Filtering

I wrote my paper on Internet filtering and was very intrigued.  before doing my research, I would have said that filtering was vital.  Now, my views have changed a little.  I still feel that schools need to filter the Internet to keep inappropriate material away from our students.  However, the software available today needs to be tweaked.  School districts do not have any control over what the software blocks and what sites it doesn’t.  I feel that there should be changes to these softwares that are available for schools to purchase.  Schools should be allowed to  have final say in which sites are appropriate. 

 If schools had control, then teachers would be allowed to use more interactive websites in class for their lessons, and  Students would have more access to information that the software now blocks because of one inappropriate word.  Students can always find a way around these firewalls and filters if they want to.  Students today are very knowledgeable and resourceful.  

 The filters should be programmed to allow block only inappropriate sites  and not sites that would help student learning.  Many communities in the world use the Internet as their only means of connecting to the outside world.  If they are going to have these filters and restrictions, then they ability to converse with other communities is reduced.