By Magaly Aguilar and Campbell Martin
When are there too many rules? Internet filtering has become a more relevant issue with the advent of chromebooks for juniors and sophomores. Though the filtering is an effort to protect students, it has become an issue for students and teachers alike.
“Following legal guidelines, the District web filter policy was developed by a committee of representatives from schools and departments in the district,” explains Jennifer Matthews, Ed Tech District Coordinator.
“Our school district also receives E-Rate funding,” with the contingency that “all computers with Internet access have a technology protection measure that protects against access to visual depictions that are obscene or harmful to minors” Matthews revealed. This opportunity allowed the school to expand and improve the internet safety for the students.
“There are now add-ons what are pre-approved for all students” explains Andy Mitchell, the Teacher on Special Assignment at SVHS. Replacing the blanket ban from the beginning of the year, students can now download extra programs that IT feels has a significant educational value.
Web filters scan websites for inappropriate content and determines if they are school appropriate.The filter then checks the origin and/ or content of the page and compares it to the filtering categories that are set by the filter administrator. However, educationally useful websites can be blocked as well.
It is easy for teachers to unblock a website for educational purposes. “Teachers have to put in a web ticket to have a page unblocked,” Mitchell explains. This forces teachers to take extra time to finalize their lessons.
When are there too many rules? Internet filtering has become a more relevant issue with the advent of chromebooks for juniors and sophomores. Though the filtering is an effort to protect students, it has become an issue for students and teachers alike.
“Following legal guidelines, the District web filter policy was developed by a committee of representatives from schools and departments in the district,” explains Jennifer Matthews, Ed Tech District Coordinator.
“Our school district also receives E-Rate funding,” with the contingency that “all computers with Internet access have a technology protection measure that protects against access to visual depictions that are obscene or harmful to minors” Matthews revealed. This opportunity allowed the school to expand and improve the internet safety for the students.
“There are now add-ons what are pre-approved for all students” explains Andy Mitchell, the Teacher on Special Assignment at SVHS. Replacing the blanket ban from the beginning of the year, students can now download extra programs that IT feels has a significant educational value.
Web filters scan websites for inappropriate content and determines if they are school appropriate.The filter then checks the origin and/ or content of the page and compares it to the filtering categories that are set by the filter administrator. However, educationally useful websites can be blocked as well.
It is easy for teachers to unblock a website for educational purposes. “Teachers have to put in a web ticket to have a page unblocked,” Mitchell explains. This forces teachers to take extra time to finalize their lessons.