As a student, this is genuinely such a horrible idea.

While I can recognize the irrefutable fact that YouTube presents a plethora of potential issues regarding misuse, distraction, and inappropriate content, it is a supplementary tool that provides invaluable educational opportunities for students.

Throughout my years of high school, I have used YouTube on countless occasions. When I took AP Biology as a sophomore and couldn't comprehend the lengthy textbook pages, I turned to video lectures online. Almost instantaneously, everything clicked. The dense paragraphs and abstruse vocabulary were no longer impossible to understand. Many students, like myself, lend themselves more towards visual and auditory learned as opposed to simply passive reading.

Outside of biology, I have used Youtube for nearly every class. Whether that was analysis of Grapes of Wrath for AP language or visual demonstrations of the VSEPR theory for Honors Chemistry, it never failed to increase my knowledge. I think I can speak for all my peers when I say that denying our access to Youtube (among other things) is simply unconstitutional.

The reactionary older generation can't seem to grasp the future of education. It's time for us to adapt to the new way of life, not reject it.

Everyone celebrating this has not been in school for 5+ years, speaking to the generational divide between the students and those who claim to be making the best decisions for said students. Automatically assuming that all YouTube is used for distraction not only describes the student body as a monolith, but denies students who learn differently an opportunity to grasp material further during class. Frankly, I am sick of the district trying to bring everyone down to the lowest acceptable level instead of properly addressing existing issues in education to raise everyone up. If you are unwilling to put in the work to help the people whose futures are, in many regards, in your hands, then are you really suited to be in these positions of authority?

Blocking YouTube doesn't only impact the students, but also teachers. As a student myselt, many teachers turn to YouTube as a source of learning, while posting additional videos onto platforms such as Google Classroom to help students learn material.

Denying students the access to YouTube will cause a decline in test scores, increase mental heath problems through stress, and frustration from both students and teachers due to a lack of best communication. I understand concern of distractions, but I know first hand if a student doesn't want to learn and is looking for something else to do, blocking YouTube will not help the situation, there are always other websites/ entertainment that will cause distractions. In addition, blocking such a crucial site will cause students to be more distracted searching for a new website to cure their boredom. Also, students from lower income families rely on resources such as YouTube on their chromebook's, as many don't have access to other devices. I find it disgraceful that schools take such a crucial study tool away from those who don't have access to other options. This "improved" feature is taking a step back in education, and l am sure schools will see this negatively affect everyone.