Fresno Unified needs to re-think what it allows students to read
The two Edison students who questioned the lack of school computer access to some newspaper sources should be commended. The commendation should not be for their politics, which is a personal matter, but for their inquiring minds and lack of acceptance of the status quo. Isn’t that what education is supposed to encourage?
The students, one of whom is a student member of the Board of Trustees of Fresno Unified, noted that some liberal publications are not available while some conservative publications are.
Although the district explained that a Texas firm recommends what is accessible on student computers and their decision is based on the prevalence of articles containing adult material rather than politics, it still seems that seniors, who will undoubtedly go to college next year, are not going to be “damaged” by reading the Huffington Post article about a student who got into trouble because her blouse exposed her collarbones!
Considering what is readily available on TV and social media, and even though the district feels responsible for content, I doubt that sources such as Huffington Post, the political Daily Kos, or Jezebel, a feminist publication, contain pornography.
Fresno Unified needs to re-think its acceptance of Texas standards.
Francine M. Farber, Fresno
This story was originally published May 30, 2017 at 12:10 PM with the headline "Fresno Unified needs to re-think what it allows students to read."