I have never tried to search or read a blog at school, but I can only guess that FWCS does, in fact, block certain blogs. FWCS has a pretty random blocking procedure that I really find norhyme or reason for. For example, I've seen educational websites about the Holocaust blocked for one reason or another, but when searching for an image on Google images, there are graphic pictures of nudity.
FWCS definitely blocks social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. I can see why since most students are on these sites at home and would be more likely to occupy their time on these sites instead of working on their assignments in the computer lab.
I would say that using blogs in the classroom would be an easier argument than would be the unblockingof teh social networking. I could argue that other peoples' opinions could be used for my lessons on persuasion and research topics for a paper that we must do as per the standards in seventh grade. I could say that personal experiences from others are just as effective a resource as an online encyclopedia would be.
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yeah, FWCS tend to block a lot of things, even blogs, because they've had multiple problems being such a large school system in a city with a widely diverse population. Even our small system in North Manchester blocks YouTube, which frustrates teachers, but if you get to know the system tech administrator and bring her candy she can probably set the filter to let through specific sites through or general sites for a specific period of time!
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