School blocks NRA, GOP, Christian websites — but not Dem, Islam sites

A senior at one Connecticut high school has asked administrators to explain why he can access websites like Islam-guide.com, the State Democrat site and Planned Parenthood on the school’s computers — but not sites for the NRA, the State GOP or Christianity.com.

Andrew Lampart, 18, said computers at his Nonnewaug High School won’t even let him on to the Vatican’s website, but will grant him access to Pro-Choice America, CBS Connecticut reported.

He said he discovered the discrepancies while trying to research gun control for a classroom debate and couldn’t access the National Rifle Association’s website.

“So I went over to the other side,” he told local WTIC. “And I went over on sites such as Moms Demand Action or Newtown Action Alliance, and I could get on these websites but not the others.”

Mr. Lampart then looked into the issue further.

“I immediately found out that the State Democrat website was unblocked but that the State GOP website was blocked,” he said, adding that he also found “right-to-life” groups were blocked, but that Planned Parenthood and Pro-Choice weren’t, CBS reported. And other findings: Christianity.com was blocked, as was the Vatican’s site — but not Islam-guide.com, he said.

“They’re trying to, in my opinion, shelter us from what’s actually going on around the country and around the world by blocking these websites,” he said. “It should be the other way around. The websites should be unblocked so that students can get different viewpoints from different sides of each argument.”

Mr. Lampart said he told the superintendent of Woodbury schools of the issue, but no action was taken. He then took his query to the Board of Education.

“It’s not a joking matter in terms of having access to both sides of an issue,” Chairman John Chapman told local WTIC. “The Board appreciated hearing the comments from Andrew and agree that he has raised an important issue that warrants further investigation.”