School Board Maintains Prohibition Of Posting Students’ Names Online
ABINGDON, Va. – The Washington County School Board reaffirmed its policy Monday prohibiting the posting of students’ names with pictures on school Web sites.
“I’m one of the people who think that we should be careful not to go overboard because of fear,” said board member Buckey Boone, one of five board members who spoke in favor of keeping the policy as is. “It’s a reasonable precaution given the dangers that we face today.”
The decision followed a strong recommendation to keep the policy by Superintendent Alan Lee, who cited concerns by law enforcement and others in the business of protecting children who caution against placing children’s pictures online with their full names.
The issue was back on the agenda following its recent reapproval because Vernon Smith, a county resident whose children graduated from high school several years ago, asked that full names be used with the approval of parents.
Board Member Herschel Stevens, the sole board member who spoke in favor of Smith’s position, made a motion that it be added to the board policy; the motion died for lack of a second.
“They’re the ones that pay the bill,” Stevens said. “For whatever reason if they want their children’s picture in there, I don’t have any right to say no.”
Board members Billy Brooks, Curtis Burkett and Dayton Owens said they spoke to people in their district and found no one who supported allowing children’s names to be posted with photographs.
“The seven people sitting up here are elected to be responsible for what takes place in the school system,” said board Chairman Tom Musick.
The policy reads, “Web pages may use full student names only in cases where accompanying photos cannot be used to fully identify students. In cases where photos may be used to visually identify students, the format for the student’s name accompanying the article shall be first name followed only by the initial only of the last name.”
After the vote, Smith said he was not satisfied.
“They never asked the parents the question of do they think the parents should have the right. Nobody’s ever done that,” he said. “I think the parents have the right to decide and tonight they chose that parents do not have the right.”
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Reader Reactions
First off, Washington County School belongs to the taxpayers. We the taxpayer paid for the computers and the programmers that program the web sites. You and I both owned a piece of the pie. Everything in the Washington County School belongs to us. Maybe you owned more that I do if you pay more personal and property tax. They request the money from the County and some is match from the state which is also paid by the taxpayer. Alan Lee suggests how the school will be run and must comply with the Virginia State Education Board Rules and Laws. Our elected board members must approve or disapprove his requests. Alan Lee is supposed to work for our elected officials but sometimes I believe it is the other way around. As a Taxpayer and a citizen you also have the right to tell the school board what is great or wrong with the school. Isn’t it great to live in a county that we can do this?
Why would I want to pay someone to put my Childs accomplishments somewhere else on the Web? I have already paid for it to be put on the Schools Website with my tax money.
The whole purpose of each school web sites is to identify outstanding students. If the school systems doesn’t want to award them, then shut down the site. Kids love to see their names and pictures on the schools web site. Parents, relatives, and friends like to brag about their Childs accomplishments. It gives parents and kids bragging rights and promotes competition. I like seeing our children in Washington County doing great things. The School Web sites are nothing more than a newspaper. In fact the school website is safer. No one can chat with a student, they don’t list their address and you cannot email them. Parents has other things to worry about which is myspace.com which over 90% of Washington County Students has an account.
Currently we pay computer programmers to teach our students to learn how to design these web pages. So if someone thinks it is a waste of time then they should tell the school board they want it changed?
Last year I logged onto a Washington County School Web site to view the Honor Roll. I clicked on the link and it listed their names in this format. Robert S., John B., Sue T., and so on with no pictures. What a waste of time and money. Who are these great students? How much more work would it be to spell out their last name. Very little. Colleges and Scouts are always looking at school web sites, which could aid John B., in receiving a scholarship.
Correct me if I am wrong but it sounds like you are concern about safety and protection from predators. I don’t know anyone that isn’t concern, but we don’t live in a perfect world. I don’t believe by not printing the Football Team pictures on the school web site will decrease safety. Why, because they sell program guides with picture and full name at the school. Their pictures and full names are in the newspaper and the yearbook. However, the parent has to give their permission do this. So if the school is really concerned about safety then why do they print student’s full name in the program guide and yearbooks. I see a danger there, Don’t you? The reason they do it is they get money for it and that is more important to them than protecting our children. If a parent wants their Childs name on the schools website why do you care? It’s your child and you are the one that know what’s best for their child. I know the School thinks they should have the authority but I disagree.
80% of all our taxes go to the school system and they always spend it all. If they have a surplus they will spend it so they don’t have to give it back to the county. I just don’t see the big deal of letting the parent making the choice. It’s not going to hurt anyone, I see more good than danger. If teachers have to work a little harder to satisfied one parent they should do it.
I’m for parent’s rights to choose not dictatorship. I’m sorry but I just can’t see why anyone would want to take away the parents right to choose. But the School Board did because it doesn’t bring in any revenue.
Now you don’t have to be mean. We can have a nice debate without being mean to each other. I may even agree with you on some issues. I have to run some errands before a few stores close. But I promize I will give you an answer your questions when I get back. But since you don’t agree with me I really don’t think you will value any of my opinions. But we shall see.
Since you seem to be such a near sighted individual that it must come to a yes or no answer then I must say and emphatic NO!!! This is the School Systems website. They should have the right to say how it is ran. Not have to cater to each individual request. If you want your childs full name and picture on the internet then you create a website and put it there. This is the school systems call not yours. Again I ask you…why would you want it there? You must be a politician of some kind, you sure dodge questions by asking more questions.
You did not answer my question. It is a simple “Yes or “NO” answer. Do you think the parents have to right to decide if they want their Childs name and picture on the schools web site?
Why is it so hard for people to answer a simple question with a “Yes” or “No” answer these days. I say “Yes” so what is yours.
I would love to respond to your question but I need to know how you feel about parents rights to decide. I have different views on the way that you will respone.
Do you think they should have that right. I will respect you opinion as I’m sure you will do to the same for me.
I am not an educator but I am a parent of a school age child. We as parents must allow the school systems to make decisions for the system as a whole that they feel is in the best safety interest for the children. We are not allowed to make alot of choices for our children during their school careers, that is because many decisions have to be made for the majority. School systems have enough to worry about handling without having to check and see who wants their names published and who doesn’t. If you make a flat rule then they can concentrate on bigger and more important things like teaching our children to be upstanding responsible adults. Again, why would it be imperative to print a childs full name on a website? What would a good example be? My child is involved in a multitude of extra curricular activites and I cannot imagine why the full name would have to be given.
The argument was “Does the Parent has the right to decide”? There School Board says “NO”. What’s wrong with letting the parent making the decision? Maybe you don’t want it which is OK, but others do. In Russell County the School Board gives the parents the right to choose and they have been doing it for years without no problems. 99% of the parents say it is OK. Before I give you the benefits, which I can give you plenty of reasons, tell me why the parent should not have the right to choose what is best for their children?
Why would any parent want their childs full name posted? What circumstance would warrant that? I truly do not understand the arguement. As a parent whose child participates in extra curricular activities I just don’t see any benefit to that in any way.
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