Union County students use school computers to access porn

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — Union County parents are furious after learning their children accessed pornography on their school-issued laptops in class.
 
A mother called Channel 9 after two separate incidents at Parkwood Middle School, in Monroe, last week.
 
The mother, who did not want to be identified, said her 11-year-old son watched as another student pulled up hardcore pornography on his Chromebook during class.
 
"He was in tears. He said it was disgusting, and he wished he could unsee it," the mother said.
 
The mother said a few days later, her son saw it happen again amidst a group of students looking at the porn on a Chromebook in the school cafeteria.
 
The mother said when she went to school officials, they told her the students are very smart, they'll get around anything they do, and all they can do as a school is monitor it the best they can.
 
"This is a bigger problem than my son's school. It's the Internet, and if it's not going to be controlled, especially in the school system, then it shouldn't be there," the woman told Channel 9.

"Union County Public Schools take internet safety very seriously. The Board of Education's policy on Internet safety provides clear guidelines for students and staff who violate this rule. Our technology staff will continue to monitor and strengthen Internet and social media filters in schools. In fact, UCPS is in the process of transitioning to a more robust web system to address this and other issues. We recognize that this is a national issue and hope we can work with parents, students, community members and staff to address internet safety," a school spokesperson said in a statement.
 
District officials also said the student in the first incident had been disciplined.
 
The mother said she now wants other parents to join her in her quest to protect her son and other students from exposure to pornography.
 
She is holding a community meeting at Crossroads Coffee in Waxhaw at 7 p.m. Saturday.