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I feel that a public, state run school mandating away the privacy of any citizen, minor or not is an infringement on human rights, and therefor very dramatic indeed. Do you think the schools should also have the right to record all the children's phone conversations? Read their mail? emails? Where do you think the line should be drawn?
If kids and teachers are using the school's time and internet connection to twitter away their days, then, YES, the school has every right to monitor the activity.
Just like responsible parents should be doing when the activity is happening in their houses.
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So, we have now established that we no longer have privacy rights on our computers or phones here in Canada.
Are you really, really surprised that you don't have total privacy? Really? This is news to you?
I understand that the school is question is not a "state-run" school, but a
private, Christian school. Do these schools get government funding in the USA?
The decision to send kids to these schools is entirely up to the parents.
The one quote alone tells a lot:
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Dr. Edward Martin, Jr.: “We don’t expect perfection, we expect compliance.”
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Does a school have a right to demand access to your child’s Facebook or Myspace account? That’s the question some local parents are asking. School leaders say it’s all about making sure the students adhere to the school policies and they claim it’s not an invasion of privacy.
Doctor Edward Martin, Jr. is the principal at Victory Christian School, in North Augusta. He says all students are required to follow their biblical curriculum.
Dr. Edward Martin, Jr.: “We don’t expect perfection, we expect compliance.”
It’s compliance to a new school policy that’s turning some heads. If an administrator suspects a student of unruly behavior, that student could be required to give school leaders their password and username to their Facebook or Myspace account.
Dr. Martin: “Several years ago, we had a student and he was bragging about alcohol that he drank on the weekends, he was telling everybody that he went to our school.”
Dr. Martin says this policy is in place to protect the sanctity of the school and it’s not an invasion of privacy.
Dr. Martin: ”We are looking for families that agree with this philosophy, and if they don’t, that’s fine. There’s plenty of schools they can choose to go to.”
Attorney Robert Mullins disagrees.
Robert Mullins: ”It’s basically an invasion of privacy rights, and if they were doing the conduct at school, on a school computer, that would be one thing. But, if they are doing it on a home computer, that’s a totally different thing.”
Deborah Ryufuku, parent: “If the student insists on using Facebook or Myspace at school, which I think should not ever occur, then I think the school does have the right to monitor it.”
Tiffany Dukes, parent: “On the other hand, I agree with the school because if it’s a Christian-based school, they don’t want anything in their school that is not appropriate.”
And, Dr. Martin claims to have backing. He says the school is following the advice of the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools.
We’ve gotten lots of response on our Facebook page. You, too, can join the conversation.
I love the last bit in the news item.
Private or government-funded, no matter, my point is "so what?".
If this sort of thing bothers you, then don't sign up for Facebook, or Twitter, or any of that stuff. And don't let your kids have it. Pretty simple. At least it was, right up until they invented all this "social network" crapola.
And those freaking cellphones.
Barbara
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