Unblock Spark Notes and Shmoop

Why do the students use Spark Notes? Is it to get away with not reading? Perhaps. Or is Sparknotes used as a study guide? Sparknotes is not just a chapter by chapter summary. Sure, it offers summaries, and they are quite thorough, but it also is a resource for symbolism, motifs and explains important quotes throughout the book that further our knowledge and understanding of the book that teachers neglect to mention. While reading works such as Romeo and Juliet or Julius Caesar written by Shakespeare, it can be difficult to understand the syntax used or the Old English. Sparknotes gives a resource for us to understand what we read prior to coming to class and discussing it. As for Shmoop, I've been told numerous times to go to Shmoop, by teachers, to study prior to tests for a quick and accurate review. We are aware plagiarism is an issue. However, but sites like these open new windows, only to further our thinking. As a highly accredited High School, we can only imagine that the teachers would want us to further our thinking, instead they are blocking resources. Recently, the administration has been notorious for blocking frivolous sites. For example, we can no longer download books on the Google Web Store, because Google Play Books is blocked. Classics like Harry Potter are blocked. Music sites such as Spotify are blocked as well. Why are students allowed to play music from their phones but not from their Chromebooks? A large majority of the students at Hudson High feel strongly about unblocking Sparknotes and Shmoop.