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Filtering, Blocking, and Restrictive Policies in Education

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Filtering, Blocking, and Restrictive Policies in Education

By, Sari Shuster and Scott Hendrie

Do you think that it is important to filter and sensor educational websites and programs in schools? Some would argue that students are irresponsible and will take advantage of websites that permit them to access inappropriate material. Others would stress that not all students are making bad choices during school hours and attempting to access websites that are unsuitable for the learning environment. It is important to evaluate both sides of the website filtering argument.

Internet student-safety concerns in schools began in the late 1990's, when a variety of different scenarios involving pornography and different controversial issues on the internet became public. Initially, software that was invented for filtering websites on the internet was for parents to have control of their children's website access. However, the Clinton Administration passed the Communications Decency Act (CDA) in 1997, which filtered 'indecent' or 'patently offensive' communications online.¹ The CDA disabled the allowance of certain words through search engines. However, then emerged the problem of over-blocking. This meant that certain “search phrases” had inappropriate words in them, but would lead to educational findings. Such websites were now blocked because of the filters placed on these “key words.” Gradually over the years, different filters were invented, and some were more protective than others. Controversies emerged over how much protection is actually necessary for the well being of children. Finally, in 2000, the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) was created to require that “all schools and libraries receiving e-rate discounts or other federal assistance for Internet access to install filters on all computers used by adults as well as minors.”² After revisions, it was decided that to minimize the censorious effects on adults, both schools and libraries would choose filters that would easily allow them to override websites that they didn’t feel needed to be blocked.

There are many apparent reasons that people would argue to filter the internet in schools. First, it is necessary to consider some basic facts about the history of children being involved in unlimited access to websites. These facts helped shape the evolution of filtering. In 2002, “one in five children had been solicited sexually while on the internet.” Over 75% of these exposures occurred while these children were at home, 9% occurred while in school, and 10% occurred in other places like the library. These statistics alone could have been cut almost 20% if schools and libraries had taken necessary precautions to protect the well-being of the children. Another reason for filtering the internet in schools is so students don’t inadvertently type something in a search engine looking for one piece of information, and ending up on a completely different inappropriate website. For example, Typing in ‘Dick Chaney’ might result in an inappropriate picture if it is not blocked because the search engine looks for the individual words typed in. If filters on computers in schools did not exist, students would find ways around going to class and spend their time on the internet through websites such as Myspace. Recent studies show that pedophile interest on Myspace has worsened.

As of December 2007, there have been over 29,000 sex offenders with my-space profiles³. This is not something that schools want to endorse, and therefore, they are trying to appease parent concerns by eliminating websites like Myspace from school computers.

Many people feel that internet filtering should not exist in schools and libraries, because there are many faults with the software itself. One problem with the software is that it does not work correctly. On many occasions websites are being blocked that contain information that is not obscene or inappropriate, and in stead very useful. During a recent study, some of the websites being blocked include; an e-zine about modern Marxism, a Declaration of Independence website, and some complete texts including Moby Dick, Sherlock Holmes, and the Bible. Other websites include; hatewatch.org, which is the best known anti-hate speech site, a site on the history of Nevada, and birthcontrol.com. All of these websites were blocked based on the search done, but they contain only useful information. However, since they may contain a word that the filtering software deemed inappropriate, the whole site was blocked. Each software may contain different levels of the amount of content that is restricted. The average software, however, miscategorizes 78 – 85 percent of the websites searched.

Another reason why people are against internet filtering is that it’s anti-educational. These filters are preventing students from accessing materials that are important, interesting, and relevant to their learning. Filtering the internet also operates in opposition to what students’ need to learn in school: to discern, discriminate, synthesize, and evaluate. Schools should also be teaching students to make good social and intellectual choices, however, with internet filtering, many of those choices are being made for the them. It is true that a diligent student can find a way to gain the information they need by rewording their searches. However, a diligent student can always find a way around the filtering software. Many students find ways to view blocked websites like MySpace or Facebook. Teachers also suffer from these restrictions because websites that could be used for their classrooms and lessons are being blocked. Teachers can usually override these filters, but that is not always the case. There are websites that are restricted even when a teacher tries to override the filter.

The internet is very important for each and every one of us. In some areas of the United States or the world, the internet is the only means people have to extend or reach out to the world outside of their community. Internet filters can restrict communities from connecting to other parts of the world.

Therefore, why filter the internet? If students can find ways around the filtering software, then all the filtering software is doing is keeping a legitimate student from accessing the information they need because websites are being blocked. Internet filtering is, however, very important and does a good job of keeping harmful or inappropriate content from minors. Schools should employ some sort of filtering software. In actuality, changes need to be made with the software itself. Schools do not have the ability to control what is blocked. Therefore, the software should perhaps be designed to allow more control to the schools and libraries so that over-blocking or under-blocking does not take place. This would allow students/teachers, access to more useful information while still ridding the harmful websites that people should not have to view.