This year every child in the school system, from fifth grade
up, was issued a Chrome Book. This is a little tablet sized computer that runs
on Chrome. All communication, school work, assignments, announcements, occurs
via Chrome Book. Emily worked for the school all summer, “enrolling” the
several hundreds of Chrome Books required.
Of course, I discovered early on, the Chrome Books have no parental
controls. I asked for them, as a condition of Chrome Book being used in this
house. The request has caused a great deal of trouble between the system and
me; it remains under “discussion and review”. I wonder if I’ve ever mentioned
how I dislike doing business with the generations succeeding me.
Just as a check, I asked a parent in a different school
system that also went to Chrome Book this year, if she realized there were no
parental controls on the little darlings. After consideration she admitted she
did not, but added her children were trustworthy.
My aunt’s fanny.
In this house I put up with its abuse for a week or so, and
then installed my own parental control of removing it to the kitchen, its new
home when it’s not going to school. And on the Monday I had a phone call from
school—the previous Friday night, Chrome had attempted an unauthorized site. A
red flag on Friday and I was notified on Monday!
The counselor got my ballistic best. As I later explained to
Laura, I yelled at her counselor. “You yelled at Miss O?” Damn right I did. I
understand my concern has moved up the agenda, but I have little expectation
beyond my parental control of looking at the damn thing in the kitchen.
And, this started out to be a post about Laura’s dislike of
electronic record keeping. We went shopping for a month at a glance calendar
the second week of school. She likes to see her assignments, obligations,
appointments in pencil, flat on her desk.
When we moved here last July, the grocery list moved from
inside the pantry door to the kitchen table almost at once, and Laura keeps it
constantly updated. This little notebook has so many pages gone to the grocery
store I think a new little notebook will soon be on the list.
Even more than the grocery lists, I like the menu list. It
lives on the kitchen table, too, and I’m never in doubt about my next meal.
The school will learn the hard way that unsupervised computers are a guarantee of trouble.
ReplyDeleteWow, a grocery list that you can read.
ReplyDeleteha ha :)
DeleteI like how your meals are preplanned. Very organized! My son's high school went with ipads for grade 9 (he's currently in gr. 11). We had to purchase the ipad. He actually prefers the courses he has that don't use the ipad. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteParental controls are so important. I'm with you on that one! The kitchen was a good idea!
ReplyDeleteWe used a menu and running grocery list too, though not the menu since we retired.
I am almost certain that I wouldn't have been allowed to access the Chrome Book unless it had parental controls. And my parents would certainly have yelled at Miss O. And the next in line.
ReplyDeleteGood luck.
Love your shopping list and menu planner too.
It's the arrogance of of believing in loco parentis has been conferred.
DeleteOh my! I can understand your frustrations with the system and people younger than you who are running the system. They do not have the experience and wisdom that comes with age though we certainly know that not all older folk have any sense, he he. I can appreciate Laura and her preference for a calendar and lists in writing. Though I love technology, you sure cannot beat having a month at a glance calendar for planning ahead and ensuring everything is planned with adequate time in mind. Cheers to that!
ReplyDeletethe children are trustworthy, just not the other folks out there
ReplyDeleteNot all children are!
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteGirl after my own heart, is Laura; I've got note pads made from scrap, I've got note pads made for purpose and I've got backs of envelopes and old cards... all to hand on the kitchen counter, for lists and other mental workings!
Does the school not have all these tablets locked down with the 'safesearch' and other browser restrictions which are available within Chrome? Oh please tell me they are not this naive/clueless! YAM xx
Yes, they're stopped. However, I do not get a report of where she is browsing, how long she has spent on the computer each day. I do not have the ability to restrict hours. And, I am not notified of attempts at "red flag" sites until the next day, or three days later, in the case of an intervening weekend. In short, they have become in loco parentis, without my knowledge or consent.
DeleteEvery one of my grandkids has a tablet of some kind, and my "totally trustworthy" granddaughter just had hers taken away for two weeks! I'm glad you're standing your ground and raising your voice. Laura will love you for it later.
