This teacher says the parent in her understands the fears, but the journalist in her has trouble accepting the regulations. There is a heightened sense of fear about Internet based information. I don't know. Williams said her organization does not have an official position regarding student identification on the Internet. With no apparent standard available, school officials are using different factors to set their own guidelines.
Some schools require parental permission before publishing student photos.
Others, such as Howard County, Md., weigh student age when determining their school Web site policies. School officials are more likely to allow names and photos of older students to be published on-line. High school cheerleaders in Pennsylvania have set up their own Web page after Owen J. Roberts School District refused to display their site. In their caution to prevent anything bad from happening, school administrators may be stifling good things as well claims Bowen. No wins, touchdowns, no scholarships, etc.