Questions

• Whose privacy is at risk?
• What danger or discomfort might the unethical or unwise action cause?
• Should students feel like “second-class citizens” because they have fewer privacy rights than adults?
• What responsibilities do parents and school officials have in making children aware of how much privacy they have?
• Is there a parallel in the physical world to this scenario?
• Can you think of other incidents that would fall into this category?

Comments
Schools (and businesses) have the right to search student and employee files that are created and stored on an organization’s computer hardware. Ask your children if they know their school's search policy on lockers and book bags, and whether the same policy should be extended to computer storage devices. Recent news events have made most of us only too aware that dangerous materials can be stored in student backpacks and lockers and for the safety of all children in a school, officials need to invade an individual’s privacy when there is a probable cause. Can computer files ever be considered so dangerous that safety concerns should over ride privacy concerns?