Schools may block sites, games and social media because it can be distracting for students. But are they right?
Most teachers are pretty open to using digital devices in the classroom these days, but there’s a few that remain wary of allowing students to use their phones, laptops, or tablets during class.
Believe it or not, the number one reason schools block websites, games, and social media is because the administration doesn’t want students to have access to them. I know. It seems like we should all be adults and we should gather in the middle school cafeteria where crushes are discussed and inappropriate memes are reshares instead of being stuck in our classrooms.
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But seriously, there are real reasons why schools block everything and every single teacher is expected to enforce discipline when they enter the classroom.
Many parents are unaware of how schools and colleges are filtering the Internet. Schools and colleges block anything they deem inappropriate, be it websites, apps or certain search terms.
Internet filters are used in schools, libraries and public computer areas to ensure that only appropriate content is viewable by children. These devices remove potential dangers from the Internet, protecting both the children and the integrity of the site itself. By blocking offensive or inappropriate websites, schools can be certain that children are learning what they need to know, without being distracted by other options on the web.
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While I commend these schools for ensuring their students get a safe and productive education, in many cases, they are not just blocking the bad stuff. They are blocking a lot of content that would otherwise be beneficial or even crucial to a student’s further growth and education.
Top Reasons Why Schools Block Websites, Games and Social Media
- Schools block websites to keep students safe
- Schools block games to keep students focused on their studies
- Schools block social media to prevent cyberbullying
- Schools block other websites for many other reasons
- Websites are blocked with the intent of protecting students
- It is difficult to block all content.
- Schools are expected to block certain kinds of content by the government.
- The reason for schools blocking websites is for safety and academic purposes.
Why do schools block everything?
Whether it’s Facebook or Facebook, Google+ or Google+, Instagram or Instagram…you get the picture. This seems counterintuitive. But in a way — if your school isn’t blocking anything, they’re not doing their job properly. However, schools often can’t keep up with the resources being released on the Web.
No matter how diligent you are in monitoring your children’s internet usage, there will always be times when they inadvertently find themselves on an undesirable site. Parental controls can be used to block sites that are known for inappropriate content or for maintaining viruses. However, the software does not simply blacklist websites and call it a day; instead it actively monitors both blocked pages and unblocked pages in real-time to sift out undesirable content.
Not all Internet content is suitable for children. Some web pages feature violence and nudity, while others can be very deceptive in the ways they present and promote their content. When these types of sites are discovered by a parent, they want to ensure that their child will not visit them again. While some embrace the technology of blocking certain sites using parental control software like Net Nanny, others take the more traditional approach by restricting access to the computer’s control panel or to the router.
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Most schools filter the online content that’s available to students with a wide range of software, such as web filters, internet firewalls, content filtering, and the lot. Without a doubt, it’s moral imperative. Just take a look at the statistics: almost 98% of American schools use internet filters which blocks inappropriate websites in classrooms and premises. There are also fewer risks for them because they can only be aware of their own children’s activities (and thus keep them safe from viruses).
What does the government say about this? Is it compulsory?
You have probably heard of school internet filters, but what do they look like? What are they used for? Are they really required by law in order to take advantage of government discounts? The answers to these questions are all related to the federal government’s E-rate program.
The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is federal legislation passed by Congress in 2000 which requires K-12 schools and libraries in the U.S. to use Internet filters and other measures to protect children from harmful online content.
Legislation was introduced in the United States Congress on March 22, 1995; it was passed with bipartisan support and signed into law by President Bill Clinton on December 21, 2000. It is known as the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), Public Law 106-554. Schools that receive federal funding from E-Rate program cannot allow students access to obscene or pornographic images or materials using school desktops, laptops, or any other electronic device that is used at school.
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Schools must implement technology protection measures without blocking access to non-obscene material that is constitutionally protected.
The Argument for Schools Blocking Websites
Some people think that blocking websites is wrong because it prevents students from accessing useful information that can help them with their studies. They also argue that blocking websites is an infringement on their freedom and right to privacy. For example, if a student needs to research something for an assignment but cannot access certain sites due to blocking then they would go elsewhere online or even use other means such as asking someone else who has access or using their own device at home (which defeats the purpose of having a safe environment).
Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat can be time-consuming for students, causing them to waste time when they should be paying attention in class or completing homework assignments. Since these websites also contain many ads and other links that can lead to other sites that may not be suitable for younger audiences, it makes sense for schools to block these types of sites during school hours if they want their students to focus on their studies rather than on checking out posts from friends or playing games online.
