Initiative D21, June 28, 2002, p. 95/96  (translated from German)

Learning becomes more enjoyable if a violence-free internet is used for every subject
 

Criminality and child pornography. Right-wing extremism and violence on the internet. Tragic events like students running amok in schools show how much all this influences our children.

Parents now ask themselves: What exactly are our children doing when they are sitting in front of the computer or surfing the internet for hours. What influences them? Do our children hunt virtual moor hens or people? If the parents cannot find the right answers they have an easy solution at home. They forbid surfing or they simply cut the cable. But is this the solution? Are our children not supposed to learn how to responsibly deal with the new media, the computer and the internet? After all, the new media are ever more present in our private life as well as in our educational and working life.

Our children have long since learned to use the internet for their purposes. They download their favorite music or the latest movies from the internet and burn them on CD or DVD. They send their mail via the net. Not only at home, but also in school. The teachers are in a dilemma. On the one hand they are supposed to use the new media, the computer and the internet for their lessons. On the other hand they have to guarantee the protection for young people when they choose their teaching materials.

The action group 'Protection for Young People' in Saxony stated in a report: "... The negligent provision of morally damaging contents is punishable and to provide an internet access for young people is a provision in this sense... Considering this argumentation it is no wonder that teachers avoid the use of online media and dream of a safe internet that relieves them of this responsibility and enables them to fully concentrate on the lesson."

Maths and computer science teachers rarely have a problem with the internet. Although even for them it is hard to see if students in the last row play online games, send SMS or download music files from the internet. If the teacher gets suspicious and slowly walks to the last row, the student can easily close the page. He smiles at the teacher and no forbidden file shows on his screen. How must teachers feel about all this who would like to use the internet for their biology or English lesson?

The schools are confronted with a problem that can only be solved with filter software. The dream of a safe internet can come true. During the sports meeting in Leipzig, the biggest mass sports event of the world, 55 schools were equipped successfully with the "SaferSurf" solution. According to the 'Protection for Young People' action group it guarantees "...absolute certainty that no unwanted contents are shown...".

The filter software provides the teacher with a tool that allows him to decide what is displayed on the computer screens during his lesson and what is not. It is easy to use and absolutely safe. Nobody can play online games, send SMS or download music files from the internet if the teacher does not want it. He decides if all students can use the internet without restrictions of if they can only access topic-related sites. In this case only internet adresses that are relevant for this lesson are released. The teacher can also block the download of certain files in order to minimize the risk of computer viruses or a network overload of the school network.

The advantage for the students is that they do not waste time with searching the internet on irrelevant sites. They can see immediately where they find the results for their project work. Learning becomes more enjoyable if the internet is used for every subject.