Students forced to give passwords...

Dabbles

I pre-enrolled my son for Kindergarten yesterday, and I found lot of the questions to be intrusive. For example what dentist do we use, are we migrant workers, can the school nurse call my son's doctor directly...

This helps him with his ABC's how?

Dentist and talking to the doctor directly I think are for medical emergencies. The migrate workers, there is a reason for that too albeit I can't remember now.

Miss♥Ivi

My son's facebook page does not allow login from any unauthorized computer, so they couldn't do anything with the password anyway which he has been instructed to give to no one and if the school threatens him, he is instructed to keep quiet until I get there or they leave him alone no matter what they say. I monitor his page and his phone does not have internet, and I scan it periodically (in front of him) so there is nothing to see there and he doesn't get any ideas about trying to hide anything from me ( I am an IT) .....Schools need to focus on determining how kids learn and the best ways to teach them and not worry about what they do in their spare time.....that's my job.

AMEN! It's almost like kids in k-12 are being treated like prisoners instead of students! Focus more on education, less on this petty crap. Thank God I had awesome teachers!

grimm1974

If a school thinks there is something of importance on a child's facebook page, their involvement should begin and end with voicing the concern to the parents. If the parents fail to do anything on the matter, then that is where the blame falls. Schools are responsible for educating our children. Not raising them.

RilantheFirebug

I pre-enrolled my son for Kindergarten yesterday, and I found lot of the questions to be intrusive. For example what dentist do we use, are we migrant workers, can the school nurse call my son's doctor directly...

This helps him with his ABC's how?

The doctor one is the only one that makes any direct sense. If they can't get a hold of you and there is an emergency or medical question that comes up concerning your child and a decision/action must be made, can they get that info from your kids doctor?

The dentist might be a roundabout way of asking if there any dental concerns (such as unable to eat x food because of x problem). Migrant workers...maybe there is some kind of tax credit/abatement/whatever?

I'm sure if you just asked they'd be happy to explain it to you.

jenilla1

Not having had facebook when I was a kid, it made me think about how humiliated I would be if the principal had called me in and demanded to read my diary! :embarassed: I know facebook is a bit less private than a diary, but one would think there would be a clear policy in place so that kids aren't being blindsided, whisked into rooms and bullied into submission. If you are going to do this kind of crap, people need to know ahead of time that it can happen so they can protect themselves (train kids to resist the interrogation, teach kids what's appropriate for facebook and what's not) so there isn't this "gotcha" moment in the principal's office. Creepers!

garnetsms

Why does a 13 year old need a Facebook page? My son is 12 and asked for one and I said NO.

Not really the issue, is it?

Thank you!! To each his/her own.

cabaray

No way! I'd be livid. My daughter's school actually has a Facebook page that the students can friend. Special announcements, school related conversations and links to interesting sites are available. There have also been postings from teachers clarifying assignments. For instance, a couple of parents had called a literature teacher for more specific instructions on a subject and the teacher went ahead and posted clarifications on the schools board so that other students could get the information. Sure, that gives them access to the students Facebook, but it's the student's choice to "friend" the school, not a requirement.

Jennyisbusy

I don't know about the dentist issue, but the migrant worker thing is probably tied to funding and also would allow the school to provide specific services.

The doctor question is legitimate. What if there's an emergency and they can't reach you for some reason?

For the dentist or doctor I would still be the one (or one of the other 3 people on the pick up list) to drive him to an office so I would still be involved. If it is a true emergency and me and non of my contacts are available then the ER can be involved. I fill out all the other medical conditions, allergy, and medication pages so they would know if he had a a specific condition that needed to be considered.

As for the migrant worker questions, funding of some sort is probably behind the forms but it still made me cringe. The whole process left me feeling very exposed and I have nothing to hide!

rml_16

I don't know about the dentist issue, but the migrant worker thing is probably tied to funding and also would allow the school to provide specific services.

The doctor question is legitimate. What if there's an emergency and they can't reach you for some reason?

