Happy SJW everyone! I'm very proud to say that I join so many other dedicated journalists, advisers and friends who all feel strongly about encouraging student media and care about maintaining high journalistic standards for the current and future news media.
When we think of the future of news production, it's exciting to think about all the changes that have been happening in the past several years that have led up to where we are now--and what it means for us in the years to follow. We are at a crossroads between the fourth and now "fifth" estates (consisting of a broader group of contributors). My idealism delights in the possibilities of an engaged community of writers and readers. My pessimism fears for a lack of training and regulation of accurate content. However, I can't help but think the changes that come with time offer us all a chance to reflect on how we plan to move toward progress rather than the alternative.
Regardless of how we feel about social networking sites in schools, I would like to throw out an argument (and please feel free to respond!): If sites like facebook and myspace are banned/barred/forbidden in schools, how will students learn appropriate ways to use these various communication tools appropriately, sensibly and as a mode for civic engagement? If something is made taboo, it only makes it more appealing. It's not facebook that's the problem, it's what people POST on facebook that causes controversy. Instead of focusing on suppressing students, why not consider ways of using facebook as a teaching tool on good internet etiquette? Perhaps if students understand internet safety, good manners and the value of choosing words carefully, we could eliminate much of the disagreement over whether or not facebook (and the like) should be allowed and even *gasp!* used in the classroom.
I say we stop fighting freedom of expression for students and start looking at more creative ways to engage students in meaningful online dialogue.
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