Column: Why I Am Concerned About Securly

I have had the opportunity to do a great many things as a Blake Middle Schooler. Blake has been incredibly supportive of my many projects. It has given me the space and the freedom to learn independently, lead, and discover who I am.

Almost all of these projects I completed on my school laptop. I don’t have a phone or another personal computer, so my school laptop is where I do all my work. Blake has been very generous, and has given me access to software and online resources I never would have had.

This is why it greatly concerns me that Blake has implemented Securly. I know that if I were a 6th grader now, I would not have the opportunity to do most of the things I have done. For Blake Bear Bugle, much of my research for articles comes from online sources. With Securly, these sources would be blocked. (Requests for unblocking websites can take months.) I also deeply appreciate the freedom that comes with using laptops in class. I cannot count the number of times I have googled a topic we’re learning about during Science class this year, and deepened both my engagement and curiosity.

Securly may seem small, but it is truly limiting students' abilities to be successful. I had a very successful time at Blake Middle School. But I know that I would not have been successful if I was limited by Securly.