Education

Big Brother? Feds Order Schools to Monitor Kids Facebook Posts & Lunchtime Chatter

The Daily Caller is reporting that Department of Education (DOE) officials “are threatening school principals with lawsuits if they fail to monitor and curb students’ lunchtime chat and evening Facebook time for expressing ideas and words that are deemed by Washington special-interest groups to be harassment of some students.”

According to the report, the DOE issued new guidelines in a “Dear Colleague” letter in October, which the site sums up as saying “federal officials have reinterpreted the civil-rights laws that require school principals to curb physical bullying, as well as racist and sexist speech, that take place within school boundaries.”

The letter, according to the DC, explains that principals and schools are now liable for “harassment” that takes place off school grounds or online. It says:

Harassing conduct may take many forms, including verbal acts and name-calling; graphic and written statements, which may include use of cell phones or the Internet… it does not have to include intent to harm, be directed at a specific target, or involve repeated incidents [but] creates a hostile environment … [which can] limit a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by a school.

The DC says Facebook, which is one of the most popular online social networks, is “thrilled” to aid the government’s new directive.

“We’re adding a unique feature, developed with safety experts, that lets people also report content to someone in their support system (like a parent or teacher) who may be able to address the issue more directly,’ Facebook said in a statement on March 11. “It is our hope that features like this will help not only remove the offensive content but also help people get to the root of the problem.”

Read the entire story at the Daily Caller.

Comments (260)

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  • Maggie in Indiana
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:32am

    While I want the principals and the staff to be aware of trouble in our schools(as they should) but to intrude on after school hours as a regular practise without any cause is wrong. I’m really getting ticked at the intrusion of the schools authority and “guidance” of our children.
    My grandson has to report to the cafeteria every AM before class for “at least” a breakfast bar. After I pump him full of oatmeal and toast. I have a pile of the backpack rumbled things that go in the trash. Plus I’m paying for them .
    He also has to report any horse play in the rest rooms, on the play ground, and is responsible to report any behavior while the teacher is out of the room. She stood at the door and watched and went back in to see if anyone would report on who was talking . None did so they all got punished for not ratting out a kid for asking for a pencil.

    These are not the same I know but he is in the 3rd grade and the practise it escalates from there to the older grades.

    Report Post » Maggie in Indiana  
    • 912always
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:17pm

      I had something similar happen so the principal told all the kids they would be kept after school until someone ratted someone out so to speak. Even though some of the kids weren’t even present in class at the time.

      I promptly had a discussion with the principle and several parents and he decided to rescind that order.

      Report Post »  
  • WatchOut
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:32am

    When a bullying incident takes place, the schools are blamed for not doing anything to prevent it, yet nobody wants them to take the steps needed to detect it and intervene. A serious dialog needs to take place about which is more important, student safety or privacy.

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:44am

      Yep, you’re right. I don’t like government intrusion any better than the next guy but, half of this stuff is because parents don’t want to parent anymore. They want to to be buddies with their kids and let the government schools do the parenting. Kids don’t NEED Facebook at all. Now we’ve got government worried about texting while driving and sexting. How about getting your kid a phone that doesn’t take picures ar have texting! They make them you know. It’s not rocket science.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • The Gooch
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:08am

      Yeah, great idea. Too bad we live in a legalistic society that discourages the direct addressing of thugs. Why, one’s feelings might get hurt and someone could get sued. This all becomes a circular argument leading to diffused responsibility.
      The few times I stood up to bullies in school, I had cowardly teachers attack me rather than address the bullies. Hell, this was often after one of these fine educators witnessed me getting shoved around. Late bloomer… such is life. But there came a point where I could hold my own. I had a few choices: Ignore it and hope it went away, hope against hope that someone else would stand up for me or address it and end it myself. Take a guess as to what was effective. Since I have the gift of gab, I could put forth details and argue my defense. I loathed bullies then and think even less of them after becoming an adult and having to deal with both the govt. and some folks in the workforce.
      I worked three years in the public school system as a mental health worker. I witnessed bullying on numerous occasions that was ignored by teachers. I always made it a point to address the teacher in a civil manner as to why he or she would ignore bullying. Most played dumb, some would get defensive and others just didn’t care.
      No easy answer here. Put a mass of people together and at some point you’re gonna see who the buttholes are (i.e., those who bully and those who allow it to happen). I found that being the change you want to see is the only course of action that matters. Call BS when you see it and don’t be an enabler.

      Report Post »  
    • 7.62AirMailComeGetIt
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:38am

      @GONZO No its more along the lines you CAN NOT PARENT YOUR CHILDREN without the CPS banging at your door 0 Discipline or you the parent go to JAIL.

