As a student, I really really want to say no. But the truth is that students should definitely be monitored. Because, as a student, I know what other students are capable of doing, and what they would like to do if only they had a few more freedoms. Serious damage to public school networks, library files, local school files and records. Because all of the computers are connected to the same network, it isn't safe for the school records or networks to just give a student free reign over the internet.

Schools are institutes for education. The internet service is provided to support that intended purpose. Consequentially, it is reasonable for schools to monitor what students are using the internet for. There is not reason that students need to use the internet for anything other than educational purposes while they are at school, and in particular when they are in class. As far as whether schools should monitor students' use of the internet, I think that might depend upon the need to do so versus the resources it would take to do so. Restricting certain websites is a more efficient option, particularly if abuse of the internet is not a significant problem.

My school has a very effective system in place. From a central location, teachers/administrators are capable of monitoring student internet use. This is only done when there is strong suspicion that a student is using it inappropriately.

My school is a private, college preparatory high school and therefore demands success. I think its reasonable for the school to want every student's best and support that through an accountability system. This is very much within their power as they are providing the computers. Anything else would be an invasion of personal privacy.

Of course, misuse of the internet is somewhat rare here, so it never really has been much of a problem anyway.

Of course internet access should be monitored by schools. The majority of teens and children are immature, to put it blunt. I'm a student, and I realize some websites are necessary for educational purposes, but only those sites should be allowed access. After all, allowing them to roam to whatever site they want is being...counterproductive, and wasting the teacher's and student's time and resources.

Yes, they should.

The purpose of schools is so that students can gain a good education through the environment and teaching standards around them. They can learn with their friends, through clubs, societies, school libraries and ... through the Internet.

If the standards are not suitable for learning on the Internet then the students' education standards may begin to decline and their quality of work may not be so good - ruining their future.

Schools should monitor what happens on the Internet.

Children should stay on the project given to them and not go venturing to other websites.

Yes I think they should monitor what students do because sometimes they can look up thing they shouldn't like porn.

Clearly the answer is yes. Just like I monitor my kids Internet access, primarily because I don't want to go to jail for them doing things like surfing sites they shouldn't be surfing! So too should schools monitor their Internet users.