Friday, February 19, 2010

Privacy and the Laptops- A Cautionary Tale

In school we read 1984 and learned about Big Brother. But local high school kids learned that Big Brother is always watching first hand. My local school district, Lower Merion in PA, has made international news as it was called out with a class action lawsuit for "spying" on students. 

Lower Merion received a grant so that all the students in the school could have a laptop computer. This would allow students to access the schools resources and work on projects, papers, etc. 24/7. The laptops belong to the school but the student has possession for the year. But one student was called to the vice principals office in Nov. to be reprimanded for questionable behavior that was caught in a still captured from his webcam. No students or parents were informed that the school has the power to remotely activate these webcams and monitor what they see. It was only when this student was called to the office for his behavior at home that people found out these cameras could be turned on remotely by the school. 

Now don't get me wrong, there are many issues with cyber privacy that we as parents, nannies, and individuals must wrestle with. I check the emails, downloads, text messages etc.. of my 13 year old charge. I want to know that she is safe. But I am entrusted by her parents to do this. And I tell her I am doing it. Of course a tech savvy kid could then erase things she didn't want me to see so I always wonder if it would be better not to tell. 

The school certainly has the right to make sure that the laptops are being used appropriately. But does that mean they have the right to turn these cameras on without student's knowledge or consent? And does the administration of a school have the right to punish or even address behavior of a student in their own home? No one is saying what the "questionable" behavior was that was caught on tape. It could be drug use. Would that make this ok? 

No. In my opinion, we have to draw the line somewhere with this issue of privacy vs. safety for our kids. But it is a fine line and we must define it carefully. What do you think? 

- Sue Downey

Sunday, February 14, 2010

The Olympics teach kids more than just what curling is.....

It is that time again and the world watches as some dedicated individuals try to push their minds, bodies and spirits all for the sake of their country and their own individual glory. The Olympics provides some great "teachable moments" for you and your charges. Some of those moments are when you have to explain what the biathlon is, but there is more to it. Let me share some reasons why I think the Olympics offer us many lessons.

1. See the world, from your couch. As we watch the athletes march in during the opening ceremonies we are introduced to a number of countries that weren't even in existence a few years ago! The winter Olympics only hosts about 80 countries as opposed to the summer games which can have more than 200! But still, get out the globe and challenge your kids to find where that ski jumper is from. Watch the athlete profiles and see the cultures of countries we rarely talk about. And try to figure out why an athlete from the Bahamas might become an Alpine Skier or check out the "snow leopard" from Ghana!
2. Passion. Dedication. What it takes to succeed. The athletes that make the Olympic team have a drive to succeed and a love of their sport that makes them put aside everything else in pursuit of a dream. What a great lesson that can be applied to whatever passions your youngsters might be interested in. Ask your kids what sacrifices these athletes might have to make to find enough training time while going to school or working full time? How would it feel to feel passionately about something like curling, when many people might laugh or ignore the sport? What goals do the athletes set and how do they go about achieving these goals? The athletes are role models for pursuing something you love at any cost.
3. Teamwork and love of country. Many of the sports are team sports and those stories make for great inspiration. Who could forget the story of the miracle on ice of the 1980 Olympics? That team won because they played as a team, they believed in each other. Each Olympic games has their own stories of teammates who want to play for the US so much and work together to make that true. How about the "night train" men's bobsled team this year?
4. Overcoming adversity. There are countless stories of athlete's who get injured or overcome adversity just for the thrill of competing. Downhill ski champion Lindsay Vonn competed with her hand duct taped to her pole so she could compete in a race last year. Speed skater J.R.Celski just came back from a cut on his thigh where he lost so much blood he almost bled out on the track to win the bronze medal last night! These athletes persevere through adversity. What a great lesson.
5. You won't always win, but the thrill of competing is worth it. In each event so many athletes don't even have a chance. There are 20 or 30 athletes in some events and only 3 medals. But every athlete is there with pride to give it their best. They know they will not stand on that podium, but they dare to dream. They compete for the love of what they do. And you never know what might happen. Teaching kids to love the thrill of the pursuit instead of just the win might be the best gift we can give them.
6. Sportsmanship. The athletes cheer for each other. They trade pins and shake hands after each race. They respect each other and hope that each time the race or game begins that all the competitors will bring their best. The world becomes a smaller place, a friendlier place as we watch these young people do their best.