Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Ethics over hate, or Ch. 7

Internet security is a very real concern for all educators. We've already seen unfortunate cases where children were victimized through the internet. I am going to separate three types, that of predators outside schools, the dissemination of hate outside schools, and cyber-bullying inside schools, so that I can discuss them individually.
The sexual predation is the worst thing about the internet, that I can think of. People that would normally have severe restrictions on their spatial relation to children, found ways to contact them through the internet. This led to tremendous concern, and eventually, a number of different measures, including such restrictions as no unsupervised use of the internet. As the book says some school districts have gone to shutting down chat all together to eliminate the risk. This may be a necessary evil, as there would be few times that students could use it purposefully. Math chat, like an online math tutor, or real time cyber pen pals in a foreign language come to mind. In this case, the internet is a new avenue for this type of violence. Whatever it takes, we need to make the internet safe for children.
In my opinion, one thing the chapter could emphasize more, is the excessive hate on the internet. Now people can anonymously burn digital crosses, with little or no accountability. In a way, it is comforting to know how bad some people are under all of their masks. One needs to read a few postings from Craigslist's rants and raves to see that there are a few racists left in our society. This is a way that the internet has given new access to violence.
Cyber-bulling is very real, and very serious. However, as opposed to the other two I have presented, I don't think the internet presents an avenue that wasn't there before. Yes there always was sexual predators, hate mongers and bullies, but in the case of the other two, it gave access that wasn't there. Cyber-bullying does offer a different avenue, but I think face to face bullying is still just as prevalent, and in the larger scheme of things, worse. I have seen very compelling cases on this subject, but I don't think the internet has granted access that wasn't there before. Indeed, now the text, the post, the email has a trace that can be tracked, unlike the comment in the hall, or the phone call.
I think the most powerful weapon against all three is the creation of a code of ethics. I think the one on 147 would work just fine, but it would be more powerful to have group input into the creation of the ethics, with solid guidance, of course. Preparation before the students get online can help them make the appropriate decision if they encounter a threat online. It can help them analyze the beliefs of others, so they can evaluate the arguments, (or lack thereof) themselves. Hopefully, a code of ethics would help prevent cyber-bullying, but also, preparation would train students how to respond in the case that it did happen.
I know I left out the part on copyright, but I am going to talk about that during my Podcast post.

1 comment:

  1. I agree completely that cyberbullying is really just a new venue for an existing issue and unlike the other two is still usually done in a geographically small area.....no reason to bully someone half way around the country...you can't see their reaction.

    Safety is a huge concern of course and one that has to be dealt with in a proactive way as much as possible. It could be interesting to have the kids develop a code of ethics for their digital lives....always more powerful when they do it themselves with guidance of course

    Ann

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