In the Ed Tech Inequalities article it discusses how a school in Tennessee is under the public eye debating whether or not it is legal for staff members to be able to search students phones at any time and regulate their social media if it is on school grounds. I do not think that should be legal and I don't see why they feel that would be beneficial. I often wonder about this stuff. At the beginning of each school year I have to sign a paper for my district saying my phone can be searched if there is probable cause and if a warrant is filled I have to give up all of my emails and text.
We had a staff meeting where our principal showed us some items that students at our school posted on their social media. My principal often checks her staffs social media but there is no way she can keep up with checking 700 students social media accounts as well. These post were brought to her attention by a parent. The post were extremely aggressive. She shared with us that she was having a meeting with the parents and the students would face a one day suspension and a social media training course. Pretty sure it was a one day suspension. I was wondering if students were even allowed to get in trouble at school for something they did at home? I feel like home and school should be supportive of each other and in frequent contact but getting punished at school for something you did at home just didn't sit well with me and it didn't really make sense to me. I feel like there are laws against this? #techprivacy
There have been so many interesting instances like this and the debates swirl about what schools can control. Some schools do think that if what's posted on social media can affect school climate and safety, schools should step in.
ReplyDeleteDoes your school actively teach digital citizenship? About being productive and constructive on line and about their own vulnerability if they mess up on social media?
That's sort of astounding that you'd have to turn over texts and emails on private accounts....