Research becomes a breeze. It is also a classroom where the kids see a steady stream of targeted ads from Tommy Hilfiger, the Navy, the Marine Corps, folks who publish SAT test prep books and a host of others. A small group of parents, backed by two groups active in a nationwide campaign against commercialism in schools, argued that the classroom should be the one place where children are not subjected to advertising pitches. Personal information about students would not be sent into cyberspace. West Hernando, which beat the other schools in turning in the necessary paperwork, was the first school in the county to get zapped.
Shipments carrying the computers for the other middle schools and high schools are due any day.
Last week, students had access to a completely unfiltered Internet, contrary to district policy, according to Becky Myers, the district's chief technical guru. There was no indication whether students saw any inappropriate material, but the possibility exists. The problem came to Myers' attention after the St. Petersburg Times questioned her about the students' use of outside e-mail accounts. The girl deleted the message shortly after receiving it. The trouble, Hoban said later, is that managing a computer lab is tough for one person.