YouTube: we all use it. Unfortunately, it’s just one of the many websites blocked by the Blue Valley district. Both teachers and students are affected by this block.
If a teacher wants to access YouTube for the sole purpose of letting their students have a chance to hear a song in a foreign language to further their knowledge, they will be denied access — even though the information would be educationally beneficial. If YouTube was unblocked, teachers would be able to show their students lectures by other professors, among other educational programs.
Since its founding in 2005, YouTube has never been accessible from school.
Students have not been given a fair opportunity by district officials to show whether or not they are responsible; it’s like having the punishment before the crime is committed. Students should have a fair chance to showcase their ability to handle YouTube and the rules that come with it.
Occasionally, we come across students who have nothing better to do than browse YouTube and watch those oh-so-funny Fred videos, but that only accounts for a small fraction of our student body.
According to executive director of Information Technology Services (ITS) Greg DeYoung, the school district does not have complete control. Schools that are funded by the government have to follow the rules of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Websites are blocked by the processing of filtering — certain keywords can set the website as inappropriate and it is then blocked.
What about the students who have actually used YouTube in their advantage — in other words, to further their education? I thought that is the ultimate goal of the prestigious Blue Valley district. The blocking of YouTube has had an effect on Advanced Placement Biology students, among many others. They wanted to watch the Meiosis Square Dance — an amusing educational video — to prepare for a unit test. They could not access the video. These students fall under the category of those who want to use the website as a source of learning and not an excuse to waste time, but they were restricted from the information that could have helped them on their test that afternoon.
I don’t think they are the first people who have been in this situation. The problem is, when we need YouTube the most, it is not an option. Before a big test, it would be nice to have the choice to watch a meiosis video or a step-by-step explanation of that math problem.
District officials should not punish students who want to use the website for educational purposes.
DeYoung said the unblocking of Youtube is now under consideration by the board of education. If accepted, the new policy will be established for the 2011-2012 school year.
We strongly encourage the district officials to give students a chance to prove we can follow rules. YouTube could give students an opportunity to watch videos that help their with schoolwork. All in all, the board’s consideration alone is a big step in the right direction. That being said, this policy should be approved because students and teachers will benefit from it. It will give teachers a new way to teach without completely boring students, and for us, it will be a new and exciting way to learn without feeling stuck inside a classroom.
If a teacher wants to access YouTube for the sole purpose of letting their students have a chance to hear a song in a foreign language to further their knowledge, they will be denied access — even though the information would be educationally beneficial. If YouTube was unblocked, teachers would be able to show their students lectures by other professors, among other educational programs.
Since its founding in 2005, YouTube has never been accessible from school.
Students have not been given a fair opportunity by district officials to show whether or not they are responsible; it’s like having the punishment before the crime is committed. Students should have a fair chance to showcase their ability to handle YouTube and the rules that come with it.
Occasionally, we come across students who have nothing better to do than browse YouTube and watch those oh-so-funny Fred videos, but that only accounts for a small fraction of our student body.
According to executive director of Information Technology Services (ITS) Greg DeYoung, the school district does not have complete control. Schools that are funded by the government have to follow the rules of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Websites are blocked by the processing of filtering — certain keywords can set the website as inappropriate and it is then blocked.
What about the students who have actually used YouTube in their advantage — in other words, to further their education? I thought that is the ultimate goal of the prestigious Blue Valley district. The blocking of YouTube has had an effect on Advanced Placement Biology students, among many others. They wanted to watch the Meiosis Square Dance — an amusing educational video — to prepare for a unit test. They could not access the video. These students fall under the category of those who want to use the website as a source of learning and not an excuse to waste time, but they were restricted from the information that could have helped them on their test that afternoon.
I don’t think they are the first people who have been in this situation. The problem is, when we need YouTube the most, it is not an option. Before a big test, it would be nice to have the choice to watch a meiosis video or a step-by-step explanation of that math problem.
District officials should not punish students who want to use the website for educational purposes.
DeYoung said the unblocking of Youtube is now under consideration by the board of education. If accepted, the new policy will be established for the 2011-2012 school year.
We strongly encourage the district officials to give students a chance to prove we can follow rules. YouTube could give students an opportunity to watch videos that help their with schoolwork. All in all, the board’s consideration alone is a big step in the right direction. That being said, this policy should be approved because students and teachers will benefit from it. It will give teachers a new way to teach without completely boring students, and for us, it will be a new and exciting way to learn without feeling stuck inside a classroom.