QOTD: Should Schools Use Laptops to Watch Kids?

[nukem950]

I say yes. If the parents care about the privacy of their children, then they should buy their own laptop.

See, these laptops are not the kids. They are the schools. At the colleges and universities I have been to, they monitor the internet usage closely (it requires a unique login). so that means I watch what I do while on a school network.

The difference that I see here is that instead of the network, its a school owned computer. If its not yours, then watch what you do.

This is good practice for the kids so when they grow up and get jobs, then they wont be fired for doing something stupid or illegal with a computer that they DID NOT OWN.

 

[jackddg22]

Too bad horsewhipping is against the law.
Jack

 

[azone]

of course not! it is a violation of privacy. Not to mention juvenile voyeurism and with the ability to be a peeping Tom. School Faculty that are doing this should be fired immediacy. There has to be some law they are violating.

 

[r0x0r]

[citation][nom]nukem950[/nom]I say yes. If the parents care about the privacy of their children, then they should buy their own laptop. See, these laptops are not the kids. They are the schools. At the colleges and universities I have been to, they monitor the internet usage closely (it requires a unique login). so that means I watch what I do while on a school network. The difference that I see here is that instead of the network, its a school owned computer. If its not yours, then watch what you do. This is good practice for the kids so when they grow up and get jobs, then they wont be fired for doing something stupid or illegal with a computer that they DID NOT OWN.[/citation]

What, so because the kids borrowed something from the school then their right to privacy in their own home is forefeit?

Tell me, what would you do if the bank set up cameras in your house to spy on you, then tried to justify it because you have an unpaid loan with them; you have something that's theirs?

The issue here isn't the tracking software (which is to be expected on borrowed hardware), it's the fact it was used to watch children when they are not at school (illegal in itself), and also that the principal tried to reprimand a student for something they did in a place where the principal holds no sway.

As for "buy your own laptop?". Believe it or not, some parents are even too poor to feed their kids properly. If you believe strongly enough that children should have their own laptop, buy them one. I guarantee you won't be so adamant about it when it's your money.

 

[Guest]

Stalking, child pornography, invasion of privacy...the list of laws broken go on. If a private citizen did this they would be under the jail!!!! Just us GPS and IP lookup if lost or stolen.

 

[Shadow703793]

[citation][nom]kelemvor4[/nom]Wow, sexist much?Or even better, don't get laptops with webcams built in. [/citation]
No not really. It's a fair comment imo. If you had a daughter how would you feel?

 

[Hothr]

No. Have the teacher look up from their desk, or turn around from the chalk(white?) board to keep an eye on the students.
After school its none of their f business.

 

[nukem950]

[citation][nom]r0x0r[/nom]What, so because the kids borrowed something from the school then their right to privacy in their own home is forefeit?Tell me, what would you do if the bank set up cameras in your house to spy on you, then tried to justify it because you have an unpaid loan with them; you have something that's theirs?The issue here isn't the tracking software (which is to be expected on borrowed hardware), it's the fact it was used to watch children when they are not at school (illegal in itself), and also that the principal tried to reprimand a student for something they did in a place where the principal holds no sway.As for "buy your own laptop?". Believe it or not, some parents are even too poor to feed their kids properly. If you believe strongly enough that children should have their own laptop, buy them one. I guarantee you won't be so adamant about it when it's your money.[/citation]

I understand what you are saying and it very frustrating about what has happened here in this situation and I thank you for the points that you have brought up. I know some parents cannot pay for laptops or desktops. I also understand that the child was at home when the incident happened.

From what I understand, the Laptop had come up as unpaid or some other financial matter according to an earlier article from Tom's Hardware. So they activated the camera to see who had it and what was going on to recover the laptop.

It is unfortunate that this happened and that the child was going to reprimanded. I still believe though that doing something on a computer that you do not own that has tracking software on it is not a good idea.

What I would like to know is if the school had any policies about illegal activities. At schools where I am from, they do and they can get you banned form the computers and /or the internet.

 

[officerfarva911]

NO WAY if ur gonna have computers for students to take home and use then u should trust them and not have webcams on them what the school says they are used for is for it will take a picture if it is lost or stolen but that is going way to far i feel they should disable and remove webcams from all computers

 

[omnimodis78]

Last time I checked, children and teens have rights too, and this thing is an absolute breach of privacy! Every single person involved in this needs to be terminated.

 

[Guest]

NO! its a privacy breach. and also cause there not notified of being looked at. and also since there children. pedophiles can take advantage of that.

 

[littlec]

Answer: only while masturbating.

 

[number13]

there are many ways to track STOLEN computers that are better than this
1. are you fishing for points for your next badge
2. do you want me to spy on you
3. no, absolutely not, aa clear invasion of privacy
4. he was giving a friend candy
5. if this idea of monitoring students after school activity is acceptable, when will they tell the kids to report on us

 

[rockyjohn]

Asking the question implies that doing what it asks might be a reasonable option - which is just plain stupid. It clearly violates the students right or privacy and, perhaps even more egregiously, asserts a right or responsibility for school administrators to intrude where they have absolutely no business.

Now I see no problem in turning on computers reported as lost or stolen to try to locate them, in which case the computers are presumably not in the possession of the student to whom they were assigned and recovery of school property is a legitimate function of school officials. But this is not what the question asked.

 

[JMcEntegart]

[citation][nom]rockyjohn[/nom]Asking the question implies that doing what it asks might be a reasonable option - which is just plain stupid.[/citation]

I disagree. I think schools should be allowed monitor what students are doing during class on laptops the school has paid for. I don't think they should be allowed to use the webcams to do so and I don't think they should be allowed to check on them outside school hours.

 

[abzillah]

Yes, the school should be able to spy on me. I need the money man. I would just expose myself to them and then take them to court.

 

[TheDuke]

easiest question ever
its a plain and simple no, never should a school be able to monitor a student through their laptop

 

[teachscience56]

It seems that when working on someone else's computer, you need to follow their rules. I expect the admin on my computer to have access whenever they need it.
With that being said, if the students did not know they could be monitored in that manner, the school's admin is at fault.

 

[maxiim]

hell no!

 

[Guest]

Absolutely not.

'security', 'caching theives' etc is a VERY poor excuse. You dont treat the average citizen like a criminal until they break the law and you get a warrant, then you can spy on them. Without the warrant you are violating their rights.

 

[chickenhoagie]

i think i'll stick to using my own personal laptop.

 

[matt87_50]

Ummm, no, NO and NOOOO!

the schools I went to said it best: if you're not on school grounds, and not in school uniform, we don't give a shit what you do.

and so they shouldn't! its none of their business.

 

[kingnoobe]

At school, with school property. I have nothing against it. And find it hard to see why others do.

At home, hell no. It's not their place/right to spy on kids at home with or without school property.

 

[vriley]

I believe that the school does have the right to snoop on anything the child is doing on the laptop DURING SCHOOL HOURS. The same as your employer has the right to snoop on you, read your email, mirror your web browser, etc while you are using their hardware.

If you are using a computer not your own, on a network not your own, then you have no right to expect privacy in any way shape or form.

Outside of school hours then the school has no right to monitor the laptops or the students. But once that student brings the laptop back into the school? The school could then search web history, any saved files, etc.

 

[JOSHSKORN]

Why in the hell are the schools watching kids? Don't these kids nowadays have parents?