Drake High School Students Get Access to Facebook, Twitter

High school students in the Tamalpais Union High School District now have access to four social media sites from their school— Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Tara Taupier, the district’s senior director of instructional technology and staff development, said the Tamalpais Union High School District’s Content Filter Committee recommended “testing the waters” with the social media sites because teachers and students have been asking for them.

The district includes five Marin high schools:

• Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley
• Redwood High School in Larkspur
• Sir Francis Drake High School in San Anselmo
• Tamiscal High School in Larkspur
• San Andreas High School in Larkspur

Now, any students connected to a school’s network — whether it’s on a school computer or using their own device to access the wireless network — they can visit the social media sties. Students who had 3G or 4G on their devices could already access the social media sites.

Taupier said some teachers incorporate the use of the social media into their lesson plans. 

Drake High School Assistant Principal Eric Saibel told the Drake High School student newspaper the Jolly Roger that school officials are aiming to open up the sites to teach the students to use the sites appropriately. 

The students have had access to the sites since Sept. 16.

What are your thoughts? Do you think having social media access in the classroom will help the students? Tell us in the Comments!