use.  This includes attempting to log in through another person’s account or access another person’s files.  You will not make deliberate attempts to disrupt the computer system or destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means.  You will not use Richard Allen Schools’ facilities, Internet access, hardware, software, or any property of Richard Allen Schools to engage in any other illegal act, such as arranging for a drug sale or the purchase of alcohol, engaging criminal gang activity, threatening the safety of a person, or other similar behavior.

System Security and Virus Protection

You are responsible for your individual account and must take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to use your account.  Under no conditions will you provide your password to another person.  You will immediately notify your teacher or other school employee if you have identified a possible security problem.  Do not search for security problems; this may be construed as inappropriate or illegal behavior on your part. You will avoid the inadvertent spread of computer viruses by following your school’s virus protection procedures when you download software.

Inappropriate Language

Restrictions against inappropriate language apply to public messages, private messages, and material posted on web pages.  You will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or disrespectful language.  You will not post information that could cause damage or a danger of disruption.  You will not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.  You will not harass another person.  Harassment is persistently acting in a manner that distresses or annoys another person.  If you are told by a person to stop sending them messages, you will immediately stop.  You will not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a person or organization.

Respect for Privacy

You will use the system only for educational and career development activities and limited, high quality, self-discovery activities.  You will not download large files unless absolutely necessary and with the permission of your teacher.  You will download the file at a time when the system is not heavily used and immediately remove the file from the system computer to your personal computer.  You will not post chain letters or engage in “spamming.”  Spamming is sending an annoying or unnecessary message to a large number of people.  You will check your e-mail frequently, delete unwanted messages promptly, and stay within your e-mail quota as determined by your teacher.  You will subscribe only to high quality discussion group mail lists that are relevant to your education or career development.

Plagiarism

You will not plagiarize works that are found on the Internet.  Plagiarism is taking the ideas or writings of others and presenting them as if they were yours.

Copyright

You will respect the rights of copyright owners.  Copyright infringement occurs when you inappropriately reproduce a work that is protected by a copyright.  If a work contains language that specifies appropriate use of that work, you must follow those requirements.  If you are unsure whether or not you can use a work, you should request permission from the copyright owner.  If you have questions, ask your teacher.

Inappropriate Access to Material

You will not use RASIA to access material that is designed for adults only or is profane or obscene (pornography), that advocates illegal or dangerous acts, or that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people (hate literature).  A special exception may be made for certain material if the purpose of your access is to conduct research and both your teacher and parents have approved and indicated their approval in writing.  Under no circumstances will there be an exception for adult, profane, or obscene material.  If you mistakenly access inappropriate information, you should immediately tell your teacher.  This will protect you against a claim that you have intentionally violated this policy.  Your parents should instruct you if there are additional materials that they think inappropriate for you to access.  Richard Allen Schools fully expect that you will follow your parents’ instructions on this matter and all other Internet matters.

Restrictive, Investigative, and Disciplinary Actions

The RASIA and network is a limited forum, similar to a school newspaper, and therefore the schools may restrict your speech for valid educational reasons, but your speech will not be restricted on the basis of a disagreement with the opinions you are expressing.

You should expect only limited privacy in the contents of your personal files or record of web research activities.  Routine maintenance and monitoring may lead to discovery that you have violated this policy, the disciplinary rules, or the law.  An individual search will be conducted if there is reasonable suspicion that you have violated this policy, the handbook’s disciplinary rules, or the law.  Your principal has the right to eliminate any expectations of privacy by providing notice to you.  Your parents have the right to request to examine the contents of your e-mail files and will be given access.

The schools will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation related to any illegal activities conducted through the RASIA network.  In the event there is a claim that you have violated this policy or the schools’ disciplinary rules in your use of the RASIA or network, you will be provided with a written notice of the suspected violation and an opportunity to present an explanation in the manner set forth in the Richard Allen Schools Handbook.

Limitation of Liability

The schools makes no guarantee that the functions of the services provided by or through the schools will be error-free or without defect.  The schools will not be responsible for any damage you may suffer, including but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions of service.  The schools are not responsible for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through or stored on the system.  The schools will not be responsible for financial obligations arising through the unauthorized use of the system.  Your parents can be held financially responsible for any harm to the system as a result of intentional misuse.

Richard Allen Schools

Family Agreement

Internet Acceptable Use Policy

2001-02

Your signature acknowledges that you have received and carefully read the Richard Allen Schools Internet Acceptable Use Policy and agree to accept and abide by all rules, regulations, and procedures as stated.

­____________________________________________ Date  ______________________

Student Signature

____________________________________________ Date  ______________________

Teacher Signature

____________________________________________ Date  ______________________

Parent/Guardian Signature

Directions:  Please sign and date this agreement.  Retain the policy statement for future reference.

Parents of primary students should read and explain the agreement to their child.  The parent signature indicates that this explanation has taken place.

The teacher whose signature is affixed above will collect and retain this form for further reference.

No student or teacher may use the Richard Allen Schools Internet Access until this form is on file with the teacher.  The building principal will verify that all forms are on file by signing the teachers’ copy of the policy.