Homework: MT Aplia: Participating in Class and Taking Notes Assignment Internet Filters: A Protective Measure That Backfires 1. Most American public and private schools today enjoy the privilege of Internet access. The Internet provides teachers with invaluable teaching tools, students with unprecedented access to research materials, and educational communities with a way to communicate and collaborate. Many schools purchase web filtering devices to protect students and teachers from "inappropriate" online content. However, this expensive plan often backfires in a wide range of ways. 2. Web filtering can deny students equal access to education. In many regions of the United States, students may want to learn about points of view on religion, sexuality, or politics that are different from the norms in their communities. For example, if the Internet were carefully filtered, a student might be unable to access diverse perspectives on important issues such as reproductive health. Furthermore, many families cannot afford the Internet; students whose families cannot afford the Internet do not have the opportunity to explore issues that their schools prevent them from viewing. Filtering the Internet at school puts certain students at a personal and educational disadvantage. 3. Schools must teach children to interact with all information responsibly. Some may say that web filtration systems protect children from exposure to material that may be violent, sexual, or controversial. On the other hand, if we don't teach children to make good choices about how to use the Internet in school, what will they do when they are faced with the overload of information that will confront them in the real world? Teachers, librarians, and parents working together to educate students about the appropriate use of the Internet will ultimately teach children more than a website blocked by a filtration system will. Source: Mitch Wagner, "How Internet Censorship Harms Schools," in Computer World (March 26, 2010), http://blogs.computerworld.com/15823/how_internet_censorship_harms_schools. Homework: MT Aplia: Participating in Class and Taking Notes Assignment Course: Communications Date: May 13, 2010 In response to increasing levels of Internet access Can do more harm than good Can limit diversity of perspectives Some students rely on schools for Internet access To protect or to educate? Prepare students for the real world Summary: The use of in schools can harm students more than it can help them. Although they're often positioned as beneficial, in actuality, they can hurt students by denying them equal access to information. Many students dep on schools to . Preventing access to certain types of information can Rather than censoring information on the Internet, schools should be teachin students You can record a study question in the left column that you can use as a memory prompt. What is a good study question for left column? Why does the author not treat public and private schools separately? What are some arguments against using web filters in schools? What do students think about web filters?