Previously inaccessible social networking sites, including Facebook and Twitter, have now been unblocked.

YouTube used to be blocked, but now is once again accessible on school computers. “I suspect there was probably a problem with the web filter not applying correctly to all computers that was giving students access and it has been repaired,” said Principal Tim Hornig.

  While this move is popular with many students, some teachers have the opposite feelings.

Social science teacher Stephen Fisher said it’s too early to tell if it’s a problem or not, but that he really sees no use in unblocking these websites – Facebook in particular.

Junior Rheanna Goodsell agreed with him. “I honestly don’t see how Facebook can be educational, but I’m not going to complain,” said Goodsell.

  “[Facebook] won’t benefit students’ learning, but we should still be able to use it,” said sophomore Janet Gomez.

 “[Facebook and Twitter were unblocked] in order to offer students access to social media that can enhance the education they receive in SDUHSD schools,” said Hornig. 

 “One of the reasons why they unblocked it was because teachers wanted to be able to interact with students and create a Facebook page for the class, basically to interact with students over that,” said Donna Gonzalez, the lead library technician.

English teacher Justin Conn  said that he uses Facebook to post links on the class page and encourages students to make surveys and share them as posts. He said he has just started using Facebook and is testing it out to see how it goes.  

“We want to empower students with social media, to embrace it,” said Hornig.

“I use the chat function to have students ask questions before labs are due and before any quiz or test.  I also post things on my wall to give announcements and to give websites to help students with the class,” said biology teacher Michael Santos.