teach1st
08-07-2005, 06:09 AM
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050807/OPINION/508070311/1004
Parents advise children not to talk to strangers or give out private information over the Internet, so it may come as a shock that schools sometimes release personal data to the public.
Under current Brevard County School District policy, information such as students' names, addresses, listed telephone numbers, and birth dates has been available upon request to businesses or other groups.
That open access has some parents concerned children are being put at risk from sex predators or in custody rights disputes.
We don't believe there's a huge potential for pedophiles to exploit such information. But, at the very least, the indiscriminate release of data could make children easier targets for advertisers and vulnerable to identity theft.
Clearly, changes are needed in district policy to better protect children.
State or federal laws, however, complicate the issue. Under the No Child Left Behind Act, districts have to provide information to military recruiters, or lose government funding.
Read more (http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050807/OPINION/508070311/1004)
Parents advise children not to talk to strangers or give out private information over the Internet, so it may come as a shock that schools sometimes release personal data to the public.
Under current Brevard County School District policy, information such as students' names, addresses, listed telephone numbers, and birth dates has been available upon request to businesses or other groups.
That open access has some parents concerned children are being put at risk from sex predators or in custody rights disputes.
We don't believe there's a huge potential for pedophiles to exploit such information. But, at the very least, the indiscriminate release of data could make children easier targets for advertisers and vulnerable to identity theft.
Clearly, changes are needed in district policy to better protect children.
State or federal laws, however, complicate the issue. Under the No Child Left Behind Act, districts have to provide information to military recruiters, or lose government funding.
Read more (http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050807/OPINION/508070311/1004)