This is the pro argument for whether the administration should have blocked Twitter.  To read the con argument, click here.

Twitter is undoubtedly a convenient tool to keep updated with world and classroom news, but with all the potential it has for communication, it’s no surprise that its usefulness turned to the dark side when students found out that they could use it to communicate during school.

Though Twitter does have its benefits, the potential for it to become a distraction for students makes it more of a hindrance than it is a helpful classroom tool. There is no reason for Twitter not to be blocked during the school day since it serves no unique purpose.

It’s also no surprise that students used it as yet another distraction during class. As Twitter gained popularity, why did students think that it would be immune to detection by the administration, avoiding the similar fates of Facebook and Tumblr?

Twitter, though, is undeniably useful for students to interact with their teachers and fellow students. Former social studies teacher Richard Wojewodzki used Twitter avidly, with easily locatable hash tags for each of his classes. Social studies teacher Brian Powell also experimented with using Twitter in his classes at the beginning of the 2011 – 2012 school year.

Twitter is also a way for JC to spread campus news to parents, alumni, and currently enrolled students, but it can certainly wait until after school.

For those teachers who did use Twitter, there are plenty of other websites that can be used for communication between teachers and students. All teachers have Sharepoint websites, and some teachers also use a similar site called Edmodo with their students. Edmodo even has the ability to connect with parents of students so that they can be aware of their student’s work, progress, and grades.

When all else fails, every person in the school automatically has a school email account with a complete list of all the students and teachers they may wish to contact. Twitter is a useful tool, but it can easily be replaced by other less-distracting means of communication.

Despite the fact that the administration blocked Twitter, some students will still find ways to be distracted in class. This does not mean that the administration should completely disregard the problems of Twitter, especially because of its popularity. The administration should take any means necessary to try to reduce distractions, for the sole reason that they should not be enabling distractions that could easily be prevented.

If the administration continues to crack down on other distracting sites like Twitter, it will guarantee that some students will pay better attention in class.

Brianna Glase is a Managing Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.