Internet Filtering

5 Pro’s

1. Blocks Pornographic, Violent, and Obscene websites

2. Prevents younger students from viewing materials that may be too graphic for

their age group

3. Allows for students to research more independently without having to be under

strict scrutiny from a teacher

4. Prevents students and teachers from using the school computer as a chat

room, posting personal blog entries, and other private uses during school

hours

5. Helps to block spyware and unwanted viruses and e-mails

6. Allow for different levels of filtering depending on the needs at the time

5 Con’s

1. Blocks a blanket list of url’s that may not have bad content, but someone

dislikes them

2. Blocks sites based off of key words without checking the context of the site first

3. Student’s may have to search for longer periods of time and may not get the

quality of research that they did without the filter

4. Does not block all negative/bad sites because of people changing the URL or the

way the word appears, or it’s a new site the system does not know about yet

5. Some people, not me, may say it interferes with a person’s first amendment

rights

6. May lead to students trying to break through the firewall and access

“forbidden” sites

I personally feel that filters on school computers, and different at home methods, are a necessity to have. I have caught students trying to look up pictures of girls in bikinis. Think how much worse it could have been if there was no filter on the computer. As school personnel we have the students’ best interests at heart, and if that means having a few less sources to look up information, then I feel that’s alright. I’m not trying to hinder their academic research; I’m trying to get them to focus on their academics.