Educational Inequality: more than just race or funding
Dec 30th, 2009 by Cathy Nelson
In creating my “end of the year review” post a few days ago, I was reminded that I had not yet processed all my notes from the conferences I’d participated in. One in particular that gave me pause while reviewing the information left me with a nagging question. Martha Alewine’s session was rich with information and designed to get educators excited about 21 century learning and show us that our state department of education is developing initiatives to help our fellow colleagues implement them. Here is the title and description of the session from our SC Edtech Conference bulletin:
21st Century Teaching and Learning: What does that mean for me?
Description: Participants will learn about the new SC Internet Safety Standards and the SC K-12 ICT Scope and Sequence which scaffolds student learning from Kindergarten to 12th grade. Session participants will explore resources available and receive examples of classroom and media center activities for use in teaching information, media, and technology literacy within the classroom curriculum. (Handouts from this session are available here.)
Here is the link to the wiki that she went through with us sharing documents (some she had in hardcopy for attendees–I opted for the online version since I had my laptop.) It was a great session, and participants were encouraged to share knowledge and ask questions. I applaud the effort that went into developing a thorough document, particularly by a state department of education leader, but still in the back of my mind I had a nagging worry.
Blocked Content
I asked this in the session back then, and I still have the same worry. Other attendees expressed the same concern that continuously raises its head in k12 schools when we talk about integrating technology in the classroom. Filtering. I understand to a degree the need for filtering and the laws or conditions that call for it (CIPA, E2T2), but more and more I am seeing many applications perfect for engaging and empowering our learners being filtered out. Some of the same shared applications and websites in this very session are not available to every school due to the varied filtering programs and implementation of filtering by individual districts.
Education leaders need to take a stand
How much longer will we have statewide vast inequalities in terms of blocked sites–some blocked here, more blocked there, few blocked in other places? Considering the creation of this document, will our state department of education let districts know which sites they deem as appropriate for schools ? Can the state department of education mandate that a created list of applications or websites be left accessible and available to public k12 schools? (After all, the sde just mandated all schools change over to PowerSchools for a student management program AND mandated that all schools use Follett’s Destiny for statewide textbook management.) These programs were formerly dictated by local control, but now are mandated by our state department of education. Cannot some part of the filtering issue also come from the state office?
Haves vs. Have Nots
Note this is not a rant about filters, but a plea for equality in filtering. It is so frustrating that friends I connect with cannot access simple programs like Google Docs when I share them with intentions for collaboration while at school. Google apps are NOT programs that will lead students astray any more than a pencil is a weapon in the hand of a kid. Basically it all boils down to properly teaching students how to use the tools. When we first hand a pencil to a student in kindergarten, we are doing so to “arm” them with learning tools and warn of the dangers. And please know the “pencil can be a weapon” argument has been around forever. Come on now and tell me I’m NOT the only one who feels this way.
A view from the other side of the desk
I personally know a district level person assigned to manage filtering in a district who always reminds me that I’m not viewing this from that (district/admin) side of the desk. I respect their views too. But at the same time, it is discouraging to many to read about others’ use of these resources here when the vast disparity in filtering means some will get to use them, but others will not. Classic haves vs. have-nots. And I’m not talking about connectivity or funding. Denied accessibility in the name of strict filtering happens in even the richest districts out there. The SDE just needs to name sites so we can use at least some tools.
What is the next step?
Do we need a task force or something to create a list and then get it mandated (is that possible?) from the SDE to say to those in charge of filtering to “lighten up.”? The purpose of the task force could be to:
- create a list of applications, websites, and perhaps even tools that should be accepted in public school instructional settings, and
- ensure that district level IT folks understand and are assured that these tools support classroom learning/teachers by integrating the use of technology, supporting multiple intelligences, accommodating student learning styles, and engaging students.
I did ask my PLN in various avenues if their states list sites deemed appropriate in public school settings, and only a few have responded (maybe because its the holidays.) Their responses are as follows:
- Tim Stahmer, a technology integration trainer in Fairfax, Virginia says, “Not in Virginia. The state leaves it up to districts to figure out the details of internet filtering.”
- Donna Bills, a Texas school librarian, says, “There is no such list in Texas.”
- Ann Marie Gordon, a school librian from Honeoye Falls, NY says, “…on NYS Dept of Ed site I see no list of sites that must be open to students …”
- Karen Burns, a high school librarian from Gig Harbor, WA says, “I don’t know of any list in WA…”
- John Woodring, a social media teacher and instructional technology coach from Bluffton, SC says, “There is such a list. Anything on Discus. Did not say it was a good list.” (Note: Discus is our state’s virtual library portal.)
- Kristin Fontichiaro, school librarian from Michaigan and blogger for School Library Monthly says, “I haven’t heard of Michigan providing a list of do-not-filter sites.”
- Kathy Schrock, the Director of Technology for the Nauset Public Schools on Cape Cod, MA says, “I don’t know about any other one, but MA does not have a list of sites. I cannot imagine any of them do.”
What do you think?
