Since the creation of MySpace and YouTube, Cal High has taken the liberty to block these Web sites among others, leaving many students to question if the school is censoring information that could be useful to their education.

Although most students agree there is little educational value on MySpace, many have tried to access Web sites from school they felt could help their studies.

Junior Clarice Guido experienced complications when she tried to access a banned Web site.

“I was trying to find pictures for a history project, but I was unable to go on a site because it was blocked,” said Clarice.

Some teachers can relate to the students who are denied access to some Web sites.

Science and Web page design teacher Steve Armstrong said a Web site is blocked if it contains sexual content, games or music for downloading, or promotes the use of drugs and alcohol.

Armstrong said the San Ramon Valley school district first began blocking Web sites during the 2005-2006 school year.

Most students do not believe MySpace, YouTube and Xanga, all blocked sites, fit into any of these categories.

“There is a lot of controversy (on those sites),” said Armstrong, who is in charge of the school’s Web page. “People are being approached inappropriately and school is not an environment where that should be happening.”

Para educator Vicki Souja said kids are being hurt and abused on sites such as MySpace.

She said the suicide of a Pine Valley student earlier this school year was caused by abuse.

Although many students agree that censoring certain sites is necessary, some feel their First Amendment rights are being violated because they are not being given access to important information.

Digital photography teacher Steve Dick, who also works on the school’s Web site, said he feels it is difficult for some of his students to find certain information, but he does not feel the policy is too strict.

“The information can be found somewhere else. Go to the books,” said Dick.

Junior Jayme Sy, who feels that censoring Web sites is unnecessary, begs to differ.

“It’s school hours. We should be focusing on schoolwork but at the same time you can use MySpace and YouTube for school projects and benefits,” said Jayme.

Junior David Bae feels MySpace is useful for school and helps students interact with each other.

“MySpace is a space for people to communicate with other people,” said David.

Web sites that may seem inappropriate are discussed by the district and parents. They feel if moral and social issues are at stake, Web sites should be blocked, Armstrong said.

“There is always going to be a problem with certain sites being blocked,” said Armstrong.

Shortcuts have been found to enable the use of blocked sites. Accessthis.net, for example, was used by students for some time, but was quickly found and blocked.

There are probably more Web sites for that purpose, but to many students’ dissatisfaction, it seems that censoring some sites is bound to stay at Cal.

“I think all the sites they blocked will remain blocked,” said Armstrong.