"Like most media, the Internet can be used for many purposes. Whether it is being abused or not is totally dependent on the people who are using it." from http://www.networld.com.hk/howto/censorship/index.html

"The benefits to educators and students from access to the Internet, in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration, far exceed any disadvantages of access. But ultimately, parents, guardians (and educators) of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their students should follow." NuevaNet Acceptable Use Policy.

With access to computers and people all over the world, comes availability of material that may not be considered to be of educational value in the context of the school setting. However, on a global network, it is impossible to control all materials and an industrious user may discover controversial material despite any controls that might be in place. We firmly believe that the valuable information and interaction available on this world wide network far outweighs the possibility that users may procure material that is not consistent with educational goals.  

The ethical educator should:

• work to provide technological access for all students. Regardless of a student's income, race, gender, religion, language, disability, or IQ, all students have the right to learn about and use technology. Knowledge is power, and educated, informed citizens are the backbone of a democracy (Weckert, 33). Given the disparities in income and school funding in the United States, the ethical educator should work to ensure that all students have access.

• strive to use technology with all students. Although there are those who argue that technology is just a tool to achieve the same end, teachers who do not use available technology with students cheat them of learning crucial new skills, putting their charges at an educational and economic disadvantage. Teachers who choose not to use technology because of their own lack of skill development deny their students their right to a vital part of their education in this increasingly technological world.

• "divide" technological resources equitably. Teachers should work together to share technological resources at their school. When a few teachers book lab space frequently, this deprives other students of important educational opportunities. Everyone should have the right to learn about and to use technology, not just a select few students and their teachers.

• protect their students from "inappropriate" material on the internet. In this instance, "inappropriate" is used to mean material which is not related to the educational goals of the institution. Teachers should closely monitor their primary and secondary students' access to the internet to insure that their students do not wander into sites that are not educational in nature, but as students become older, self-monitoring becomes important as they will shoulder the responsibility for accessing appropriate sites. (http://netizen.uoregon.edu/documents/leicontent.html) Although we oppose filtering, it is becoming a reality in many districts, and may be required by some public schools to receive government funding. Filtering programs frequently blocks sites that are educational, and this denies students access to legitimate, appropriate information and stifles their right to free inquiry. Additionally, teachers should continually monitor links they have made for students to use on the internet lest they cease to become educational in nature.

• should not access inappropriate web sites on school property. Teachers should strive to model ethical behavior to students; therefore, teachers should strive to not access sites which are not directly related to their work. Access to many of these sites is often prohibited by school contract, and in some cases it would also be unethical to risk exposing students to this type of information. Of course, a hard and fast rule here is difficult--would this rule prevent a teacher on a lunch break from visiting a recipe exchange site, or making a doctor's appointment online? Any definition of appropriate use must include reference to those sites that could fall within a teacher's job responsibilities, but also should consider that adults need sometimes to conduct personal business online during the workday.

New issues and problems with access for schools will undoubtedly emerge with schools gaining more technology hardware and services, more students gaining access to the Internet, and with more teachers developing engaging, technology-driven educational strategies.