Filter Software for the School District.
If you are not sure about the need for an Internet filter, you might want to take a look at the AUP Action web page.
If you are ready to consider an Internet filter there are a whole range of issues and decisions that must be considered. There is more than one product on the market. Your goal is to get the best possible value. Here are some of the issues we have identified:
Filters that are ineffective. Problem material on the Internet is a dynamic problem. One of the popular list based filters blocks only 30,000 sites. Several filters can not deal with the new "long" names. Filtering is not a set it and forget it operation. Someone has to keep up with all the developments and changes in the Industry.
Filters that block good stuff. The critics of over zealous filters are right. A filter vendor who is willing to knowingly block "some" good sites is going to put the Technology Department on the spot.
Filters that impose a political agenda. One filter supplier used to offer a "Biblically Based" filter. That term is a code word for a lifestyle based blocking system. Because they found that did not work in public schools, they have quit referring to their slant in their literature.
Filters that impose a promotional agenda. One filter supplier is offering an advertising funded filter for schools. Commercializing the educational process is a strange thing to do if the goal is to focus the student's energy on educational issues.
Absence of Local control over what is filtered. The Internet filter should not be a black box that just blocks some sites and not others. If you are being asked to make any system work, including an Internet filter, how it works should not be a mystery. More importantly, you should have the power to immediately resolve any problem that arises at your site, without a three week delay for a corporate review of your suggestion.
Filters that treat seniors and 3rd graders alike. Almost all existing filters are designed to protect the 8 year old user from inappropriate material. The result is that filters tend to treat 17 year olds like children. A flat filter can put the Technology department on the spot with both students and teachers.
Filters that can not distinguish between faculty and students. While a case can be made for filtering the Internet for adults to avoid sexual harassment issues and personal consumption of the network resource, faculty access can be helpful for local review of the blocking decision process. It can also be helpful for faculty supervised exploration of Internet topics such as drug and alcohol promotion.
Filters that require maintenance at each workstation. Filters that run on each workstation are difficult to maintain, easy to compromise and rarely work if you have McIntosh computers in the district.
Filters that slow down Internet access. There are some filters that become the throughput bottleneck.
Filters that are not scalable. Some filters require that the district by a second "box" when things slow down. Hardware filters are often based on slower and older hardware.
Filters that can not handle the whole school district. Large school districts have generally centralized access to the Internet. Not all filter systems can respond to that basic design criteria.
Filters that can not be scale down for the small school. If you have a standalone school, you should be able to purchase appropriately scaled, but centralized filtering service.
Products that are all hype and no substance. Sounding good, having a dynamic web site and the most aggressive sales force, does not mean that the filter provides value.
Products that are cheap. Least expensive is a good bases for choosing between similar products. A filter is not a filter. Cheapest is not always the best.
Recent criticism of filter products.
Comparison of iWayPatrol with other Filter Products.