      OUR Govt is
      Pushing nanny state
      Over pushing LAWS AGAINST GUN RIGHTS
      Re starting NAFTA- which is the North American Union= No USA No More CONSTITUTION No Freedoms
      Attacking FREE SPEECH
      Arresting People and keeping them for as long as they want for NO REASON
      EPA does what ever they want shut you down -follow no rules
      TSA- can keep naked pics of not just you your children, you one of their hands down you pants, sons or daughters, JUST FEELIN AROUND
      Police beating people and still having jobs
      Teachers molesting students and paid to sit in a rubber room and read or get on the internet
      Teachers assault 7-8 year old children and keep their job
      Forcing obamacare down your throat as they admitted is a new TAX payable to the I R S
      Re-writing history right in front of your eyes, doubt me go read the new version of TOM SAWYER, or HUCK FINN
      SUSPENDED HABEAS CORPUS
      Can we Forget FAKE GLOBAL WARMING in order to SLAP you with a CAP AND TRADE TAX

      Tell me which one is not happening??? I CHALLENGE ALL OF YOU PROVE ME WRONG

      TIME TO WAKE UP AND TAKE A STAND—- For CONSTITUTION and COUNTRY

      FALL of the REPUBLIC youtube.com/watch?v=VebOTc-7shU

      POLICE STATE 4 (FULL VERSION HQ ) youtube.com/watch?v=fXBNRxUIZBM

      Copy paste email repost chain letter it, if you do not know these will inform you

      The Obama Deception youtube.com/watch?v=eAaQNACwaLw

      Endgame Blueprint for GLOBAL ENSLAVEMENT youtube.com/watch?v=x-CrNlilZho

      Terrorstorm— video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6885277369482418431#

      pumphrey [Moderator] 20 minutes ago in reply to sheeplle_wakeup
      i just got done watching police state 4 very good info

      Report Post »  
  • Zorba53
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:30am

    I simply wonder when the libs will discover that you cannot legislate, nor demand changes in attitude and tolerance. That’s the trouble I have with “hate crime” prosecutions… you have no way of knowing what‘s in someone else’s mind!!

    Report Post »  
  • just happy
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:29am

    Washuington DC april 15th AND WE DON’T LEAVE!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Eblaze44
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:29am

    Explain how and who is going to monitor kids facebook and twitter pages. who is going to pay for it? A) it’s none of the feds damn business, B) excellent reason to get rid of the government (DOE) out of our schools, C) now the government is in on the “lets sue them” act. They got time for this, they got time to play tiddley winks. and this is where our tax $$ go.?!!

    I’m sure this has to do with education – or does it have to do with Government control – Hey – we got DOE kind of rymes with KGB

    Report Post » Eblaze44  
  • Marylou7
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:28am

    The feds need to get out of our business. The schools should be run on a local basis and not from Washington, DC.

    Report Post » Marylou7  
  • SHASTADIANE1
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:28am

    The country and the WORLD is falling down around our ears and these pompous arrogant idiots are worrying about what kids are talking about during lunch time, and saying on FB? Give me a break! They sure wouldn‘t like my youngest grandson’s FB posts with all the deer he got this last fall. Why he was even holding a gun in some pictures and a bow in others! He posted them because he was proud of his ability as a hunter, but I suppose someone could think he meant, “see this deer? It could be you”. These people are just getting totally out of hand. Try doing their jobs and stay out of trying to raise our children.

    Report Post »  
    • Halo9x
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:56pm

      I completely agree with you but that is the point, they WANT to raise your kids! They think they can do a better job than you can. The solution is simple, get rid of the DOE! And with it the Dept. Of Energy, the EPA and all the rest who infringe on our freedoms.

      Report Post »  
  • RJinCO
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:28am

    Yet another administration overstep I need to write my congressman about. Bring back constitutional governance!

    Report Post »  
  • Long Neck News
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:27am

    Yes, I agree,if you are under 18, you should not be allowed on face book period. I HAD TO DO THIS TO MY DAUGHTER! It’s a long story and someone is going to jail.

    Report Post » Long Neck News  
  • smithclar3nc3
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:25am

    Wouldn’t that be invasion of privacy?

    Report Post »  
    • ADNIL
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:32am

      Privacy is part of the long-gone American Dream.

      Report Post »  
    • Jackie Rogers, Jr.
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:04am

      I don‘t think there’s any mention of a right to privacy in the constitution. Perhaps someone can correct me on this if I’m wrong. I think the legal theory on an implicit right to privacy was accepted by the supreme court in one of the early abortion trials.

      Certainly no right to privacy for comments made on a social network. I mean you can have your settings set to private. But I doubt if that means much.

      Report Post » Jackie Rogers, Jr.  
    • 98ZJUSMC
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:11am

      The private life is dead in Russi….er….America.

      The revision of history has killed it.

      Report Post » 98ZJUSMC  
    • moreteaplease
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:39am

      No such thing under a communist regime.

