Andrew Hope

Internet Risk @ School: Cultures of Control in State Education Andrew Hope

The scale and speed with which the internet has entered schools in recent years is striking. Alongside claims regarding the revolutionary potential of this technology has been a constant concern about online dangers such as pornography, chat-lines, hate-sites, drug/bomb making websites, copyright violation and network security. Addressing these issues this book reviews school e-safety documentation before drawing on empirical research undertaken in eight UK schools in the primary, secondary and post-16 education sectors. The nature of risk, the problematic interpretation of online material, student risk taking, attempts to control internet use and subsequent resistance strategies are examined from a sociological perspective. This work will be of interest to both undergraduates and postgraduates in sociology, applied anthropology, social policy or education studies, intrigued by issues of risk, surveillance or social control in schools. Furthermore, this book provides useful insights for educationalists, experienced teachers and classroom trainees who are interested in delving into the issues surrounding child e-safety in a critical manner.