I think many people will agree with me that it makes sense NOWADAYS that some yeshivos do not allow children with a television in their home into their school. I have personally seen how a child with no television is adversely affected by the classmates who do have one. But that is because the stance on television is pretty well understood. The stance on internet has not yet reached that level of “black-and-white”ness, and therefore I feel it is not appropriate to be so aggressive about it yet.
Squeak, I think its time to pull out a bottle of your favorite schnapps. We agree. I have no problem with schools forbidding entrance to children with TVs in their household (so long as there is another orthodox school in the area that takes children with TVs – but I think out of town yeshivas don’t make restrictions like this because they understand that the kids will have nowhere to go).
I have a problem with parents who agree to a schools rules to send them, but then don’t follow them. You agreed that you wouldn’t have a TV, so why is there a “microwave” in your closet that you let the kids watch? Or that you yourself watch? It sends such a mixed message to kids, unless you approach it properly. My sister is probably moving out of Lakewood in the next few years (my bro-in-law’s job is moving), so my sister has to be extra vigilent in explaining to her kids that some things are just school rules and not halacha. This way, when they move to a place that is not as stringent as Lakewood on a community wide basis, the kids won’t think that everything everyone else is doing is assur, rather a different community rule. She handles it very well IMO.
The internet will never be “black and white” in either direction. IMHO, its a tool and there are ways to use it properly and improperly. Perhaps guidelines would be better than a blanket ban.