For the dentist or doctor I would still be the one (or one of the other 3 people on the pick up list) to drive him to an office so I would still be involved. If it is a true emergency and me and non of my contacts are available then the ER can be involved. I fill out all the other medical conditions, allergy, and medication pages so they would know if he had a a specific condition that needed to be considered.

As for the migrant worker questions, funding of some sort is probably behind the forms but it still made me cringe. The whole process left me feeling very exposed and I have nothing to hide!

Wow. You really have no clue.

Jennyisbusy

Wow. You really have no clue.

Maybe not. Enlighten me.

macpatti

I work at a private school, so maybe a different issue than public schools to some of you, but we have students log in to their Facebooks so we can see things all the time. We don't demand it. We don't force them. We don't ask for their passwords. We ask them to log in. Some say, "I'd rather not" and that's fine. Most will log on and direct us to things going on. We've also had them show us threads of text conversations. We've been able to address some serious issues through these means.

As students of our school, they represent us. The way they conduct themselves online, on school premises, or out in the community is our business. We cannot help in their formation if we are only limited to addressing their behaviors while on campus. But our parents know this, and probably why they spend the kind of money they do to send them here.

macpatti

I work in a school. I can't think of any reason why we would ever go ask a student for a password.
If there is a issue, we go to the state police and would order FB to give the information.

What grades? I can think of many reasons for wanting to see students' FB pages (not ask for their passwords, but ask them to log on).

macpatti

Schools are responsible for educating our children. Not raising them.

Could this be part of bigger problem in society, though? It's sad to me that parents, schools, and churches can't join forces in raising children. What about the children who have no real supervision or guidance at home? For many children, no one is raising them.

garnetsms

You are correct, there is a difference in public schooling and private schooling. As far as reasons to look at Facebook, inform a parent or the police, don't take it upon yourself to ask the student to see his/her page. It is not any business to the teacher or school admin if MY child is doing something he shouldn't be. If I find something on there that would be a concern to the school, I will inform the school.
Every child is different, every home is different. I keep a close eye on my boys, but the older they get the more freedom they have (till they break that trust). My oldest just turned 14. When we had an issue with one of the older students bullying him (last year) I informed the school that there was an issue....later I had to involve the police, after trying to get the school to help and the other boy's mother. My point is, this child's mother did not have a tight reign on her son. He was free to roam our neighborhood and do as he pleased.
That being said, I agree that some children have no guidance or supervision at home, but please tell me how in the world looking at their facebook would help??? Do you really think if they were involved with things that are illegal that they would post it there??? Cell phone message would probably be deleted too IF they were doing something they shouldn't be doing.

How is this NOT an invasion of privacy???

macpatti

That being said, I agree that some children have no guidance or supervision at home, but please tell me how in the world looking at their facebook would help??? Do you really think if they were involved with things that are illegal that they would post it there??? Cell phone message would probably be deleted too IF they were doing something they shouldn't be doing.

Ha....you would think, but they don't delete! Like I've said; we've found serious issues by looking at students' FB pages and text messages. And these are good kids from good homes, with wonderul loving families. Good kids make poor choices and can get themselves into trouble. Kids can also fool parents and shield things from their parents very easily.

macpatti

How is this NOT an invasion of privacy???

Meh, I'm of the opinion that minors are not entitled to "invasion of privacy" rights. I remember Carol Burnett once saying that she wished she could go back and "invade her daughter's privacy" by reading her diary so she could see how troubled she was (she committed suicide).

budhandy

How is this NOT an invasion of privacy???

Meh, I'm of the opinion that minors are not entitled to "invasion of privacy" rights. I remember Carol Burnett once saying that she wished she could go back and "invade her daughter's privacy" by reading her diary so she could see how troubled she was (she committed suicide).

IMO thats different, its one thing for a parent to snoop its all whole other beast for some alien body to do it.

CharleneExtreme

Christ - do you have to be over 16 to have human rights these days?!

garnetsms

Exactly, the parents do have the right to "invade" privacy when they pay the bill that allows them to have facebook and cel phones. My son has known that from the get go. AND has been grounded for messages inappropriate for his age.

