It takes a fair amount of time to read the “Student internet and Electronic Mail Acceptable Use Policy” before registering kids for school in the Durango School District. That is why I imagine most parents just check the box. I took a deep dive this year, because it caught my attention that I would have to legally permit my child to use network resources, including the internet, and I could not complete the registration for my kindergartner and second grader without consenting. I know the kindergarten teacher at my children’s school and I know they don’t go on the internet, but still it didn’t make sense to check the box.
I found several things I didn’t agree with in the policy, including: 6.0 Teacher supervision, 9.0 Content filtering and 15.0 Social networking. When I spoke with DSD’s director of technology, he stated that the agreement was out of date and understood my hesitation in signing off. He validated my concerns about the gap between what current developmental research supports for technology use in schools and the district’s use of learning applications and 1-to-1 devices in kindergarten through third grade. It was a positive conversation, but it left unclear the timeline for updating this policy and how parents and educators will be involved in the process.
Please join La Plata COMPASS – a parent-led coalition dedicated to protecting children from excessive screen use and to advocating for evidence-based technology policies – in attending the May 26 School Board Meeting
Kendall Harvey
Durango