There have been way too many articles lately about schools punishing kids for what they post on their blog. Every time I read about it I get hot under the collar. Denise wrote about kids, blogs and privacy not too long ago as well. I don’t agree with everything she says, but I do agree with her contention that if you’re surprised or dismayed by what kids say on their blogs, you should spend more time observing the world around you.
To me, there are two issues: First, that kids understand that what they post on a blog IS public and subject to public scrutiny. Second, that adults understand that there are First Amendment rights here, and the schools, as a public entity should have no right to limit that speech when it is made outside of their domain.
These blogs are mostly hosted on MySpace and Xanga. They are not hosted on school servers, nor should they be subject to school regulation. Further, schools have absolutely NO business banning kids from keeping blogs, particularly when a cornerstone of their Language Arts/Literature education is journaling.
Sorry schools, but you have this one all wrong. As Denise points out, if you’re going to get all riled up don’t read them at all. And if you’re going to read them, then PAY ATTENTION to what is going on in and around your school with your kids. These blogs are the real deal — they’re kids’ outlets for self-expression, venting and connecting with others. You don’t have any legal or moral right to stop kids from blogging, being honest about how they feel, or even being bitchy and nasty if they want to be.
Get out of their space and back to education, which is your job. Let their parents be the arbiters of their online time — that’s their job.
As a side note, one of the great benefits to ME of kids blogging is that they have gotten their parents to subscribe to and actually READ our band website, powered by WordPress. I have lots of kids who post comments and they teach their parents to comment and also READ what gets posted there, which really makes it work as it is intended.
(note to teens: If you’re going to write something you don’t want your mom to read, think before posting it on your blog. Because your mom can read it…and so can your aunt and uncle and cousin. Blogs don’t have locks…so just be sure you really don’t mind having anyone read what you write. With that said, blog on….screw the Big Brothers out there who think you have no right to free speech in your own space.)
Technorati tags: Blogs, Writing, Blog
Sphere: Related Content
