http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/29/education/29banned.html?ref=technology&gwh=9A1C99433BBA11693936524036D4192A
Did you know it was Banned Books Week? No? It's ok, I forgive you. This year many schools and libraries are also analyzing censorship and schools and...wait for it- the Internet. If you haven't been in a school for a while, let me catch you up. With all the filters- you can't go anywhere. You think you're work filter is bad? School filters are worse.
And it brings up an interesting debate- should schools be filtering so much? Should they be allowed to block social media? With the onset of cyber bullying, I can understand that schools don't want to have any part (or liability) in such situations. But social media can also be a useful tool in the classroom. And what better place to use it as a teaching opportunity to discern between good, useful information and the rest of the crap that's out there.
I'll admit I'm torn on this issue. I think that anymore filtering is almost becoming pointless since many students can still access the information outside of school. And once you start blocking things, it can be a slippery slope. But on the other- schools are supposed to be a safe haven, and while that's not always true should we abandon that goal?
Thoughts? Do you think this is a free speech issue? Do you think we should loosen the filters at schools?
As you noted I think it is nearly pointless. The lines of what qualifies as relevant information is blurred to the point that you cannot pigeon hole as specific site, technology or future internet application. Do I have a operable answer, no. However more access is better and adult oversight of minors is required - not only for protection but for providing context of an adult world wide web.
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