Students may also use these social media sites as an excuse not to do their homework or complete tasks given by teachers because they need more time to post on Facebook or send messages on WhatsApp instead of doing work! As such, blocking these types of websites can prevent students from getting distracted by social media when they need to concentrate on their studies.
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Many schools are concerned about the amount of time students spend online and the role that technology plays in their lives. They worry that if they don’t block distracting sites, students will spend all their time on them instead of doing schoolwork.
Some teachers believe that blocking certain sites helps them focus on their teaching. Without access to Facebook or other social media sites, they say, students are more likely to pay attention in class.
The argument against blocking websites is based on the idea that it’s impossible for schools to prevent kids from using their own devices at home or from finding ways around blocked sites at school. After all, students can easily find ways around blocks by using proxy servers and other methods of accessing blocked content.
Protecting Students from Inappropriate Content
It goes without saying that schools need to make sure that students don’t have access to any inappropriate material on the internet. This includes things like pornography and other adult content, but it can also include things like gambling sites and other potentially harmful activities.
Some students may use the school’s internet connection to access these kinds of sites, even if they’re not doing it intentionally. And even if they don’t intend to do so, they could still be influenced by what they find there and end up engaging in behavior that could damage their academic careers or otherwise cause problems for them later in life.
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In order to protect them from this kind of harm, schools often block certain kinds of websites entirely – especially those that have been identified as having a high risk for causing trouble in the classroom or disrupting learning activities in some way (e.g., social media platforms).
Content filtering in Schools
Today, schools are expected to do more than just educate. They’re also tasked with preparing students for the real world. This means that in addition to reading, writing and arithmetic, teachers must also address digital literacy. And in order to do so, schools need to filter content on the Internet—especially in classrooms.
From a safety perspective, content filtering protects students from accidentally stumbling across images or videos that could be harmful or even traumatic. It also prevents students from accessing websites that could potentially damage their computer or steal personal information. Without filtering, a simple Google search by a student researching a subject can return obscene images in the thumbnail results—that’s not what we want our kids seeing in the classroom.
Filtering is also important for productivity. Students can focus on learning when they aren’t distracted by social media and other online activities that can be time-wasters and even academic hazards if they hinder students’ abilities to complete assignments or take tests.
Finally, filtering can help protect students from themselves: teachers often discover inappropriate content while doing routine search checks of the Internet. And some people may be surprised by what their own children have been exposed to online.
Pros and Cons
Some teachers, administrators, and parents worry that students will spend too much time on devices or use them in a way that impacts their performance in school. Teachers are concerned that students won’t be able to focus because they will be texting each other the entire class. But the truth is that educators and parents need to recognize how pervasive technology has become in our daily lives and how it can be used to enhance learning.
Schools have been blocking access to websites for years. This approach doesn’t work well because students are still accessing the sites through other means such as phones, laptops, etc. Schools also block social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat among others. These sites pose more of a threat to a student’s social life than their academic performance.
Research demonstrates that there are benefits of allowing students access to technology while they are in class including: improved learning outcomes, increased student engagement and motivation, improved grades, increased test scores, increased creativity and a greater capacity for critical thinking among others. In fact, research suggests that blocking access to social media is akin to taking away a pencil from an artist or a pen from an author due to their creativity being stifled by the lack of tools available.
In an effort to encourage digital literacy, schools are providing students with devices and the internet. While this is a great step forward, it’s important to remember that many of these devices should be used for educational purposes only—and that includes school-issued devices.
Consent: Schools often require students to sign agreements regarding the use of their devices before they’re allowed to connect to their network. If a student breaks these rules, he or she could face consequences like a lower grade or disciplinary action. While you may not be considering your child as someone who needs to sign a consent agreement, that doesn’t mean it’s not something you should discuss before allowing your child access to your personal device.
It’s important for parents to set guidelines on what is and isn’t acceptable for their children to access on their phones at school. When students are allowed to browse the internet freely and connect their phone for social media apps like Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, it can become difficult for them to focus in class.
Parents: You can keep yourself informed by keeping track of what your children are doing with their devices in school by monitoring their activity on the network and setting usage limits on your home Wi-Fi router so they cannot connect while they’re at home.
The distractions of the digital age are a concern for educators and parents alike, but school leaders should take a more open-minded approach to technology in order to better educate students. For example, let’s address how school districts are dealing with the issue of students using smartphones and other devices during class.
Let’s start with the obvious: These devices are extremely convenient and useful tools that allow us to do so much. They’re also addictive and can be used for many purposes that don’t help us learn—if you’ve ever gotten into a heated political debate on Twitter or watched someone play a game on their phone instead of paying attention to a lecture, you know this well. But here’s the thing: Students have been using attention-grabbing devices—from books to magazine articles to computers—to distract themselves from class since long before smartphones ever existed. So what makes them any different? Simply put, kids today have grown up with these devices and can’t imagine life without them.
