Sorry, folks, here it is:
OK, computer-savvy people here, I have a question for you.
The administration in my school district has announced that they have purchased new software intended to track our internet use - mind you, I am talking about the FACULTY, not the student body! They told us in a memo from the district office that the software they now have in place will track what websites we visit, what time we're there, and exactly what we're doing while we're they're (posting, purchasing, etc.), Furthermore, this software will enable administration to see each and every website we go to EXACTLY AS WE SEE IT - including websites we must sign into with a password. (However, they have kindly announced that we can feel free to use the internet at lunchtime.)
Now, here's my question: if I sign onto my bank's website to check my bank account at lunchtime (to see if my paycheck was correctly deposited electronically by said school district), can they view my financial records? (Their answer? Why, of course, but we're - heh heh - not interested.) Is this legal? Can they access our passwords? I never, never go to my AOL mail because they announced a long time ago that they could - and did! - read everything sent on school computers. This whole idea of "we can do anything we want, and if you don't like it, tough" is pretty cavalier. Just as there are times when one MUST make a personal call from school, there are times when one has to use the internet, too, and I don't mean bidding on ebay, either!
What do you think, folks?
Don't misunderstand - I have NO PROBLEM with the district insisting that people not visit non-educational sites while there are students in the classroom, and we're actively teaching! It's the idea that they feel they have to right to all that personal information that I find very creepy.
