Blocking students’ Internet access at school and home, the Lightspeed Content Filter is required by law. Mr. Schmeltz explained that schools have to have this filter in order to receive federal funding to pay for the Internet connection. Photo by: Logan Richards

By Logan Richard

With the arrivals of the MacBook Pros at PHS, many students now live in fear of being re-imaged and may not know the dos and don’ts of the computers. Mr. Daniel Schmeltz and Principal Jim Condon have now explicitly covered rules that the PHS student handbook does not clarify in order to help students use their computers wisely. 

In order to avoid the consequences of misusing the computers, PHS students should avoid games that require bandwidth and illegally downloaded movies and music. When asked about students being allowed to play games on the Macs, Mr. Schemltz explained that if games are not bandwidth reliant, then they are not a major concern to technology department. He goes on by saying, “Since most games require that they are installed or run through a web-browser (bandwidth reliant), then no.” Mr. Schmeltz also described that students watching movies on the Mac is a local policy decision (parents), but, of course, having illegally download movies is grounds for criminal prosecution.

Another clarification he made is that music is a local policy decision, and that illegally downloaded music violates school policy as well as the law. As long as the music, games and movies are legally legitimate, and do not require the schools network in order to use them, students are free to use them as they like. According to Mr. Schmeltz, Chatting is also a similar story which is “usually…okay for legitimate educational purposes. Abuse is handled on a case-by-case basis.” Mr. Condon also answered similarly by say that the MacBooks are a tool for education and should only be used so.

Certain websites are blocked at school and surprisingly at home, but there is a good reason for this. Mr. Schmeltz said, “It’s the law: These sites are categorized by the Lightspeed content filter. The content filter is required by law for the school network in order to get federal funds to pay for the Internet connection. The content filter is not required while at home, but the concept of 1-1 computing was ‘sold’ with the idea that the tool is ‘safe and filtered’ while at home too. Many parents rely on the school corporation to do this rather than institute some monitoring or filtering at home.” In short, do not blame PHS for the filter block. They are bound by rules and protocols just like PHS students with their use of the MacBooks.

Being the principal of Plymouth High School, Mr. Condon has the final say in regards to punishing students who misuse the MacBook Pros. According to him, violations are handled different ways depending on how many offenses the student has. Photo By: Logan Richards

Mr.Schmeltz had this to say concerning the activities of students and the MacBooks, “The actual activity of some students Macbooks is quite interesting. We’ve monitored some students throughout the school day. We have seen some very productive students and some who never open anything other than iTunes, a Google doc for “chatting” or a locally installed game… It feels like a disservice to those who use the tool responsibly and productively, but is necessary to maintain the integrity of the ‘public utility’ that is the school’s network and Internet connection.”

The bottom line is that the MacBook Pros are to be used as a tool for education, according to Mr.Condon. Mr. Schmeltz’s point of view on the rules was more focused on the legality and bandwidth consumption. This is the first year of 1:1 computers and there is bound to be some changes in rules, but as of now, students can only use his or her MacBook for education, and not have any illegal downloaded content on your computer.