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Fixing Internet Censorship In Schools
jcatcw writes "Schools and libraries are hurting students by setting up heavy-handed Web filtering. The problem goes back for years. A filter blocked the Web site of former House Majority Leader Richard Armey because it detected the word 'dick,' according to a 2001 study from the Brennan Center of Justice. The purpose of schools should be to teach students to live in a democratic society, and that means teaching critical thinking and showing students controversial Web sites, says Craig Cunningham, a professor at National-Louis University. He quoted from a National Research Council study: 'Swimming pools can be dangerous for children. To protect them, one can install locks ... [or] teach them to swim.' Web filtering also leads to inequities in education based on household income. Students from more affluent areas have access to the Internet at home and, often, more enlightened parents who can let them access information blocked in schools and libraries. Poorer students without home access don't have those opportunities."
Won't somebody think of the lock makers!
I'm one of those children and the web filters are annoying when trying to research topics such as caffeine addiction.
I've been a child for several decades, but for some reason, all those filters let me through!
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
'Swimming pools can be dangerous for children. To protect them, one can install locks ... [or] teach them to swim.'
I'm tired & slow today... someone please explain this analogy with respect to internet porn (which is the context from which the quote was taken). The possibilities seem endless.
...it is to protect teachers and adminstrators against religious zealots.
Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
Many kids I know nowadays have a phone with web access enabled. Why bother trying to block facebook when they can just simply browse over their cell phones?
Heck when I was in high school I had a teacher use a wireless air card to get onto youtube since the district tech staff were blocking so many websites for no reason whatsoever.
Doesn't let children under 8 enter the pool without an adult accompanying them. and staying close by. Seems a fair enough analogy.
...from someone who doesn't work for a school district, nor will be crucified by the politicians, school board (who are politicians), parents, and news media when little johnny pulls up something "objectionable".
actually people loose their actual careers over this kinda stuff.... you have to at least *try* to filter.
THL phish sticks
Comment removed based on user account deletion
If you really want a kid to learn how computers work, put a filter between them in the internet. They'll figure out a way to circumvent it if they're smart. And if they're too stupid to break out, think of it as a your-kid filter for the internet and not an internet filter for your kid.
Everybody wins!
Children aren't taught critical thinking because they might grow up to be... critical thinkers.
Unthinking, uncritical people are easier to control and/or coerce to your will.
No single solution will be perfect in a "for the children" argument.
Here is what I would do/suggest.
1) Make a sensible AUP for school computers. No Porn, etc.
2) Have sensible punishments for breaking the AUP. (No cops, no expulsions. Detention sure, suspension/parental notification, if you have to.)
3) Leave the net _wide open_ for each student.
4) Log all activity so that in the event it is suspected a student broke the AUP you can verify the infringement took place and apply a sensible punishment.
5) Break the AUP too many times and you can only use school computers under strict filters, or under direct supervision (read: someone watching over your shoulder) in addition to normal punishment.
Don't coddle. Don't expell. Don't freak out. Just teach the kids what is and isn't acceptable and let them learn how to deal with rules and sensible punishments.
Yes, this means kids might get exposed to hardcore porn from time to time. Big f'in deal. For me the net wasn't around and I saw good ol' VHS tapes. It happens whether you threaten death as a punishment or cookies as a reward. It will still happen.
But in my opinion. School is there to learn, not stifle. Teach and use the full brunt of the tools we have to do it.
Sadly, probably won't happen because little miss perfect's perfect mother will sue the school because her daughter heard that another student might have seen a naked picture on a school computer.
In order to receive Federal E-Rate discounts, public schools are required to have filtering mechanisms in place that meet the standards set by the Children's Internet Protection Act.
I've administered K12 networks with internet access for over 15 years (both pre-CIPA, and post CIPA)... I personally preferred not having to filter and teaching personal responsibility, especially with high school students. Usually a couple times a semester a student would make a bad choice, and would be made an example of.... which would usually keep the rest of the students on the straight and narrow.
But for now, CIPA is the law of the land, so if you want free choice and thinking on your school's internet connection, contact your senator and congressman, because local admins really have no choice in this matter.
... satisfy the Amish.
I like how a blog post that simply states, without evidence, that web filters lead to income-based educational inequalities is simply asserted in TFS as a fact. Also how TFS chooses to copy text directly from said blog post without using quotation marks.
Kids in poorer homes probably miss out on a lot of opportunities. Are you going to legislate that away too ?
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
Do a search for "yiff" or "yiffing" on a filtered computer or search engine.
No. No thank you. I'd rather not.
I have developed a truly marvelous proof of this comment, which this signature is too narrow to contain.
The purpose of schools should be to teach students to live in a democratic society, and that means teaching critical thinking and showing students controversial Web sites, says Craig Cunningham, a professor at National-Louis University.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/03/25/teachers-leave-boy-stranded-tree-school-policy/
That is a story about a 5 year old being stranded in a tree. The teachers "watched from afar" because of a school policy. A passerby stopped to help, and now faces possible legal action. That example happens to from the UK, but there is plenty of the same sort of thing going on in the US. We are being conditioned to not to do anything without the approval and assistance of the government.
The Nanny state would not like it if people could think critically all on their own without the government there to make sure they don't hurt themselves.
Do a search for "yiff"...
Geoffrey Chaucer:
...That yiff that god that hevene and erthe made ...
Wolde haue a love For beaute and goodness
And womanhede and trouthe and semelynesse
In the sense that it affects what students have the ability to research, I don't think it's a stretch.
Living With a Nerd
An inaccurate story, as it turns out. It didn't happen that way at all.
As usual, Fox is a source of negative information.
Anyway, isn't it kind of odd to claim that the neglect of a child (which, I repeat, did not actually occur) means the promotion of the "Nanny state"? Aren't nannies supposed to be protecting children, not neglecting them? But I guess that would require some thought about just what a "Nanny state" means, and it's clearly not a phrase meant to provoke thought; it's just a right-wing shibboleth.
Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
You cannot wash away blood with blood
... satisfy the Amish.
I think the present filters satisfy every Amish parent with children in public school already. In that there are probably zero, and if there were any they would likely not use a computer with that being against their religion?
It's an ok place to start look for sources. A better place is a journal/periodical database. Most of the time you can get free access via your school, university, or a public library. Google Scholar is also a good research resource.
Don't take life so seriously. No one makes it out alive.
Dick Armey? Who's his wife, Vagina Coastguard?
... and then they built the supercollider.
Even if you DO teach the kids to swim, that doesn't necessarily mean its safe to allow young kids to swim without supervision.
http://www.ap.org/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/
http://online.wsj.com/home-page
http://www.nytimes.com/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
http://www.cnn.com/
http://www.c-span.org/
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
http://www.popularmechanics.com/
http://www.scientificamerican.com/
Need I go on?
"I'm not sure I like the fugnutish tone you used in your post!" -RogL (608926)-