Carrie Marusich

SLM 521

Elective #10

Internet Filtering

The Internet provides anyone with access the opportunity to visit a multitude of sites any topic. Schools have the responsibility to help protect students from the endless “inappropriate” sites that are not geared towards teenagers. The following is a list of pro and cons I have established that deals with Internet filtering.

Pro’s

ü Students are most likely safe from “adult” topics and websites.

ü Schools allow sites that provide instructional support but can hinder irrelevant sites.

ü Filtering levels can be set to determine the level of filtering that is used.

ü Students can use (with filtering) the Internet are another resource for information.

ü Teachers can use the Internet in the classroom to present or reinforce an important concept.

ü Every effort is made to protect the student’s from harm via the Internet.

Con’s

· No blocking software is perfect- all a company has to do is not place-restricted words in their URL and the site might not be blocked.

· Knowledgeable users may be able to navigate around the filtering software.

· Some may say that the freedom of speech is hindered.

· Underage Internet users can lie about their age to access the sites- there is no way to confirm their Identity.

· The restrictions and access can be adjusted to meet the needs of the students.

· Searches for relevant, appropriate information and websites might be hindered due to a segment or entire words that have been deemed “bad”.

No matter what happens to the Internet filtering in the future, I will continue to take an active stance on the positive use of the Internet in education. One of my roles as an educator is to protect my students from harm- including any threats that come from Internet use. I can accomplish this by helping to educate students on appropriate use of the Internet and how to evaluate the appropriateness of a particular site. Parents will also be included in the educational process and are encouraged to talk to their children about the advantages, disadvantages, and dangers of “surfing the Net”. I can further this education by provided relevant, appropriate websites that engage the students in curricular-based activities and searches. If people take a pro-active stance and educated others prior to Internet use, there is a decent chance of avoiding issues further down the road.