Don't Legislate. Educate!

Information Literacy

Protecting our children from pornography is, in my mind an issue that is more easily dealt with via education.  Sheltering students from it can't prepare them to deal with it.  Even with filtering in place they will come across it.  That's why education is so important.  Tapscott's Growing Up Digital gives examples of how students handle the pornography issue in appropriate ways. 

To me the most important aspect of education relating to Internet is Information Literacy.  With the wide range of views available, it is critical for information users to be able to determine whether information is accurate or biased.  Children can easily recognize pornography and be taught how to deal with it, but can they just as easily recognize a hate site in disguise?

Information Literacy Standards from the ALA sets forth the skills that students need in order to be successful in the 21st century.

National Forum for Information Literacy is a coalition of over 75 education, business, and governmental organizations working to promote international and national awareness of the need for information literacy

Texas Information Literacy Tutorial is a great interactive tutorial to help teach students Information Literacy.  It is designed for college students, but could be used by high schoolers and is a great site to recommend for parents, administrators and staff developers.

The Oregon School Library Information System (OSLIS) has developed a set of very useful, downloadable, Information Literacy evaluation and assessment tools for Middle School and High School.

The Media Literacy Project from the University of Oregon is an award winning program that seeks "to make available to educators, producers, students, and parents, information and resources related to the influence of media in the lives of children, youth, and adults.
 

Speaking of Information Literacy...

When it comes to filtering, it is tough to find objective information.  One could hardly call this presentation objective, but I have tried not to be biased.  I recognize there are other views and offer you the opportunity to see them and make up your own mind. 

Public discussion and debate is healthy.  On November 1, I was forutnate to be part of a panal discussion on filtering that had some the the countries top experts on filtering, both for and against.  Below are links to the sites represented in that discussion. 

As you read, you'll have to use your Information Literacy skills to sort out bias and rhetoric presented.  Even if you have a strong opinion one way or another (and you probably do), you need to understand the arguments put forth by those who have equally strong opinions opposed to your.  Only by knowing the other side of the picture, can you gain a clear perspective of the whole issue and paint a more convincing side of your own picture. 

Much of the description of each resource below is taken directly from the site.  I'll leave it up to you to determine the accuracy of the words, but before you visit these sites you might be well advised to visit the Propaganda Analysis Home Page to gain an understanding of some of the methods these sites will use to try to convince you that their way is the right way.

CyberAngels was represented by Curtis Sliwa, creator of New York's Guardian Angels.  His site tell us they are keeping our cyberneighborhoods safe and are the largest Internet safety organization since 1995.

The Family Guidebook was written by Parry Aftab, noted cyber lawyer.  She tell us understanding risks in cyberspace is like using a traffic light.There are times where you can proceed at full speed (green light ), and times to stop dead in your tracks, if you don't want to get into a accident (red light) and then...when you have to proceed with caution, (yellow light).

Peace Fire was created in August 1996 by then 17 year-old Bennett Haselton, to represent the interests of people under 18 in the debate over freedom of speech on the Internet.

Censorware.net  is the home of The Censorware Project, dedicated to exposing the phenomenon of censorware: software which is designed to prevent another person from sending or receiving information, usually on the web. 

Net Nanny, created by Gordon Ross is the only major filter that has a totally open and free data base of blocked sites. His site tell us Net Nanny, filtering software for your PC protects children from the  worst of the Internet and provides peace of mind when using your  PC.

The Center for Democracy and Technology was represented by Liza Kessler, their general councel. They are currently organizing actions to stop federally mandated Internet filtering in schools and libraries.

GetNetWise is the flip side of CDT.  While being opposed to filtering in schools and lbraries, they provide a wide range of tools and resources for parents and children to help make the net safe.

The set of diverse links were not organizations represented at the debate, but have material worth examining.

SafeKids.com, created by Larry Magid,  is a site where you'll find tips, advice and suggestions to make your family's online experience fun and productive!

The Internet Filtering Project, TIFAP,  ran from April to September, 1997. It was a librarian-led project managed by librarian and author Karen G. Schneider. The purpose of this project was to take a hard look at Internet content filters from a librarian's point of view.

Enough is Enough, Lighting the way to protect children and families from the dangers of illegal Pornography and On-Line Predators.

Filtering Facts Filtering facts is a non-profit organization that works to protect children from the              harmful effects of pornography by promoting the use of filtering software in  libraries.

Two Stories

Here are two stories about Internet policies concerning the accessing of inappropriate sites.  As you read them, ask yourself what would be different if filtering didn't exist or if aggressive filtering was required.  Then ask yourself whether the problem is really one of software.

First-Hand Lesson in Censorship

Information Access Procedures at Southern Regional High School