FlickrCC Image:’diligent‘
FlickrCC Image: ‘‘they wanna send us to heaven by+force’‘
I have been facing similar challnges and thoughts within my district. It is difficult to attend conferences and even district sponsored prof. dev. things when the sites they speak so highly of are completely blocked. We had Google Docs for the beginning of the year, until it got filtred for whatever reason. Our kids don’t even have classroom computers, and I found out the hard way that I’m not supposed to let them use my “teacher computer”, so I guess I don’t need to worry about access online if I have a hard time even getting them near a computer in the first place. *Sigh* So I understand your frustration.
I teach in SC as well and would love a list so that I could have a place to start when I beg our IT department to unblock something for me. There seems to be conflicting messages because I attend workshops and training sessions about 2.0 tools only to have the IT department reject my request to allow them through the filter. In fact, we recently took a technology proficiency test through the state DOE and there were questions on the test regarding technologies that we can not access (wikis, social networks). A statewide list would be an excellent start to even the playing field and protect the IT departments from some of their worries.
This is a really interesting idea. There are certainly large disconnects between the online tools promoted through conferences, workshops and online professional development and those allowed in many schools. Here are some additional considerations that might need to be adressed:
1. Would the list be out-of-date by the time it was subjected to state politics and bureaucracy? How would it be maintained and updated?
2. Would some districts, by default, block anything not on the list?
3. Would states give financial help to districts that are blocking sites due to lack of bandwith and older equipment?
Thanks for starting this discussion!
Ditto to the responses re: 2.0 tools that are showcased at conference, but are all blocked by my district. Of the AASL Top 25 Best Websites for Teaching and Learning, 13 are not blocked (WhooHoo!), 2 allow me to see only the text (Classroom 2.0 and RezED), and 10 are completely blocked. Now, when I say not blocked, I mean at least the front page isn’t blocked outright. I’ve had experiences where the front page is open, but if you try to go deeper into the site you run into it being blocked.
It is SO frustrating being unable to offer these FREE tools that have the potential to be powerful in classrooms and for student projects. I wish IT departments would put the responsibility of monitoring and teaching students back in the the hands of TEACHERS. Isn’t it OUR job to ensure our students are on task and using these resources appropriately? When did it become the IT department’s purview to decide the educational value of resources – weren’t they supposed to SUPPORT our IT and not DICTATE what teachers in the field can/cannot have? There HAS to be a better balance between what IT deems safe and totally blocking resources out of hand. This is especially important in my rural school/community where school is oftentimes the only opportunity students have to learn about these resources with someone there to guide their learning and usage.
Thank you for helping me find the right words and approach for this post. I am shocked at your district’s lack of tech integration support in terms of the filtering.
Donna, I love your considerations–you need to be on my proposed task force!
I am currently writing Chapter 3 of my dissertation and this is my topic! I am planning a survey of secondary, public school library media specialists in South Carolina to find out what 21st century technology tools are available.
Please support this effort to document the problem by responding to the survey. My proposal has not been approved yet, so I cannot give you a date when I hope to post the survey. BOTLO!
We need these tools not because they are cute and fun. We need them in order to prepare students to meet the new AASL standards, prepare students for the new technology test associated with the E2T2 grant (as noted by Tamara), and prepare students for the new research related items on the PASS test.
The fact that these skills are now being tested may help our cause – if we work together and let administrators (and everyone else not in the library) know how we can help students practice these skills and what we need to do the job well.
What are we waiting for and take matters in our own hands. This will be a great chance to show Web 2.0 collaboration will work. I will be happy to set up a wiki and let’s invite the EdTech community to shape a list of sites that should be accessible to students. Then we can go to our district officials and show them this list. It will have to edited by some to make sure all sites are appropriate for students at different levels.
The levels should be:
K-3
4-5
6-8
9-12
If we build it, they will come (hopefully). Let’s be part of the solution.
Excellent thoughts here, keep up the good writing.
Chris
Cathy, thanks for starting this discussion. I’m in the same district as Heather Loy and echo her comments. (Yay, Heather). I think approaching things from the standpoint of trying to influence the state dept. of ed. and having THEM dictate what should be available is a great idea. We should use our social networking tools to organize and try to effect change in that way — because, in my experience, *our* district’s IT is totally unresponsive to teachers’ and librarians’ concerns/requests. (Is this top-down, dictatorial management approach everywhere in education ?? That’s another discussion, but our tech restrictions and frustrations are a direct result of this management approach, imho. )
Just for giggles, I have to mention how our district handles unblocking requests. You fill out a paper form from the district website. Yes, PAPER, people. And then you send it by COURIER to the district office the year of our Lord 2010. And, need I add, how easy it is for our district to “lose” or “misplace” said piece of paper ?
Yep, I’m cynical. But count me in when y’all march on Columbia with your pitchforks and rakes.
Cathy,
I’m elated to see comments from many SC folks here and agree with John that we need to be part of the solution. Where do I sign up to be part of a caring group of educators who want our students to have the best tools available to enhance their learning experiences?
[...] had many posts before about filtering (here’s one, another, and another.) I plan to use some of them as I formulate my response. My favorites are [...]
[...] factors other than race, funding, and economics come into play. Inequities in filtering (Nelson), attitudes and assumptions about what constitutes effective use of technology (if everyone I know [...]