Has a school library been sued because its students couldn’t access the online information they needed?
The Tennessee ACLU is currently suing the Knoxville school district for violating a student’s constitutional right to obtain online information about homosexuality (for more details, visit www.aclu-tn.org). The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requires schools to use filtering software if they receive e-rate funds or Museum and Library Services Act grants. But CIPA applies only to “visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors.” It makes no reference to text. The courts have recognized that minors have constitutional rights and that filters block constitutionally protected speech. It’s imperative that school districts have an Internet Use Policy that addresses student access to online information. The policy should make provisions for unblocking information deemed “educational” upon a student’s request. Otherwise, the school district could end up in court. I’m a teen librarian in a large public library system. We’re having so many book challenges
