Activity 5: Internet Filtering Software

Jenna M. Bryant

EdPsy 490NET

The internet became an active part of our society long before I even gave a thought to the filtering software available let alone the idea that it was important. Last summer, I took a course on Ethics and we had to create the Educator’s Code of Ethics. I must admit that this was the first time I had seriously looked into the idea and consequences of the filtering software and its need in the schools. Despite the fact that we did research on the software or the need for filtering, I did not look into my schools use of an internet filtering software program. I was intrigued by the websites and all of the different types of software available free and at a small cost. I support the idea of filtering software in computer labs and in the libraries. I know the debates will rage on about censorship but I believe we should do what we can to filter out sites that are “offensive”, and I know this probably needs to be explained. I am referring here to articles on porn, sex, and related material. My point here is that our right to research material on the internet should not be taken away but protected. There are many different ways to do research and our students are forgetting the books as the internet becomes more readily available.

Many parents do implement some sort of filtering software on their home computers. I think we need to keep parents informed also of what types of filtering the schools are using and if they are not using any at all. The majority of schools do have their students sign an AUP before using the internet, but I do not believe that many students are carefully watched or that there is monitoring of the internet, in my school. At a former school, we had a list of students that were not allowed to use the internet. I think a quick reference like this is essential.

The Mahomet-Seymour Technology Administrator explained that our school districts uses a system called screendoor which is “... a computer that sits on the front end of the internet connection and screens pages based on lists that are updated weekly.” I would like to do some further research to find out who is deciding the pages or topics that are screened. I learned also that there is not a “law” that requires that filtering to be done, but according to our administrator “by law if we want any kind of state or fed funding we have to have some kind of system.  This system works great for us because it allows us to choose what we want to have filtered.  Porno, chat, hate etc...” It is an interesting way to create a law. Our administrator also added that our district had this before that became law. I understand the great debates on the 1^st amendment and know the difficulty in setting the line on topics that is acceptable to the majority.

I did receive one email from a parent of the community that explained his views on filtering:

“I think that internet filtering software is important and needed and should be required by law in schools and public libraries.  As you know, the internet has a huge amount of educational and positive material but it also has material that is unhealthy for kids.  There are some who may say that internet filters equate to censorship or that we are violating the 1^st amendment.  We have a responsibility to attempt to protect our kids from the dangers of society.  The filtering software can be configured to allow only acceptable material through.  Is the filtering software protective enough?  Probably not, but the combination of librarian/teacher monitoring and internet filters would be great.  We use WEblocker and it works fairly but we still keep a close eye on the situation.  Thank you for the opportunity.”

As a teacher, I like the feeling of security that comes with using some type of filtering software. I send students to the internet frequently and do not like the idea that my research would have them find many unacceptable sites. There are always going to be those that get through somehow, but knowing we are trying makes me feel better. At my first school I taught at, we had the issue of Columbine and the aftermath of students searching the web for information. The students were also looking for material that was floating around that dealt with video games and sites that were claimed to have been viewed by the students who did the shooting. It was frightening to see the students interest rise in this subject area, but I also understand the natural curiosity and shock for students.

Filtering software is going to be debated in schools as much as is the type of reading material we stock in our libraries. I for one, believe we owe it to our students and community to implement some software and securities for our computers. The fact that parents aren’t aware of what schools have and don’t have in the area of filtering also bothers me, but I teach and I also did not know.