Should students be allowed to use Wikipedia as a source?

When students need to research anything, from Florence Nightingale to Florence, Italy, the collaborative online encyclopedia Wikipedia [2] is a very appealing option. Wikipedia can provide an impressive overview of many subjects, but some school officials have banned its use in research. (One Seattle school librarian placed a "Just Say No to Wikipedia [3]" sign above the library's computers.) Students who use Wikipedia articles as sources may be spreading misinformation, because the site is not immune to misleading or outright false posts. Many articles contain external links to back up their assertions, but some teachers still feel that students should bypass Wikipedia altogether and use only reputable sources when doing research. Is Wikipedia a solid resource, merely a good starting point, or something students should avoid? Tell us what you think!