BY DORIS MURILLO

When using the school’s internet, we will sometimes encounter a ‘blocked’ page. This should not be confused with bad internet connection but rather the filters the school puts on the web. Although I support these filters because the districts internet is also at use by younger children in elementary schools, I also support a reevaluation of what is filtered on the web.

At school, we are required to do various research for different classes and with the internet at our fingertips, it is our main source of information as well as it is encouraged by teachers to use it. However it is quite difficult when pages that contain the important information needed is blocked. We need as many sources as we can get a hold of, yet they are limiting us to what we can access.

It may be argued that this use of the internet can be done at home but for some students, they may not have the access at home. At this day and age, people believe that everyone has this connection available to them 24/7 but let’s not turn a blind eye to those who may simply not have the economic resources. There is always the public library that can be used but even then it can be an inconvenience to have to go to school, then library, and for some, sports, clubs, jobs, and home to top it off with homework.

These web filters are necessary because the internet can be a dark place and people may abuse their right to use the internet. In another light, the internet is a place to gain knowledge and educate yourself. Therefore there must be a balance; yes to web filters but no to an overuse of them.