When School Tech Gets in the Way: The Securly Dilemma
If you’ve ever sat down at a school computer only to face endless loading screens, blocked websites you actually need for class, or random crashes, you’re not alone. For many students and teachers, school-issued devices are essential tools for learning—until they’re not. Recently, an issue has been popping up in classrooms nationwide: Securly, a popular web-filtering software designed to keep students safe online, is causing more frustration than protection.
What’s Going On with Securly?
Securly is used by schools to block inappropriate content, monitor student activity, and ensure compliance with internet safety laws. In theory, it’s a well-intentioned tool. But in practice? Students and teachers are reporting that it’s doing more harm than good.
At my school, for example, classroom computers have become nearly unusable. Pages take forever to load, even on trusted educational sites like Khan Academy or Google Classroom. Teachers struggle to access lesson materials during class, and students working on research projects hit dead ends when Securly mistakenly flags legitimate resources as “inappropriate.” One day, a history teacher couldn’t pull up a primary source document about the Civil War because Securly categorized it under “violence.” Another time, a student’s science project on climate change was blocked due to a vague “suspicious activity” alert.
The worst part? These glitches aren’t occasional. They’ve become a daily hurdle, slowing down lessons and adding unnecessary stress to an already demanding school environment.
Why Is This Happening?
To understand why Securly is causing chaos, we need to look at how it works. The software uses artificial intelligence to scan web content in real time, categorizing sites based on keywords, images, and other factors. It’s also designed to track user behavior, flagging anything that deviates from “normal” activity.
But AI isn’t perfect. Overblocking is a common problem—where harmless sites get caught in the filter’s net. For instance, a student researching breast cancer for a biology project might find medical websites blocked because the filter detects the word “breast.” Similarly, educational videos on YouTube are often restricted due to Securly’s broad-stroke approach to filtering “entertainment” content.
Another issue is system overload. Securly runs constantly in the background, consuming processing power and memory. On older school devices, this can lead to lagging performance, frozen screens, or sudden shutdowns. Imagine trying to take an online quiz when your computer freezes every three minutes!
The Ripple Effect on Learning
When technology fails, the impact goes beyond minor annoyance. Teachers have to pivot lesson plans on the fly, sacrificing valuable instruction time to troubleshoot tech issues. Students lose focus (and patience) when assignments take twice as long to complete. Group projects become logistical nightmares if half the team can’t access shared documents.
There’s also an equity issue. Not every student has a reliable personal device at home. If school computers are bogged down by faulty software, it disproportionately affects those who rely on them for homework and studying.
What Can Schools Do?
The problem isn’t that Securly exists—it’s how it’s being implemented. Here are a few steps schools can take to minimize disruptions while maintaining safety:
1. Adjust Filtering Settings: Securly allows administrators to whitelist specific websites or loosen restrictions for certain user groups (e.g., teachers). Schools should regularly review blocked sites and tweak filters to align with classroom needs.
2. Invest in Hardware Upgrades: Older devices struggle to handle resource-heavy software. Upgrading school computers or allocating more memory to Securly’s processes could alleviate performance issues.
3. Provide Clear Reporting Channels: Students and teachers need a straightforward way to report false blocks or glitches. Quick fixes depend on timely communication between users and IT staff.
4. Educate Users: Teach students and staff how Securly works—and why certain sites are blocked. Transparency reduces frustration and encourages responsible browsing habits.
Students and Teachers: How to Cope
While systemic fixes take time, here are some short-term workarounds:
– Use Incognito Mode Sparingly: Sometimes, Securly’s extensions don’t load in private browsing windows, granting temporary access to blocked sites. (Note: Don’t abuse this—schools can track this activity!)
– Clear Browser Cache: Lagging performance might improve if you regularly clear cached data.
– Download First, Browse Later: If a website is blocked, ask a teacher to download materials in advance and share them via USB or offline folders.
The Bigger Picture
Securly’s struggles highlight a growing tension in education: balancing safety with functionality. Schools want to protect students, but overly restrictive tools can stifle learning. As one teacher put it, “It’s like putting a padlock on a library—you’re keeping people safe, but you’re also keeping them out.”
The solution isn’t to ditch web filters entirely but to use them thoughtfully. Schools need to listen to feedback, adapt policies, and ensure that tech tools serve their primary purpose: supporting education, not hindering it.
In the meantime, students and educators will keep finding creative ways to adapt. Because when the computer freezes during a presentation, you learn pretty quickly how to think on your feet—or at least how to restart a device without panicking.
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