A forum for independent school educators <ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU> on Monday, December 08, 2008 at 3:01 PM -0600 wrote:
> Our challenge
>is home support; including parents that want web filter support. A
>significant number of parents feel that because the school requires the
>laptop, the school should provide support for home use. The biggest
>issues we face are home wireless not working
We do not recommend that parents do either of these - therefore we do not offer official support for them.
However, in the spirit of good customer service, we offer suggestions for successful wireless installation at our Out of the Box sessions. We also offer to follow that with a BRIEF phone conversation if they have problems with wireless setup (we get only
a few every year). We try to explain in the nicest way that our jobs involve school issues and therefore our top priority is to support students and their teachers here at school so we can't spend inordinate amounts of time on home issues without
ignoring our jobs or hiring extra help (translation is understood without even saying it - tuition increase!). If they make the decision to have a wireless network at home (not something we recommend) they need to support it themselves if they encounter
a complex issue. When we can find good private firms/techs in the area to refer them to (we do not officially recommend), we do that too. In the past we have worked out a rate discount with some of them. Stewart is right - tell the parents of this policy
as early as you can.
Again, we do not recommend web blockers for home and tell parents that they do this at their own risk and support. We caution them that they cannot rely on them - students can find ways around them. Also, they may have to uninstall them if they interfere
with the students work at school. We spend a lot of time talking with them about internet safety and how best to supervise their children, both at the Out of the Box sessions and at parent meetings. We haven't had any problem with this one, I'm happy to
say.
Have you talk to your administrators about their support of your policy? There are many things that we as a school can do during the day but that we can't do at home - e.g. homework help. You should solicit administrative support before setting this
policy.
Good luck! Karen
> and parents demanding a web
>blocker at home.
>In both examples, the parents are basically telling us that the school
>should provide installation and support for these things.
>
>It would be very helpful to learn what you policy is for home support.
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