It’s certainly an awful feeling to have teaching and learning constrained by people who know nothing of either under the ominous threat of security. I also find it interesting how vague the idea of security has become. It now basically seems to mean preventing any kind of un-moderated communication.

I think you’re right. It’s likely to get worse before it gets better. The community is too willing to believe the worst, thanks to a mix of ignorance (not in a bad way) and deliberate media manipulation.

My main goal (before I left my last position) was to really work on the PR component. To get the word out to parents about the good, the possibilities, the opportunities and to show the truth about the “dangers.”

I’d like to get the chance to do that properly some day.

I think the psychological impact of not being able to use all that potential might be profound. I hear from some folks in a county farther away (rhymes with Phenrico) where folks tell me the non-instructional department dictates what folks have access to.

That’s precisely the feeling I encountered today.

I think the struggle between openness and protection vs. security in schools is one that is far from over; it might get worse before it gets better… and it will only likely hold us back as a state/country by the time we figure out workable solutions from all perspectives for the large majority of learners.