As responsible adults, we should be setting an example for our children about how best to use technology instead of trying to keep it out of their hands. And part of this means giving them access so they can learn how to use it more efficiently and responsibly.
With the prevalence of devices in schools, it is important to think about whether they are a positive influence on students. There has been plenty of research done that supports how beneficial technology is for students. The National Education Association reports that students who have access to technology at school perform better than their peers that do not have access. Students who use laptops and other devices are more engaged in their classrooms, more likely to ask questions in class, and more likely to complete assignments and homework.
The main argument against technology in classrooms stems from the concern that it will cause a distraction among students when they are given the opportunity to use it. However, research has shown this not to be the case. In fact, it actually helps improve test scores among students as well as raising their overall GPA due to improved time management skills.
There are some teachers that still stand by their mission of keeping technology out of their classroom for fear of the distraction factor. Technology can definitely be distracting and often distracts students from learning if it is used incorrectly or excessively. It also causes behavioral issues when used improperly as children are not properly learning how to appropriately use technology in public settings. The best way for children to learn how to use technology responsibly is by having access to it in a safe environment.
How Website Blocking Keeps Students Safe
Blocking websites can be a necessary tool for teachers who want to keep their students safe and productive, but the process can still be fraught with complications. How do you know which sites are appropriate, or which sites are dangerous? When should you make exceptions, and when should you ignore the rules? What happens if your students know how to use anonymizers to access blocked content?
These questions can plague teachers and administrators who are trying to do what’s best for their students. It’s not easy to decide which sites you’ll block and which ones you’ll leave open—and it’s not easy to justify your decisions. If you’re interested in blocking websites at your school, it’s important that you understand the legal implications of doing so. You need to make sure that you’re keeping your students safe while also respecting their rights.
Blocking websites can be a necessary tool for teachers who want to keep their students safe and productive, but the process can still be fraught with complications. How do you know which sites are appropriate, or which sites are dangerous? When should you make exceptions, and when should you ignore the rules? What happens if your students know how to use anonymizers to access blocked content?
These questions can plague teachers and administrators who are trying to do what’s best for their students. It’s not easy to decide which sites you’ll block and which ones you’ll leave open—and it’s not easy to justify your decisions. If you’re interested in blocking websites at your school, it’s important that you understand the legal implications of doing so. You need to make sure that you’re keeping your students safe while also respecting their rights.
The purpose of filtering and blocking software is to give teachers and administrators the ability to control the material that students access while they’re online. Administrators can configure filters so that students in a classroom are prevented from accessing websites that contain pornography, hate speech, or violent content. They can also prevent students from accessing websites that are offensive to particular religions, races, or ethnicities. This allows educators to create a more comfortable learning environment for their students.
Filters and blocking software may also be used to prevent students from accessing information about drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and other dangerous substances. Some parents may wish to limit their children’s access to information on topics such as sex education and pornography; software blockers allow them to do this. If a parent believes that certain websites are inappropriate for his or her child, he or she can install filtering software on the family computer and then configure it so that these sites are blocked for all users—including adults.
Some thoughts from Parentaldaily
Schools for more reasons than one have the tendency to block everything. Although the software may allow students to still be able to access certain websites, the fact that they are blocked is a distraction for students who are trying to learn. The main purpose of school is too educate young ones about learning and as such, some websites can make it hard for students in doing so because of the distraction.
Whether you agree with the decision or not, many schools want to control what goes into their students’ computers. They often disable unblockable sites such as Facebook and YouTube because of educational concerns. No one can argue against these concerns, but it also means that students should have a way to circumvent them if they are so inclined. Using Internet proxies helps to alleviate this problem and give students the freedom they deserve while surfing the Web.
Some very good examples were brought up about how some schools prevent students from being in control over what they want to learn (or don’t) and how this can be detrimental to their studies. The views presented in this article and highlight the need to get back on track with regard to learning and teaching, as well as actively encouraging the use of new technology to improve the educational experience of both teachers and students.
We’ll continue to evolve and adapt as we see new technologies being used. As a society, we’ve experienced changes in technologies over the years, and education has embraced those changes as well. Today’s electronic technologies are still fairly new introductions into schools, so it makes sense that there will be growing pains. At that point, we need to keep asking ourselves if the level of usage and technology is still working for us, or is it disruptive. If so, how can we fix it?
Parvinder Singh is a seasoned IT developer and network engineer with over 5 years of experience. He is also a skilled tech columnist, offering insights on the latest trends and developments in the tech industry.