NJ Principal Wants Facebook Banned

Visual approximation of "cyber-bullying"

Now that Riverdale teens have proven they can survive two days without Facebook or text messaging, one New Jersey principal wants to push the kids even further, and is asking parents to ban texting, Facebook and something called Formspring from their homes. He sent a message to parents urging them to install parental control software to help monitor and curb new Facebook trends like "cyber-bullying," which just sounds like something out of Tron. (Screening tonight!)

The fastest way to revolution is to take back a privilege that has already been entrenched in the culture, and this is what some Ridgewood parents may be facing. Eighth grader Ali Feinberg told WCBS she is "addicted" to Facebook and frequently checks the site at school on the iPhone her parents most likely pay for, and argues, "I'm not going to do anything bad, so why should I get rid of it?" However, principal Anthony Orsini of Benjamin Franklin Middle School argues the already emotional landscape of middle school is amplified through social networking and texting (or sexting), and tells parents in a memo, "There is absolutely, positively no reason for any middle school student to be a part of a social networking site! None."

Apparently five out of eight parents in the school were completely unaware their children even had Facebook accounts, much less were posting anything inappropriate. So for any New York parents looking to make sure their children aren't being cyber-bullied, Orsini suggests sitting them down and telling them you'll be checking all their text messages online, installing parental control software, taking away the computer in their room and taking their phones at night, saying "Remember when you were in high school and you would sneak the phone into your bedroom at midnight to talk to you girlfriend or boyfriend all night—now imagine what they can do with the technology in their rooms." Actually, they're just staying up all night planning the revolution.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on April 29, 2010 1:23 PM

Comments [rss]

jhengstler

We need to focus on informed & civil use of technology as curriculum. High school students are on their way out the door to jobs and adult life. With technology such an integral part of our cultures, we (Educators) have a moral responsibility to prepare students to use it productively and wisely. Do we cut students loose on the road without a driver's license? Come on folks, banning is NEVER the answer. Ignoring their use just exacerbates the issue--students are not using social media/technology 'properly' so we ban them from using it-->they go underground or off-grid with no behavioural scaffolding by elders with perspective--no cultural training--and you have a worse situation than you started with.

grandzu

This might have something to do with kids organizing walkouts via Facebook.

felldownthewell

Ah yes, just as there was never violence before violent video games, there was never bullying before social networking websites. Why should we address the cause of an issue when we can just censor the forum through which it manifests?

Mordicai

THESE KIDS & THEY TWEETS & THE TWAFFLE. OH!

Yep, the best way to teach our children is to keep them from using the innovative communications media present online. Heck, I have found that children use PAPER to write notes to each other. THERE IS NO REASON FOR NOTES! NONE. This wasn't a problem back when there was only papyrus.

Lock your children up, parents! IT IS THE SPOOOOOY INTERNET!

Jen Chung

I wish I could tell these kids not to bully other students—because they'll be trying to friend them on Facebook 15 years later. Trust me.

Stevennnn

Problem is clear as day. Why does an 8th grader have an iPhone!?? All of her "friends" are in school so what is so important to check facebook at school?

Awful parents. I'm sure she didn't buy that iPhone nor is paying the $99 a month bill.

nicemarmot

Seriously. I have an iPhone, and I would never in a million years get one for a kid - anyone under 16. They're too expensive and too fragile and too easy for kids to use to abuse their privileges.