Students across Glenbrook District 225 in Northbrook and Glenview, IL are being forced into using only district-issued Chromebooks during school hours – and the justification, according to a recent school-wide email, is to enforce website restrictions like blocking social media.

But here’s the thing

The district already blocks websites at the network level — they’ve been doing it just fine for years without needing to control what device we use.

So why the sudden power grab now? Why the unnecessary lockdown?

Many students have spent large sums of money on laptops — some bought new ones just for this school year — expecting to actually use them in class. And now? They’re flat-out banned. This policy doesn’t just waste family money; it strips away students’ ability to work on the tools they know and actually get stuff done with.

Let’s be real

 Chromebooks are fine for checking email or typing an essay, but they’re not built for anything more. Graphic design, video editing, coding, and even basic multitasking are painfully slow or outright impossible. For students taking advanced electives, pursuing technical careers, or just want a more comfortable experience, this restriction is more than annoying – it’s an obstacle to learning.

The idea that laptops need to be physically locked down makes no sense. If blocking websites is the goal, the district’s Wi-Fi already does that on all devices. This decision clearly wasn’t made by anyone who actually understands technology — or students. It’s not about safety, it’s about control. And it’s lazy.

Sure, plenty of students can get by on Chromebooks — but this policy unfairly cuts off those who actually need their personal laptops for productive work.

We demand that Glenbrook District 225 stop pretending this is about safety. It’s not. If blocking websites is the goal, your network already does that. Forcing students onto limited devices just because it’s easier for administrators is lazy, wasteful, and out of touch. Reverse the mandate. Let students use their own laptops. Respect our time, our money, and our ability to learn without being micromanaged.