This year will be my (and my district’s) first experience with student blogging. I like the “treat it as normal” approach but agree with Patrick that a back-up letter is a good plan.

Our kids participate is a number of locally-publicized activities without any problems. The district newsletter is not online (at least, not yet) so linking there is a non-issue for the present. Come to think of it, that might be a good public service project for my students: creating some type of local/school current events link from our school webpage.

You have inspired me - again. Can’t wait to get started!

Diane

Anyhow, the options should be kept to a minimum, I agree. I offer them because they are part of the district form, and I’m not writing new policy; I’m simply applying it to a new purpose.

The conversation with kids is essential. I think elementary students need moderation where high schoolers can probably be trusted to understand the difference between public and private speech. In any case, the kids should know that people keep blogs for various purposes, and a school blog is not a personal blog.

I think I had another point in my other comment, but I can’t remember what it was. Must not have been too important, eh? Hope this one flies. I should remember to copy these things to the clipboard before I try to publish them. It’s a me v. Blogspot issue. Sorry. I enjoy your blog, but the haloscan window gives me fits.

And thanks for the links

As for the posts revealing personal things about families, I see your point. Do you think a combination of teacher monitoring of blogs, plus a preliminary conversation in class about the difference between private writing and public writing, might mitigate that issue?

I always have to remember that I speak from the high school point of view, and that the issues differ for different age groups. Thanks for the reminder.

Since every single word they write must be approved by me before it appears on the web, it is no different from what schools have been doing with student work for a long time. However, if my kids could publish without my approval, it would be a different ball game - I wouldn’t do it, even if their parents said OK.

The only signed agreement is between me and my kids, a code of ethics, safety, and responsibility, the Bloggers Contract, adapted from David Warlick’s original. Good luck - Mark

You can see it online here.

I agree that we want to make it seem normal and natural. I also think that everyone’s comfort zone should be respected. So I offer a variety of options.

There are many good reasons for someone to not want a child to become a “public figure.” Since I work with elementary kids, I also let the kids use pseudonyms. Sometimes they disclose family information that that might be sensitive, and which I might not even recognize as being a problem for anyone.