In this case ends justify the means

Should Congress require use of Internet filtering software?

Internet connections have become commonplace at the nation's schools and libraries. A federal subsidy known as the Schools and Libraries Discount (or E-rate) helped one million classrooms, or about 82 percent of all public schools, connect to the Internet. This dramatic growth in hookups is also closely mirrored at libraries participating in the program.

This has yielded tremendous educational opportunities as well as some very real dangers. The dangers are pornographic materials that can be accessed intentionally or that may turn up as the accidental product of a general Internet search.

Seemingly innocuous keyword searches such as "Barbie doll" or "playground" can produce some of the most offensive and shocking pornography imaginable. Substituting a .com for a .gov at the end of a Web address can propel an unwary user to a porno site.

Across the country and in our own Inland Empire these "accidents" can and do happen in schools and libraries that have done nothing to block offensive materials. Parents would be shocked to know what their children may have seen on their school or library computer screens this week.

After learning that an alarming number of institutions using E- rate money have done nothing to combat this problem, Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Fritz Hollings, D-S.C., have co-sponsored legislation along with Reps. Ernest Istook, R-Okla., and Charles Pickering, R-Miss. to require that schools and libraries use Internet filtering software or lose their universal service discounts.

However, some educators and librarians are crying foul, claiming this is a bad way to stop youngsters from viewing pornography at school. What a ridiculous argument! Any way would be a good way, if it puts pressure on officials to deal with this issue.

This is not a matter of censorship. This is a matter of discipline. Students need constraints, rules, guidelines, structures within which they can work, and these must be put in place by the adults who are responsible for their education.

Lest any fear that the Children Internet Protection Act would infringe upon local control, the authors ensured school and library administrators are free to choose any filtering or blocking system that would best fit their community standards and local needs.

When our tax money is used to provide Internet access, it must also be used to protect our children from obscenity.

Copyright 2000 Cowles Publishing Company
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.