A group of fifth graders in California were caught recently trying to buy passwords so they could hack into their school’s student information system. Alix Peshette, Technology Training Specialist, reports that the classroom teacher and principal wanted to address not just the issue of violating the AUP, but also “the important issue of broken trust.”

Part of the consequence was for students to write a letter of apology. The document includes age-appropriate questions for students to consider as they compose the letter. It emphasizes that students are part of a community, and their actions affect not just themselves but others, too.

I had just read Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly separated from their families and raised in white Australian culture. I couldn’t help seeing the importance of an expression of regret when one has failed to respect others. The wrongdoing may have been on a national scale, as in Australia, or it may not even have succeeded, as with the fifth graders. The apology is still needed.

How might we teach students to write a formal letter of apology without requiring them to reveal personal information? Perhaps we could draw from their reading. Write the letter from Wilson to Gatsby, apologizing for shooting him. Write the letter from Circe to Odysseus, apologizing from keeping him on her island so long. Write the letter from Soaphead Church to Pecola, apologizing for abusing her trust in him. Write the letter from Lord Capulet or Lord Montague, apologizing to Prince Escalus, to the city of Verona, to their families, to Romeo and Juliet. Yes, I think we could draw from student reading to teach the craft of the apology.

Here is the student contract the California fifth graders worked with:

“Made a mistake? Own it, Fix it, Learn from it.” 2008

1. Write a sincere and beautifully written, edited letter of apology to your teacher. The bond of trust between teacher and student was damaged by your actions. Why do we have passwords? Why is it important to respect privacy? How can actions like these hurt other people? Tell her your plan for rebuilding trust so she knows she can count on you and that you really understand that what you did was wrong. Turn this in to your teacher on   (date)  .

2. With your parents, read the District Student Internet/Network Safe and Responsible Use Agreement. Sign it. Copy by hand Section D, letters a. and b. (or more at parent discretion). Turn this in to the school Principal on   (date)  .

3. Do five hours of community service at school, during recess times. This service must be completed by your parent-teacher conference time in March. Your teacher and your parents will review your community service record card at conference time.

4. All computer time at school will be suspended until   (date)  . During regular computer times, you will be required to work on math assignments that your teacher will provide for you to make up for misuse of math time.

5. Any future violation of the DJUSD Use Agreement will result in suspension.

Student signature ______________________

Parent signature _________________________________

Return one signed copy to school on   (date)  

(Reproduced with permission. Thanks, Alix!)

Posted Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:01:19 and filed under Writing, Technology. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.