A new round of GoGuardian updates have triggered mixed reactions from students. The updated system gives teachers increased control over what students can access on their district-issued devices during the school day. These features include the ability to temporarily block websites and monitor students’ screens both during school hours and for a short period afterward. Some teachers have begun requiring periodic check‑ins to ensure every device remains connected to GoGuardian. For many students, these adjustments feel like a significant shift in how they are allowed to use their laptops on campus.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily bad that teachers can see our screens,” senior Gretchen Gille said. “I don’t like how they block harmless websites though, even when we’re done with our work.”
Students often rely on their laptops to manage the oftentimes heavy academic workload, using spare moments in class to catch up on assignments for other courses. The new restrictions can feel limiting, especially when blocked websites prevent them from accessing resources they need.
“Go Guardian made it hard for a lot of my clubs to communicate,” sophomore Selma Askin said. “We use websites like GroupMe to send updates, but now that it’s blocked on our laptops and we can’t have phones, we had to transfer onto the Band app.”
A number of commonly used websites are now inaccessible on school devices. Teachers also have the ability to block websites remotely and without limitations, which can create unexpected obstacles. Askin said that an absent teacher once blocked a site she needed for an assignment, leaving her unable to complete her work until the following day. While the intention behind these bans is to keep students focused, the restrictions also complicate communication for students who participate in extracurriculars and do not have access to their phones during the school day.
“My school laptop doesn’t work at home,” sophomore Sydney Hudzietz said. “ I know several people whose only laptop is their school laptop and with GoGuardian, they are no longer able to use their laptops at home. ”
For students who depend on their school device after hours, these limits can make homework harder and add stress to their daily routine. However, many teachers still avoid GoGuardian unless they are administering a test, especially those who rely more on paper-based instruction and are less concerned about students being distracted by their devices. Many students hope the school will listen to their concerns and find a better balance between keeping them on task and giving them the freedom they need to learn. For now the changes remain a big part of daily life, and everyone is still figuring out how to make the system work for them.
“Not being able to go to other websites has kept me on track,” junior Seriah Thomas said. “I miss being able to do whatever I want to on my laptop, but it doesn’t hugely bother me.”
