Hays High School's Official Student Newspaper

The Guidon Online

Hays High School's Official Student Newspaper

The Guidon Online

Hays High School's Official Student Newspaper

The Guidon Online

Access denied? CCU explains reasoning behind inconvenient web filter

While trying to complete your English project, you realize you need a picture of a symbol that demonstrates violence.  You fire up your computer, go to the Google images website, and type in violence. Everything seems fine until a window pops up on your computer saying that you do not have permission to view those images due to the web filter. Frustrated, you close your laptop and wonder why it is that the school won’t let you finish your English project.

“It’s really irritating when I’m trying to do something and the web filter pops up,” freshman Brittney Dannels said. “Then I have to wait until I get home to finish my assignment.”

Even though some of the sites the filter blocks seem silly and unfair, there is a good reason for the denial of access.  CCU attendant Zach Meyer explains.

“The filtering software has built-in specifications that help decide what’s good and what’s bad since we can’t view every single webpage on the internet,” Meyer said. “If the software believes something is obscene or inappropriate, it will automatically block it. However, if a student or teacher needs to view the site, we will work with them on getting it unblocked.”

Some students believe that since they are in high school they are mature enough and don’t need a filter on the internet.

“I hate the web filter,” junior Taylor Renz said. “I do understand that some websites need to be blocked, but still, it kind of makes me mad. It might be good for the kids in elementary and middle school, but we are in high school and I think we are a little more mature and don’t need the filter as much.”

The CCU has an explanation for the filter still being used at the high school.

“Even though some students argue they are mature enough, there have been plenty of students who get their wireless taken away for viewing inappropriate content,” Meyer said.

Another question many students ask is why all of the gaming websites are inaccessible.

“I don’t see why all of the gaming websites are blocked,” Dannels said. “If we have extra time in class and all of our homework is done, why shouldn’t we be allowed to play games?”

Meyer had a quick answer to the frequently asked question.

“The decision to put the filter over gaming websites was decided mainly by the teachers and the administration,” Meyer said. “Games can become a distraction in class.”

Another disappointment for students is the fact that YouTube and Pandora are blocked by the filter.

“For some class projects we need to use videos for powerpoints and such,” Dannels said. “It’s a lot harder to find good videos when we can’t access YouTube.”

Meyer explains that blocking YouTube and Pandora helps the speed of the internet.

“YouTube and Pandora are mainly blocked for bandwidth issues,” Meyer said. “Some students were getting kicked off the internet because so many people were running Pandora during seminar.  Also, there is some content on YouTube that isn’t school appropriate.”

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