Acceptable Use Policy - Definitions

Acceptable Use Guidelines need to be specific about what is acceptable or unacceptable. Vague terms or statements need to be defined. Words like Internet, Chat Rooms, Newsgroups, Email or World Wide Web may have no meaning for some parents. Besides defining what they mean a description of how they would be used in a classroom setting needs to be included.

Statements like "inappropriate materials", "objectionable" or "inappropriate language" are too vague for students to determine what they should or should not do. Inappropriate materials might better be stated as "educationally inappropriate materials" or "inappropriate materials for classroom use". Inappropriate language could be rephrased as "language not appropriate for a classroom setting" or "language that is inappropriate in an educational setting". These types of statements need to be explained fully in an Acceptable and Unacceptable Use area of your guidelines. Itemized lists of what is acceptable or is unacceptable provide a better guideline for students and staff.

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