Do filters to block porn on school computers work?

(4/13/07 - KTRK/HUMBLE, TX) (KTRK) -- A parent is shocked to discover students can access pornography on computers at her child's school. That mom called us and we went to Humble to investigate.

"What are you going to do if someone next to you is looking at that?" asked parent Yvette Jamil to her daughter, Tara.

"I would raise my hand," answered Tara. "They're going to say 'What are you doing?' 'I'm just asking for help' and then they would probably minimize it and then I'd tell the teacher they're looking at porn."

Jamil was worried her children and other students had access to adult sites on school computers. So she tested her theory at Timberwood Middle School with the help of a librarian.

"Click on images, so we did that and you have the option at the bottom to filter or not," she said. "I said, 'Take the filter off' and she did and asked 'Now what?' and I said 'Type in spank.' And then she pressed 'go' and two minutes later, it was full of naked women all over the screen."

Humble ISD officials say they're aware students can access material over the Internet that is inappropriate for school age children. That's why they take steps to prevent it.

• Teachers monitor students
• Students sign a policy saying they won't misuse their computer privileges
• Students face discipline if they do
• The district uses filtering software

But it's software Yvette says isn't' working.

"I went into Kroger and their were two young girls," she said. "I said, 'Are you in high school' and they said 'Yes, we are.' I said, 'Have you all ever accessed porn or know anybody who did on the computer' and they said, 'Yes, all the time'&at school"

Jamil says if the school district doesn't do something to prevent students from being able to look at porn, she won't allow her daughter to use the Internet there next year.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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