Web-Filtering Software: Censorship or Good Sense?

What's the Policy?

As more and more schools provide students with access to the World Wide Web, parents and teachers have become concerned about how to protect students from exposure to inappropriate web sites. As a result, many schools are adopting acceptable-use policies (AUPs),* which are signed by teachers, students, and administrators and state the guidelines for the responsible use of computer technology.

Even with a strong acceptable use policy, some schools and school districts may not wish rely on students alone to behave responsibly. These administrators may choose to also use web-filtering software.† This software disables access to web addresses that are known to be inappropriate, such as pornographic or hate sites. The software updates the filters daily by searching the Web for new inappropriate sites. Although not foolproof, web-filtering software is one way to monitor the burgeoning amount of information on the Web and to protect students from harmful information.

How Does It Affect Teachers?

When teachers assign students research projects using the Web, they need to realize that when web-filtering software is being used at school, the students may be unable to access certain sites that would be relevant to their research. On a day-to-day basis, teachers must be aware of the parameters set for the web-filtering software their schools use. Suppose, for example, that you are teaching a unit on AIDS and you have designed an activity in which students use the Web to search several sites to find up-to-date scientific research. All the sites work when you develop the idea at home, but at school, none of your students can access them. The reason is that your assignment is incompatible with the web-filtering software in use at your school. On the other hand, if your school does not use web-filtering software, and you assign your students to do a search on AIDS in class, they may come across inappropriate and/or dangerous information.

What Are the Pros of Web-Filtering Software?

From pornography to hate literature to directions on how to make a bomb, the Web is an unknown and unmonitored entity with the potential to cause extreme damage. The global nature and design of the Web make it almost impossible to enforce any code of moral or academic ethics.

Another problem is accuracy. No registry is required to publish a web page; anyone with access can create his or her own home page, and the information it contains is not necessarily subject to accountability. Students are quick to search, find, cut and paste without bothering to evaluate the source and the content. This lack of quality control concerns many teachers and makes them hesitant to use the Web without "safety nets," such as web-filtering software, in place.

One additional consideration must be the school's liability. Some teachers and administrators worry that if a child encounters dangerous information and then uses that information to act unlawfully, the school could be held responsible. They prefer a restrictive web-filtering software and an AUP that errs on the side of restraint to protect the school from liability as opposed to the risks of allowing unrestricted access to all the information available.

What Are the Cons?

Some schools see problems with relying on web-filtering software: the filtering technology is not perfect, and schools that rely on it are more vulnerable if it fails. The use of filtering software also brings up censorship and First Amendment rights (see the chapter entitled "What Are the Ethical and Legal Issues Facing Teachers?" for more on this subject). Some teachers believe that even though the Web contains a great deal of inappropriate information, students should have unlimited access but be closely monitored. Teachers need to instruct their students in ways to evaluate the authority of web sources‡, monitor students when they use technology, and enforce acceptable and responsible use. This strategy models trust and teaches proper researching skills instead of relying on an imperfect filter and withholding valuable information.

What Do You Think?

1. In this scenario, if your school were reviewing its decision to use web-filtering software, how would you vote? Explain.
2. Would your decision on web-filtering software change if you knew that the software collected data on students' web-use habits for the company that created it?
3. How would you answer a parent who complains that her child came across pornographic information while researching the project you assigned?
4. How would you modify your lesson about online searching if a parent refused to sign his child's permission slip to use the Web at school?

*For an example, visit: http://www.jefferson.k12.ky.us/aup/policy.html.

†Surf Control produces an array of filtering software. Available at: http://www.surfcontrol.com/; telephone: (800) 368-3366.

‡For some helpful questions to ask when evaluating a web site, visit: http://www.library.jhu.edu/elp/useit/evaluate/.

For more information on the use of web-filtering software and other ways to protect students from undesirable Internet content, visit these web sites, then reflect on the questions that follow.

Web Links:

Guide for Writing a Policy

http://www.filteringinfo.org/policy_guide.html

This site provides you with information to help your write or update your school or classroom policy for Internet safety or acceptable use of the Internet.

Acceptable Use Policies: A Handbook

http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Technology/AUP/home.shtml

This handbook is produced by the Virginia Department of Education and is a rich source of information on using the Internet in schools and developing acceptable use policies.

Filtering Info

http://www.filteringinfo.org/

This web site is dedicated to providing updates on legislation regarding the filtering of Internet information. It provides general information about filtering, a checklist to find out if your school is affected by laws requiring filtering, and links to information on useful filtering tools and funding sources.

Surf Control

http://www.surfcontrol.com/

This is an example of a company that sells web-filtering software. Examine some of the specifications of the various products available.

Eduhound Hotlist

http://www.eduhound.com/hotlist/

One way you can encourage students to limit their web selections is a hot list of recommended sites. You can create your own, if you have your own web page, or you can use a free service provided by Eduhound.

Web Whacker

http://www.bluesquirrel.com/

Teachers can use Web Whacker software to "whack" a site away from the World Wide Web, that is, to copy all of the content of a web site and present it to students when they are not connected to the Internet. This allows teachers to screen content and prevent unsupervised browsing.

Tracking Where Kids Have Been on the Internet

http://www.media-awareness.ca/eng/webaware/tipsheets/techtips.htm

Teachers and schools may sometimes have the need to find out which sites students have visited. If so, this article tells you how.

Teaching Kids to Be Safe and Responsible Online

http://www.media-awareness.ca/eng/webaware/teachers/safe/tsafe.htm

Teachers need to help their students learn how to use the Internet safely and appropriately. This site gives you some ideas of how to teach these valuable lessons.

Know Before You Go

http://www.cybercrime.gov/rules/kidinternet.htm

This is a lesson plan, developed by the U.S. Department of Justice, to teach children Internet safety and citizenship.

Evaluating Information Found on the Internet

http://www.library.jhu.edu/elp/useit/evaluate/

This site, from the Sheridan Libraries at Johns Hopkins University, offers some helpful questions to ask when evaluating a web site.

For Further Reflection:

1. Which method or methods for helping students avoid undesirable web material appeals to you most: educating students about web safety, requiring students to agree to acceptable use policies, providing guidance through hot lists, using web-filtering software, or whacking sites from the web entirely? Why?
2. What would you do if you came across some students who were purposely looking for inappropriate material on the school's computer?