Acceptable Use of Technology
Scranton Preparatory School offers its student the finest academic
technologies available today. The Scranton Prep Computer Network
forms the core of all available technologies, allowing teachers
and students access to a host of services including the Internet.
This document is the Acceptable Use Policy for your use of the Scranton
Prep Computer Network. This system has been established for educational
purposes. It has not been established as a public access or public
forum and Scranton Preparatory School has the right, therefore,
to place reasonable restrictions on the material you access or post,
the training you need to have before you are allowed to use the
system, and to enforce all the rules set forth in the school code
and the laws of the State of Pennsylvania. Further, you may not
use this system for commercial purposes to offer, provide, or purchase
products or services for political lobbying. Access to the Internet
is available through this school only with permission of the principal
or his or her designee and your parents.
The following uses of the Scranton Prep Computer
Network are unacceptable:
1) Personal Safety
a) You will not post contact information (E.g., address, phone number)
about yourself or any other person.
b) Social networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook are explicitly
forbidden.
c) Accessing or posting blogs from Scranton Prep is forbidden.
d) Instant messaging of any kind is not allowed.
2) Illegal Activities
a) You will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to this or any
other computer system or go beyond your authorized access by entering
another person’s account or accessing another person’s
files.
b) You will not deliberately attempt to disrupt the computer system
or destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means.
c) You will not use the Scranton Prep Computer Network to engage
in any other illegal act, such as arranging for drug sale or the
purchase of alcohol, engaging in criminal gang activity, threatening
the safety of a person, making terrorist like threats, etc.
3) System Security
a) You are responsible for your individual account and should take
all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to
use your account. Under no conditions should you give your password
to another person.
b) You will immediately notify a teacher or the Director of Educational
Technologies if you have identified a possible security problem.
Do not look for security problems. This will be construed as an
illegal attempt to gain access.
c) Computer configurations should not be tampered with or modified.
Tampering is defined as destruction of school property and is considered
grounds for dismissal.
d) You must log off when you leave your computer.
4) Inappropriate Language
a) On any and all uses of the Internet, whether in application or
to public or private messages or material posted to the Web, you
will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory,
threatening, or disrespectful language. You will not post information
that could cause danger or disruption or engage in personal attacks,
including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks. You will not harass
another person by a persistent action that distresses or annoys
another person and you must stop if asked to do so.
5) Respect for Privacy
a) You will not repost a message that was sent to you privately
without permission of the person who sent you the message.
b) You will not post private information about yourself or another
person.
6) Respecting Resources Limits
a) You will use the system only for educational activities.
b) You will not download any files into the system without the permission
of the Director of Educational Technologies.
c) Installation of any application programs is strictly forbidden
by all except authorized network administrators.
7) Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement
a) You will not plagiarize works that you find on the Internet.
Plagiarism is taking the ideas or writings of other and presenting
them as if they were your own.
b) You will respect the right of copyright owners. Copyright infringement
occurs when you inappropriately reproduce a work that is protected
by a copyright. If you are unsure whether or not you can use a work,
you should request permission from the copyright owner. Direct any
questions regarding copyright law to a teacher or librarian.
8) Inappropriate Access to Material
a) You will not use the Scranton Prep Computer Network to access
material that is profane or obscene (Pornography) or that advocates
illegal acts or violence or discrimination toward other people (Hate
literature). A special exception may be made for particular material
if the purpose of the access is to conduct research with both teacher
and parent approval.
b) If you mistakenly access inappropriate
information, you should immediately tell your teacher or the Director
of Education Technologies. This will protect you against a claim
of intentional violation of this policy.
c) Your parents should instruct you if there are additional materials
they think would be inappropriate for you to access. Scranton Preparatory
School fully expects that you will follow your parents’ instruction
in this matter.
d) Games of any type are prohibited at all times.
e) “Chatting” is not allowed on this system.
9) Your Rights
a) Free Speech. The Scranton Prep Computer Network and the internet
are considered limited forums, similar to the school newspaper,
and therefore Scranton Prep may restrict your right to free speech
for valid educational reasons.
b) Search and Seizure.
You should expect no privacy of the contents of your personal files
on the Scranton Prep Computer Network. Routine maintenance and monitoring
of the file system may lead to discovery that you have violated
this policy, the school code or the law. An individual search will
be conducted if there is reasonable suspicion that you have violated
this policy, the school disciplinary code or the law. Your parents
have the right at any time to see the contents of your e-mail or
other files.
Scranton Preparatory School makes no guarantee
that the functions or the services provided by or through the Scranton
Prep Computer Network will be error-free or without defect. Scranton
Preparatory School will no be responsible for any damage you may
suffer including, but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions
of service. Scranton Preparatory School is not responsible for the
accuracy or quality of the information attained through or stored
on the system. Scranton Preparatory School will not be responsible
for financial obligations arising from unauthorized use of the system.
When you are using the system, it may feel
like you can more easily break a rule and not get caught. This is
not true. The system is being continuously monitored and logged.
You online activities, while always supervised by a teacher, are
also supervised remotely.
Consequences for violation of this policy could include any of the
following at the discretion of the principal:
1. Student may be required to attend retraining sessions concerning
the use of proper procedures.
2. Students may be required to make restitution for damages and
resources consumed.
3. Students may be banned from using the computer facilities for
a specified period of time.
4. Students may be suspended, detained, or expelled.
5. Students may be referred to law enforcement authorities.
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