The long-term solution to Internet blocking problems
Thursday, April 20, 2006 at 08:50AM Miguel Guhlin over at Around the Corner is advocating everyone add MySpace to each of his/her blog postings - the theory being, that it will sort of "jam" the system, forcing districts to examine and lighten their filtering restrictions. He implies we ought to be teaching folks to bypass filters. He believes we should all be practicing a sort of civil disobedience.
As we say here in Minnesota - 'Right Arm!" Or is that "Farm Out!" Maybe "Out of State!" (The 60s were just too long ago.)
Such rabble rousing is grand fun to read. My heart cheers Miguel and his efforts on. And one seriously hopes the tank in Miguel's virtual Tienamen Square will not squash him flat.
I am not sure, however, the real concern with filters is over or under blocking.The concern should be - who decides and controls what is blocked. Do I seriously think my students' education is jeopardized because they can't get to MySpace from the computers in our district. Not really. What I do worry about is when decisions about what is blocked are unilaterally made - by either an administrator, a technology director, a technician, or a powerful parent group. Today it may be MySpace. Tomorrow Planned Parenthood. The day after that, any religious site that a parent may object to. The day after that, Rush Limbaugh's site. Where does it end?
Blue Skunk readers know this is an old drum I'm beating. For my money, we need to looking at addressing school district policy-making - working internally with our advisory committees, our administrative groups, our school boards and our professional associations to teach, maintain and extend the principals of intellectual freedom to the online world. Decisions about allowing access or limiting access should be done following a procedure and by a group representing a wide-range of stakeholders. Gee, much like what librarians have been advocating (and largely succeeding in getting) in response to book challenges.
It an't as sexy as protesting in the streets. But it has a better chance of working.
Reader Comments (2)
http://www.mguhlin.net/blog/archives/2006/04/entry_1395.htm
Thanks for the laugh,
Miguel
I hope it is my evil alter-ego George driving the tank, not really me.
Actually think of the change that might happen were folks like us actually driving the tanks in positive directions.
There is a little saying from :Peter's Laws: The Creed of the Sociopathic Obsessive Compulsive" I keep on my door. It says, "If you can't beat them, join them, then beat them."
I appreciate your perspective and sense of humor!
All the best,
Doug
Oh, the complete list of Peter's Laws:
Peter's Laws
(The Creed of the Sociopathic Obsessive Compulsive)
1.If anything can go wrong, fix it! (To hell with Murphy!)
2.When given a choice, take both.
3.Multiple projects lead to multiple successes.
4.Start at the top and work your way up.
5.Do it by the book... but be the author.
6.When forced to compromise, ask for more.
7.If you can't beat them, join them, and then beat them.
8.If it's worth doing, it's got to be done now!
9.If you can't win, change the rules.
10.If you can't change the rules, then ignore them.
11.Perfection is not optional.
12.When faced without a challenge, make one.
13."No" simply means begin again at one level higher.
14.Don't walk when you can run.
15.Bureaucracy is a challenge to be conquered with a righteous attitude, a tolerance for stupidity, and a bulldozer when necessary.
16.When in doubt, THINK!
17.Patience is a virtue, but persistence to the point of success is a blessing.
18.The squeaky wheel gets replaced.
19.The faster you move, the slower time passes, the longer you live!