To Ban Or Not To Ban this is the question

[NBC_Sys_C-ord]

I am not sure if this is like this in any other school but here we have some teachers who believe that it's down to the IT Techs to ban student from the computers for playing, not sitting in their seat, etc.
Now I am all for punishment but what one teacher requests another un-requests for example, jonny was in ICT lesson and played games all lesson please ban for 1 week, Same day request from business "please unban jonny as its stopping him for doing his course work".....Ahhhh what do others do.

Also are there any rules about removing teaching aids from the students e.g. banning them from the internet.

[timbo343]

We kinda have the same policy but.... us administrators dont ban them unless they are looking at porn or have mp3s in their userarea. Your situation to me sounds like a teacher problem and the teachers need to know this. How can you see what the kids are doing (ie not sat in their chairs) in lessons when you are sat in your office.
Yeah we also have the banning internet, they get that first and then an instant ban from the network.

[mark]

We have to inform our line manager before we ban, so it's him that makes the decision, and is prepared for any fallout (parents etc). That process then makes it so a descision sticks, and is not at any other persons whim.

[pinemarten]

this is a behaviour/class control matter, so should be dealt with by members of teaching staff, not a technician, IMO.

action then taken as a result (ban etc) should be relayed through the technician's line manager, and then carried out by said technician .

any queries,refer to line manager!

[CyberNerd]

We only ban on Teachers say-so, unless its very serious when we do it anyway, for games etc its more effective to block the site and then kill the browser.

If student has had their account or email/internet access disabled we don't re-enable when teachers ask - it must be done through head of year. This way we can be sure that the child has been spoken to/punished appropriately.

[NBC_Sys_C-ord]

:idea: What punishments would any one suggest other than banning.

[alan-d]

We don't ban anyone unless it is in writing and countersigned by a member of SMT, preferably the Head.

[danIT]

Do you have to have your MSI packages aprooved aswel, who runs your network and computer systems?

[bossman]

We have a department called PLO (short for pupil link office) and they deal primarily with all behavioural problems throughout the school. All we do is document the incident i.e proxy logs, screen capture and pass it on to this department. We also have an AUP which the kids and Staff members have all agreed to and has the full backing from the SLT, Governors, Parents and the Teaching Staffs unions.

The implementation from the PLO office is very good they deal with any computer misuse straight away. The positive actions which are taken by the PLO on any of the young people depend on the severity of the misuse and this ranges from one day exclusion to a permanant ban for the individual from using a computer.

[SpuffMonkey]

We have a similar situation to what you describe - so I ban on teacher's request, but if another teacher wants them unbanned, they have to get the banning teacher's permission. This slowed down the messing about considerably.

[alan-d]

Do you have to have your MSI packages aprooved aswel, who runs your network and computer systems?

We run all aspects of the network but banning users can have an an effect on T&L, hence the reason we get higher authority to decide. We can report the facts etc but it's not up to us to decide the punishment for misuse. That's what teachers are paid for

[mark]

Punishment: Letter home to the parent/s is what we do here - very effective!

[bossman]

May I remind you all that there is no such word in the schools dictionary as "punishment" it has been PCd by the educational bigwigs who now class it as "positive actions"

not trying to teach granny to suck eggs just inform.

[alan-d]

May I remind you all that there is no such word in the schools dictionary as "punishment" it has been PCd by the educational bigwigs who now class it as "positive actions"

not trying to teach granny to suck eggs just inform.

'Common sense' isn't in a school dictionary either but it doesn't mean we can't insist on it

[daveyboy]

We have a slightly different solution.

Caught by securus go to HOY - then onwards up the chain. 3 Strike rule etc, etc. Serious cases are given to Pastoral, with ICT related (ie hidden proxy sites etc) to Director of ICT.

Now, I do have the power to ban - but not for periods of time. The objective is to get them to come into the office to see us for a 'little chat'. Normally for things like MP3s, excessive pictures in their H/Dirs etc, etc. We then record names etc - 3 strike rule gets them onto the

'ICT Job Board'

They have to pick a task, Or they can opt for 'Random Teacher'.

Works well for us.