"Mada, mada dane"

The department of education NSW Australia, software, blocks the department of education NSW Australia website.

It also blocks the teachers "official" emails so that they can't use it.

And the kids can still play MMO's. Oh! And it doesn't block pop up adds either. I saw gambling ones, but it's from ad companies that also serve porn ones. =/
The end.

And I'm not talking about anything like this:
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22304224-5005941,00.html

BTW at the moment there is this whole computerising schools wave, which is good, and it involves things like all year 10 students must be able to pass a computer test as part of their school certificate.

However one of the most significant problems with this, is quite a lot of the schools have no IT staff but rather a science teacher who just got an extra job of maintaining the schools network.

The *system* doesn't work, yet all the pressure seems to be put onto the teachers to fix it, except it doesn't work because it is the *system* that is broken and the teachers aren't in the position to fix it.

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Disclaimer: I am currently 21 not planning to be a parent until I'm 24 at the earliest so this may be shockingly naive etc, etc, etc. I'll figure it out as I get there.


I think when/if I am a parent - until my kids are 10 it will be a "white list only" system for surfing the internet with the ability to turn it off for adults. Probably starting with one of those CD's that have 1500 sites to begin with divided up into categories - and the ability to add more - and updates available if a domain name becomes compromised. As well as the computer being placed in a public spot - much like the t.v, where even if I can't watch them right this second, it's still easy for me to sneak up behind them.

Paranoia. My kids. I will teach. :D

After that it's likely to be something me and my partner will probably argue/discuss/think about, since I am computer geek. So is my boyfriend. We want to raise a pack of computer geeks and that means personal computers. I won't let my kids have their own PC before 10 at this point. *share* *share*. But you also can't keep a pile of computers in the loundroom. =/

Personally I'm currently in favour of the slow introduction - a social networking site that is child friendly like neopets... Maybe? I'd have to check out neopets before hand but that's one off the top of my head. Possibly some sort of craze going on at the time...

Then 13+ white list off (though still available to look at - categories. Categories.) Filters on. I hate filters but just as an inbetween stage...

15+ it will probably be pop up blockers, good anti-virus and firewall, the knowledge that if your stupid and break the system you will be banned from it, a good number of speeches, and the knowledge that hey yea it is TOTALLY possible for me to look up your history, cyber bullies are scum - if you know them we report them to the school and or police as necessary, if you don't know them this is how you friendslock a journal, report them to the website, oh yea telling strangers personal details is V.V.V bad, and if I catch you on 18+ sites ahahaha, it's not just about your protection it is for their protection, social responsibility, I did not raise you to be a selfish brat.


Computers are becoming more common.

The thing is, I don't think filters work, and it is possible to erase internet history and kids can always break the system. Talking to your kids, and public shared computer is the best way to make sure their going to be alright on the interweb I think. At 15 I think that is safe to say the line in the sand point where if a kid's going to break a system s/he's going to break the system. Advice on not to be stupid, the knowledge that if something bad happens *you will be there for them* etc I think is the best thing to do.

And 18+ ? Don't corrupt the other kids and as long as it's not compromising the computer system, and isn't illegal, I don't care what you get up to, since your a big girl/boy now.