Internet Use in School

[Bitty56]

Jurisdiction

Ohio

My granddaughters elementary school is requiring parents to a "hold harmless " agreement should the child access anything inappropriate on the school computers. How is this legal?

 

[army judge]

My granddaughters elementary school is requiring parents to a "hold harmless " agreement should the child access anything inappropriate on the school computers. How is this legal?

How?

Because, many children know how to breach the protections schools put in place to prevent students from accessing porn sites, or other sites detrimental to the well being of children.

However, schools will honor and attempt to enforce parents who decide to have their child "opt out", or not be allowed to access the Internet from school.

I suggest you, or the child's parents, meet with school administration to further discuss the matter so as to learn all of the details about Internet access.

For example, my wife is a high school principal. Her school district allows parents to have their students opted out of Internet access for any number of parental reasons.

Have a chat, ask your questions, the school should be very responsive and informative in the matter.

 

[adjusterjack]

My granddaughters elementary school is requiring parents to a "hold harmless " agreement should the child access anything inappropriate on the school computers. How is this legal?

How is this legal?

It's legal because it's not illegal.

Giving internet access to kids is the school's option, not obligation.

There is no law that prevents a school from saying "Sign here or your kid doesn't get internet access."

 

[mightymoose]

There is nothing stopping the parent's from simply instructing their child to not use the school computers.
As above, I agree. The school is providing a service and goes to reasonable lengths to restrict access to inappropriate content. Some students will deliberately circumvent those measures. The child is responsible for such actions, not the school.

 

[ElleMD]

Ditto to the above. Worked for a school system and my Dad worked in IT for one. There is no way to filter out every site a parent might object to their child viewing. Even when there is no ill intent or deliberate circumvention of the firewall and controls.

It is a good reminder to parents to talk to their kids about what they might see or hear online and what the family's beliefs and rules are.

 

[Bitty56]

Ditto to the above. Worked for a school system and my Dad worked in IT for one. There is no way to filter out every site a parent might object to their child viewing. Even when there is no ill intent or deliberate circumvention of the firewall and controls.

It is a good reminder to parents to talk to their kids about what they might see or hear online and what the family's beliefs and rules are.

 

[txls]

And there is no way for the school to know what every parent might find inappropriate for their child.

 

[ElleMD]

And there is no way for the school to know what every parent might find inappropriate for their child.

And you ain't just whistling Dixie on that one.