The NTHS goal is to create a policy that educates and defines responsible use while creating a culture where students do the right thing because, simply put, it is the right thing to do. School staff create the policy in several steps. The first involves students in gathering data on what defines responsible use. Focus groups, surveys and schoolwide discussions are used to gather information about what students think about technology issues. As data is gathered, it is categorized.
Students work with staff to define actions on the network as acceptable, misuse or abuse.
They also gather data about those actions on the network that students do not understand. Staff and students discuss issues like appropriate language, accessing various Internet sites, Telnetting and file size. Finally staff define consequences with the students. The process is designed to create pride and a student culture where students model appropriate use and discuss with new students what is at stake. NTHS wants a policy that educates and creates responsible citizens and rewards responsibility.