ReplyDeleteWhen my children were still in school I was constantly at war with school policies. Sometimes as many as three schools were involved at one time. Why don't they listen to parents? Mt mother-in-law was the same. When she found out that the principal of the school had pulled my brother-in-law into the office by his ear she was at the school the next morning. She grabbed the principal by his ear and pulled him down the hall and into his office. It is reported that he kept his hands to himself after that.
ReplyDeleteWe are one the second year with our Apple AirMacs here at our house. Last year I lodged my complaints by the total lack of control ANYONE had on these computers. I think it is maibnly us older parents (grandparents) that have any concerns. I was told, "no one else has lodged a complaint". They had wifi at school and wide open computers on every single desk. Well, let me tell you there have been changes made. First of all before the school closed last year they shut down the free wifi. Only websites that were okayed by their wifi could be reached at school. Also meant all the phones that rely on wifi are now eating data by the mouthfuls. LOL! That will get the parents attention! This year the computers have really changed. They have locked out so many websites that the kids don't get on them for anything BUT homework. Isn't that what they were supposed to be doing in the first place. They'll get there Joanne!
ReplyDeleteOh how things have changed, we as parents will not be needed in the future but who will be the new parents to all the kids, schools I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteMerle.........
I love how Laura keeps track of things. She does seem organized about it all and I'm sure a lot of that is your influence along with potentially Emily's. I would be livid not to have parental controls on something that my child had that potentially could get them onto sites they should not be on. Even the best trustworthy of kids could stray if the right circumstances came along.
ReplyDeletebetty
Can't believe the school is that stupid, they're leaving themselves wide open to a lawsuit.
ReplyDeleteI'm a list lady too and I want it in writing, not on my tablet or my pho e.
I wouldn't be happy with those chromes either. Where children are concerned, the controls must be in place.
ReplyDeleteI like to see my appointments and plans on paper also, I write them on my Violent Veg calendar. On the fridge I have a vinyl stick-on/removable chalk board to write grocery ingredients as I need them. I copy this list to paper on the day I shop.
We have a note pad on the counter for future grocery shopping. It is so useful, otherwise we would forget what we've just run out of. I also have a notebook on my desk next to the computer listing things I am procrastinating about.
ReplyDeleteNo controls? That is unbelievable in this day and age. While I tend to fly by the seat of my pants and keep the notes in my head as I can't find them later anyway, my husband wants to know plans weeks in advance etc. He is a copious list maker. I think the listers are doing it the best way. Evidently, the space for multi-tasking and lists in my brain has run out of gigabytes.
ReplyDeleteYou taught me a new idiom, Joanne: starts with "My aunt's" - hahaha, then my control system intervened :-)
ReplyDeleteI just don't worry about parental control over what happens on the Internet. Kids will find out about things you don't approve of via classmates and friends. For instance, my 8 year old granddaughter knows about sex now, shocking her mother.
ReplyDeleteJoanne, I don't know what to say about kids and computers/tablets since they all seem to have one these days. It seems a bit out of control. But as far as list making is concerned, we do do that! I have a menu and a grocery list that sits inside my pantry. We list things there as we run out... and that way DH knows what's for supper each week. He really does worry about this. Blames it on being from New Orleans where food is king. And my iPhone keeps lists of everything I need to remember... dates, names, etc. Don't know what I'd do without my lists.
ReplyDeleteAll the kids with tablets ... sounds like yet another fad to me. I don't get the emphasis on and reliance on technology in all areas of life these days. Our local politicians all have tablets as part of their toys to do their jobs. Why? And why do kids need a personal tablet? I feel like an old fogey saying that - and a cranky one at that - but it seems like an unjustified expense and - as you are pointing out here - a slippery slope for kids.
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with paper and pencil/pen.
ReplyDeleteI would think the school (or Google since the chrome book is made by them) would have more controls available. You did mention this red flag notice so they do have some restrictions but I wonder if the restrictions only apply at school?
I have not used a Chrome book but understand it is basically a browser and all apps/files are stored in the Google cloud.
Here's some info on parental controls on Chromebook
ReplyDeletehttp://www.omgchrome.com/a-parents-guide-to-supervised-users/
The Internet and all its good and bad - a reason I am glad to be out of the mothering business. You have my admiration, Joanne.
ReplyDeleteI love lists, I live by lists or little would be accomplished in my house. I no longer spontaneously think and paper and pen is usually easier to find than where I left my iPad.