Like has already been said, when you invade a students facebook, you invade the privacy of all individuals on that facebook page (ie: his/her family). Personally, I have nothing to hide, so I really wouldn't care, BUT what I do, or my son does in our free time is not of any concern to the school.

I do understand there are situations where not only the kids are being unsupervised, but also abused. When there are indications of abuse going on Yes, the school should get involved....by calling the proper authorities!!!

macpatti

IMO thats different, its one thing for a parent to snoop its all whole other beast for some alien body to do it.

Agreed. It's just sad to me that school administrators are considered "alien bodies".

runnercheryl

Christ - do you have to be over 16 to have human rights these days?!

This. It absolutely amazes me.

I think the lack of trust and respect shown is what makes some people behave the way they do. You can be supportive and helpful without invading someone's privacy, at ANY age. Do that, and when they think they need help or advice they'll seek it.

Invade, and people will just become even more private.

macpatti

do you have to be over 16 to have human rights these days?!

You're considered a minor if you're 16 and under. It is the responsibility of adults (parents, guardians, etc) to care for minors. Sorry that 16 year olds think they're entitled to privacy. Not in my home.

macpatti

I think the lack of trust and respect shown is what makes some people behave the way they do. You can be supportive and helpful without invading someone's privacy, at ANY age. Do that, and when they think they need help or advice they'll seek it.
Invade, and people will just become even more private.

Like I said, it's not all about "invading against their will". It's an agreement; "I will allow you to have a FB if I have your password and access to your account at all times". "I will pay for you to have a smartphone, but I will have your passwords and will look at what you're doing any time I want". You get their understanding (buy-in, if you will) up front.

rml_16

How is this NOT an invasion of privacy???

Meh, I'm of the opinion that minors are not entitled to "invasion of privacy" rights. I remember Carol Burnett once saying that she wished she could go back and "invade her daughter's privacy" by reading her diary so she could see how troubled she was (she committed suicide).

I guess the police don't need reasonable cause or a warrant to search your children and their home, then. Good to know.

Saruman_w

I think the lack of trust and respect shown is what makes some people behave the way they do. You can be supportive and helpful without invading someone's privacy, at ANY age. Do that, and when they think they need help or advice they'll seek it.
Invade, and people will just become even more private.

Like I said, it's not all about "invading against their will". It's an agreement; "I will allow you to have a FB if I have your password and access to your account at all times". "I will pay for you to have a smartphone, but I will have your passwords and will look at what you're doing any time I want". You get their understanding (buy-in, if you will) up front.

That's obviously an agreement between a parent and a child. It's none of any school's business to implement.

macpatti

I guess the police don't need reasonable cause or a warrant to search your children and their home, then. Good to know.

Police don't just show up at people's homes without a reason.

macpatti

That's obviously an agreement between a parent and a child. It's none of any school's business to implement.

I understand that. And I completely understand parents of children in public schools feeling this way. It's easier at a private school to make the agreement with parents and students prior to accepting their child into the school.

rml_16

I guess the police don't need reasonable cause or a warrant to search your children and their home, then. Good to know.

Police don't just show up at people's homes without a reason.

That's because in the US, we have rights, but you don't think they should apply to anyone under 16.

stacygayle

Not that I agree with the school admins practice, but... ummm... What's a 13 year-old girl doing with a facebook page anyway? My daughter wasn't allowed to get one until she was 16, and then I monitored it (and her friends) regularly.

You have to be 13 to get an account. My son is looking forward to his 13th birthday so he can get one. We will of course, monitor it, but most of his friends already have one and they aren't 13 yet (lying is not a good thing to teach your children), but I won't let him get one until he is the age they'll let him. I don't have a problem with 13 year olds having a page as long as they're being monitored but cyberbullying is just as wrong as person to person bullying. I also do not think that the kids should give the school their passwords. The school is in the wrong here and are just trying to apease someone without actually doing anything about the problem which is what most schools do.

secrets_out

I guess I'm the odd one out but as far as I'm concerned I'd have no issue with the schools having passwords to my child's fb....it would cut down on all the social bullying plus I want my kids protected and if they want to help keep an extra eye then fine by me. If your child is as " behaved" as you think, why would there be an issue.