School Spies on Students at Home

[dancingalone]

... through school-issued laptops. Wow.

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/02/17/school-used-student.html

 

[bluekey88]

Yeah, this is in my neck of the woods. Truly unbeleivable. It is clear with what littel info we have that this wasn't something that was sparked by student behavior but that the vice principle in question must've been monitoring the students passively. Who knows how far this went....

Peace,
Erik

 

[KELLYG]

Wow just Wow. I could understand if the school gave the computers for the students to study with and did not want them used to look up, porn or other inappropriate websites, for example but to actually be watching what is going on their homes, with them being unaware, is something entirely different.

 

[bluekey88]

One of the kid's friends called into the radio show I listen to and he says that apparently they saw him eating some Mike n Ike's (the candy) and thought he maybe was taking pills or something. So, that's what sparked the school to say something...however, to not let the kids and families know that they would be using this function of the ocmputer is borderline imebcilic. to actually spy on teens in their homes....very disturbing to say the least.

 

[Bob Hubbard]

Gee, what if the kids walked around naked.....would that qualify the school admins as voyeurs, pedophiles, etc?

 

[Bruno@MT]

Yes...

Incredible that they did.

I mean, ignoring the legal and moral implications of this case, I wonder who thought it was a good idea to give adult to middle age male administrators unrestricted viewin access into the bedrooms of potentially over a thousand young girls...

How on freaking earth could they justify spying on people in their own homes?

 

[chrispillertkd]

Oops, I didn't see this thread before I posted a link to the same story. A moderator can feel free to delete my thread if they want.

I mean, ignoring the legal and moral implications of this case, I wonder who thought it was a good idea to give adult to middle age male administrators unrestricted viewin access into the bedrooms of potentially over a thousand young girls...

Someone who is completely nuts?

But the thing is, you can't seperate this behavior fom the legal or moral implications of the case. The school district did a good thing by giving all the students lap tops, but ANY government official (and that's what public school employees are) who thinks it's OK, or doesn't even consider the ramifications of spying on a student has got to go. Immediately.

How on freaking earth could they justify spying on people in their own homes?

I agree with your sentiment. How could someone think this is OK? Sadly, this isn't really all that surprising. (Distasteful, definitely; surprising? Maybe not.) The Ninth Circuit abrogated parental rights when it ruled a few years ago that parents have no inherent right to determine what their child learns in matters of sexuality. It's only a hop, skip and a jump from that to this; the government knows what's best for you so obviously it will need to look after you.

Let's hope this case is either 1) found to be an exaggeration, or 2) the people involved are hastily fired and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law (and that might includes holding the school district responsible if legally possible).

Pax,

Chris

 

[Blade96]

"I love big brother" - Winston Smith