Students Getting Suspended Over MySpace

Students Suspended Over Myspace

In Minnesota, two high school students were suspended after posting pictures on myspace.com. The published photos contained images of the two underage East Senior High students drinking alcohol. The assistant principal of E.S.H, Will Remmert said, "If a student is found with a picture of an illegal substance, we do that. It's a Minnesota State High School Violation."

The suspension has sparked a huge debate throughout the U.S. Should schools be looking at student myspace profiles? Should students be held accountable for what they publish on myspace? Do schools have the right to remove children from the system for what the publish on the internet? Many students are outraged by the idea. One East Senior High student says, "I don't understand how it's right for somebody to get punished for a picture."

Even several parents agree. "Watching what children do on the internet is a parents responsibility", say Jill Coldson, a mother from MN, "Schools have no place in this issue, unless a student is using school time to post this stuff."

And that is exactly the issue now. Students across the nation are so occupied with myspace that some schools have began setting up certain punishments for those caught accessing myspace. Punishments range from additional homework to detention. 

And other schools are going one step further and blocking myspace.com from school computers. The idea is that if students have less access to it, it may become less of a distraction. In addition, with so many myspace dangers, schools want to do what they can to protect students.

Most students are unaware of the potential dangers of posting sexually suggestive, drug related or other "party pictures" on the internet. High schools are not the only ones using myspace to look at students. Some colleges and employers are also researching potential employees and applicants.

Is this fair? Does a student‘s work ethic reflect in their myspace photos and blogs? Does a school punishing a young adult for party pictures violate school policy?