I saw that on the news. Talk about invasion of privacy!

I saw that the other day. If it's true - I've not yet seen anything, including that article, which would lead me to believe it's not - then I think it's terrible and I hope they get in a LOT of trouble. There's just one small problem with the "we use it to find missing computers" defense: I've not heard that the computer was missing!

It's awful. Plus, I wonder how the Lower Merion taxpayers feel about buying Mac laptops for every student.

Tip of the iceberg etc.

I have been following the story for most of the week. I saw a student interviewed, she was rightfully mortified. With that said, DH's school is having monumental problems with sexting; one person's invasion of privacy is another's exhibitionism.

We hate paying for laptops for every student and we really hate the TWO new Taj Mahal high schools in the district that have made our taxes go throught the roof.

Nevertheless, the school administrators and teachers are among the best anywhere. It's the school board members who suck.

I truly believe the spying did not happen. The kid involved is a complete and total brat. The accused ass't vice principal made a statement today denying the whole thing and I believe her. She did not even have the ability to use the so-called spyware.

What we really hate is having to pay all the legal fees for this totally frivolous lawsuit.

This is my high school, class of 196?.

Interesting to hear your take on it, Pam. We have Philly TV stations here of course, and the news coverage I've seen pretty much treated it as definitely true, with the school's point of view being "we just did it to find the missing lap tops." I thought that was lame, and they did not seem to deny remotely activating cameras. But I do know that news reporting can be very very sloppy and misleading. If it were my school district, I'd be tracking down the truth, so I guess you are likely to have done that. If I were a parent with a kid in that school, I'd be dangerous. One of the best things about being older is not to having to worry about what carp is happening in the schools anymore.

Pam, I hope you're right. But I'll echo what CC said. I just read about the denial and before I even got to this I was having the same thoughts as this response:

"After Matsko's statement, Blake Robbins read a statement from his family saying that 'nothing in Ms. Matsko's statement is inconsistent with what we stated in our complaint. Ms. Matsko does not deny that she saw a Webcam picture and screenshot of Blake in his home; she only denies that she is the one who activated the Webcam.'"

I hope it ends up being a lie. This whole big brother thing is getting increasingly scary. I'd hate to think our schools are in on it, too.

The school does not deny activating the cameras. In fact they have retrieved 18 lost or stolen laptops to date. What they deny is using the webcams to spy on students in their homes, and I believe that. Their big mistake was not informing the students and parents that the laptops had this ability, and I do think that was a huge oversight.

I hope I am not being naive in having faith in the administrators and teachers. As I said, I think the members of the school board have been poor stewards of our tax money. It seems as if when they were working on the design of the new schools, they were like kids in a candy store, with no regard for the taxpayer. Nearly half the kids in this township go to private schools and in general the population is aging. Homes here are so expensive that most young families cannot afford them.

For those of you on Facebook, look for a group called something like Reasonable Parents at LMSD -- just search on "LMSD" and you will find it along with a bunch of other smarta$$ groups started by students.

I wonder why Blake's parents would have him read that statement. It seems inappropriate to have a 15 year old kid representing the case. Why not the parents?

I have great concerns about the loss of privacy due to technology. I work in a field where we see public records all the time. It used to be that you would have to travel to some county or city office to look up such information, but now I can have it in the push of a button. Even things like ads that are generated according to what we post concern me.

If I had a laptop with a camera, you can bet I'd be covering it with some tape!

Uhm...without naming name I have a very close personal friend who teaches there and while he has been asked not to speak about this in public, he has told me that once evrything comes out a lot of questions will be answered.

I asked about the student and he just smiled and said nothing.

The internet is indeed a very useful tool but why costly lap tops?? I mean really??
Its always been my opinion that kids should not have computers in their bedrooms at all....especially if they are just a learning tool.

BTW....DD has a laptop and the first thing she did was tape the camera LOL!!! She said "you never know LOL"

Cheers!
Susie

Perhaps the reason for the lack of response on the school's part is that a lawsuit is involved. We all know how lawyers, (and reporters) can twist things.

And I also know that if a computer has some type of camera and spying software, that there is some malicious type somewhere that just might take advantage of it, whether it be student or employee. Never assume you are acting privately while online.

I've talked to friends with kids at the school and have learned more, but I just don't want to post it. With all the cyber-spying -- who knows!

It's been publicly reported that the kid's regular computer was being repaired. He was issued a temporary computer to use that he was NOT to take off the school campus. However, he took it home anyway. tThe computer has a signal (a ping?) that automatically reports it's location and when it's somewhere it's not supposed to be, it takes a screen shot.

I will be very interested to hear the entire story when it becomes public. I have not heard nice things about the kid or his family.

Thre was a Frontline episide late last year that showed a school district that uses laptops in the classroom. They even showed the vice principal using the camera software to randomly monitor the student's activities. One girl was clearly not paying attention -- passing notes, doing her makeup in class -- the VP snapped a picture, which automatically sent the pciture to her (the student). The student immeditaely put the cell phone and makeup away and started working. I thought it was brilliant.

Almost every one I know blogs from work, some even saying that they don't want to "waste what little personal time I have at home on the computer." (So it's OK to do it at work? HUH?) Most of them have kids in Jr. High and high school who know mom and dad do personal things on the computer at work. Can't expect the students to have more discipline than the parents. If the school furnishes the tool, they have a right to monitor the correct use of the tool...just like an employer has the right to monitor correct use of its equipment on the job. I have no problem with workplaces and schools blocking social sites, reprimanding for personal use on company/school time, and monitoring that the tool is being used for the intended purpose.

Pam - Interesting twist, the loaner computer.

Renee - I don't disagree with anything you said. I also wouldn't object to strict monitoring of school-issued computers at home. As you say, it's just like a work computer. I always assume that my my emails, surfing, etc. are being monitored. (My company's policy is that a "reasonable" amount of personal use during the day is acceptable. Of course that's very subjective.)

I don't even object to the Frontline scenario where they snapped a picture of the kid goofing off during class. I see no difference between that and having a security camera in the classroom. What I would strongly object to, however, is if they are using the computer as a spy tool outside of school, especially in the kid's home.

It'll be interesting to hear what comes of it.

The problem I have with the webcam being used while the child is at home, is that they could get pictures of family members dressed inappropriately. My children are not always fully dressed (at least, not in presentable clothing) when sitting at the computer typing papers. I would not want the school to have a picture of my child in underwear, or me walking into the room in my underwear to ask my child a question. Also, what happens when the child forgets to turn it off and changes clothes right in front of it -- stripping down completely naked. These pictures could be used for all sorts of things, and could be used to accuse the child of doing all sorts of things. The workplace and school are public places, and we dress and behave differently there than we do in the privacy of our own home. I do not want hidden cameras inside my own home.