SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — The superintendent of the Deptford Township School District has revised a plan to lock student-issued laptops at night, giving them more time in the evening to use them for schoolwork than originally proposed.
Students are given computers to use both in class and at home. Superintendent Kevin Kanauss said some abused those privileges by using the laptops late at night to chat with one another. To take control of that abuse, the initial plan proposed locking them at 8 p.m. for elementary school students, 9 p.m. for middle schoolers, and 10 p.m. for high schoolers.
After public outrage, Kanauss pushed the times back, taking into account concerns from parents who said the cut-off times were not realistic for students who are active in after-school activities.
The new computer lock times are now 9 p.m. for elementary schoolers, 10 p.m. for middle schoolers, and 11:30 p.m. for high schoolers. They will automatically unlock each day at 6 a.m.
Kanauss said it’s not the district’s place to parent or make rules at home, but the district must also take reasonable steps to prevent the abuse of school-issued property. He said the district must ensure tools for education are being used as intended.
The new policy is set to take effect on March 1.