New Internet Security On

School Computers

By Tanjua Damon

Bess is not the typical student, but Bess aids the typical student on the computer and keeps them out of Internet sites that are deemed non-educational.

Bess is an Internet filtering system that was implemented over the summer to help keep web browsing safe for students at Newtown schools. Bess is not a software program, instead Bess operates right at the server or network.

“I feel it is necessary,” computer teacher Jennifer Tarabulski said. “It’s very important. A lot of times students would go to sites unintentionally. When you have all the information at your finger tips, it’s just not appropriate for all students.”

A unique feature about Bess is the way sites are evaluated for use in the classroom. There is a combined artificial intelligence (the computer) and staff of over 100 human web reviewers who evaluate and categorize Internet sites that are appropriate for students to view. Every computer connected the network is provided filtering by Bess.

For example, if a student were doing a research paper about breast cancer, the student would not be restricted from educational sites that are useful. The only complaints Ms Tarabulski has heard so far is from a social studies class who was trying to look for political cartoons. Certain sites that may be deemed inappropriate because of language for example, may be setup by the technology department for a specific period of time for teachers to use on topics such as political cartoons.

“The flip side is you don’t what to prohibit research,” Ms Tarabulski said. “You don’t want to keep students from sites that give them the information they need. This is the best I have seen so far.”

 If a student goes to a site that is not appropriate, Bess, the dog icon appears on the computer screen displaying the message, “Bess cannot go there.”

“The software is installed on the server so it goes to the server first,” Ms Tarabulski said. “In the past, we just had minor filtering in place. It was not as effective as it should have been. I’m able to rest easier at night.”

Bess also has the N2H2 Resource Bar that provides students with one-click power access to educational resources and tools. Functions that can be found on the bar include filtered search for the World Wide Web, searchable access to the Encarta Online Deluxe Encyclopedia, and one-click access to the Searchopolis Educational Resource Center.