Big Brother school board

[davewitley]

Joanne0012 quoted:
> > > --jenny from ravenclaw, who may not be able to access HPFGU at 
her 
> > > school anymore because the NYC Board of Ed has a new policy of 
> > > "academic" sites only or they'll cut the school's internet 
access off completely. 

> No kidding!  That sounds totally unenforceable!  

No, it's very easy to enforce.  One office where I work has software 
which blocks my Netscape mail account and HPFGU (but not hpfgu.org.uk 
or the Lexicon!).  A customer site, so perhaps just as well, really.

It depends, of course, on internet access only being possible via a 
local network - but I think the phones can fairly easily be set up to 
prevent dial-up connection, and phone numbers used can be logged, too.

But, basically, it's enforcement through prevention, not the threat 
of punishment.  All the board has to do is check that the school has 
installed appropriate blocking software.

I do wonder if it's legal, though.  Can the board cut off a school's 
internet access in this way under US (or is it NY?) law?

David