In my opinion, libraries in schools and communities should be the last places to use censorship of any kind. Unlike book bannings of old, the Web banning of today takes place in the privacy of a company office without public dialog. Of course, the public dialog has already been held, at least in this country. It is reflected in the First Amendment to the Constitution, and, as such, it is a sacred right to be treasured by every American. I'm startled to see elected officials so willing to trample the Constitution in the name of expediency.
Democracy is more complex than a day trip to Disneyland.
People have the right to speak their mind, even if others of us find what they are saying to be offensive. This principle has held up remarkably well over time, and I see nothing about the Web that justifies changing it now. I don't mean to suggest that some students don't abuse their Web access privileges, but, in general, I believe the level of abuse is overstated. That said, there are some things educators can do to keep students on task, none of which requires electronic censorship. First, students should use the Web when they have a well-defined task to perform.