The Risk Factor:How Much Insight Into Our Children's Lives Is too Much?
from the 11 September 2008 edition of IEEE Spectrum Tech-Alert.
The Los Angeles Times ran a story last week on the various software school systems are installing to allow parents to see what their children are doing during the school day. For instance, there is a program called MealpayPlus that allows a parent to see what their children are buying for lunch at school. It also can, according to its website, set up an auto-payment plan that allows a parent to add money when their child's account falls below a certain amount.Then there is Pearson's PowerSchool, that the story says can "keep track of students' test scores and how often they show up for class” which allows parents to go online and see how their children are performing. Parents can also find out what homework is being assigned, and if it is being handed in.Pearson's website says that its software is being used in over 10,000 schools.I suppose it will only be a matter of time - if it hasn't already been done - before this school performance information is fused with the information from car tracking systems now available for reporting the driving habits of student drivers to their parents. It won't be long after that, I predict, before some company offers a way to automatically disable your teenager's car if his or her grades aren't up to snuff.The Times story says that there is a growing debate brewing about whether such parental oversight capability (some critics call it surveillance) helps nip potential school problems early or instead only serves to encourage even more helicopter parenting. Read more and comment.