      Report Post » moreteaplease  
  • Ashley
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:25am

    Obviously, a part of “report your neighbor” campaign . . . only for school children. Disgusting. The Department of Education needs to be defunded ASAP.

    Report Post »  
  • jedi.kep
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:25am

    This is going too far. Enough is enough. Between the standardized testing and now this mandatory ‘monitoring’ the DOE has gone far enough. Time to remove this institution and place education back into the hands of the states.

    Report Post » jedi.kep  
  • RED-DAWN
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:25am

    Monitor my child online??? Tell you what, leave that school official alone, he/she is underpaid and overworked, OK for nine months a year. Come on over to my house and lets chat about who will and how they will monitor the activities of my child. By the way, my child knows to always make sure we know where they are in the event they go missing, we know where to start looking for them. I’m just saying…..

    Report Post »  
  • shorthanded12
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:24am

    Lets just hope theres a Local School official that has the BALLS to stand up for his or her district and Tell Officials at DOE to shove it where the sun dont shine. The public school systems is nothing more than a Baby Sitting Sevice.

    DOE: = DEAD ON EDUCATION = Barrys Regime Tatics.

    Report Post »  
  • Tom in Tn
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:22am

    that’s NOT the schools job, that’s the parents job and they need to get on the ball and monitor what there children are doing

    Report Post » Tom in Tn  
  • LindaB11
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:22am

    The DOE must be disbanned! This is NOT the job of the federal govt. Thank you Jimmy Carter!

    Report Post »  
  • ADNIL
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:22am

    IMHO, electronic gadets of all kinds should be left at home and confiscated (for the day) and sit in the teacher’s desk drawer upon first emergence as they create too much of a distraction in the learning environment. I spent the last 8 years working in the public schools and have only seen this get worse.

    Report Post »  
  • commonsenseguy
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:21am

    they don’t need monitoring,they just need to defend themselves with fist,everyone was bullied at one time in their life,all it takes is for them to stand their ground,and just let loose with a couple of hard rights,then we would see a crybaby not a bully,this is a parents job to monitor their kids,not the government,that is communism,i know ,but who will protect the kids, THE PARENTS,AND BIG BROTHER AND SISTER!!!!!!!! this is propaganda 101 and they are training our kids to follow government demands ,THAT IS COMMUNISM 101.

    Report Post »  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:28am

      Where’s the outrage from the left? Can you imagine the media if G.W.’S head of the DOE would try this. This should be the biggest warning flare yet for abolishing the DOE.

      Report Post »  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:32am

      we don’t need a flare we need a bonfire!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
  • constitutionaldirective
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:19am

    ““federal officials have reinterpreted the civil-rights laws”… WELL NOW… isn’t THAT convenient! Maybe they can do the same thing for the Constitution!.. OH…. WAIT…. NEVER MIND! ARRRRRRRRRRRGH!

    Report Post » constitutionaldirective  
  • thorkyl
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:18am

    Well I guess my kid will be going to visit the principle for a “You should not shoot guns” lecture

    Ohh wait, our school district replied with a screw you very much letter

    God bless Texas

    Report Post » thorkyl  
    • starman70
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:31am

      Yeah, remember the 1st grader who was suspended for playing cowboys and indians and using his thumb and forefinger to replicate a pistol and shoutong BANG?

      Brave new schools in the brave new world!

      Report Post »  
    • pscully17
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:40pm

      I just had a talk with my kids One a senior and one in 8th grade.. The abuse they are recieving by their school boards/teachers unions and the Obama Communist administration is disgustingly criminal!! recall: james okeefe and hanna giles video at acorn… when asked what to do to keep the imported underage prostitue slaves from running away.. the acorn rep quicly advised them to NOT EDUCATE them and KEEP THEM STUPID!! Do not teach them to read… thats all we need to know about obamas policies regarding our youth!!

      Report Post »  
  • tobywil2
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:16am

    The DOE is the root of the problem. Think of the potental wealth these bureaucrats could produce if they were doing useful work instead of enforcing tyranny! http://commonsense21c.com/

    Report Post » tobywil2  
    • tobywil2
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:24am

      Free speach is protected by the Constitution while harassing family at a funeral but not between children during their lunch break. Unless of course the conversation is politically correct. http://commonsense21c.com/

      Report Post » tobywil2  
    • starman70
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:11am

      Only in the Obama administration. Of course the children must be conditioned to accept total monitoring of everything they say or do. Once conditioned, they will become snitches on those who won’t follow the liberal, progressive mantra being doled out by Washington. Welcome to North Korea, Mao’s China, Cuba, Stalin‘s Russia and Hitler’s Germany.

      Oh by the way, the Department of Education has done more to destroy the education of America’s children and has been one of the largest financial sinkholes the government has ever developed. Congress needs to shut it down.

      GO HOMESCHOOLERS!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 6:19pm

      I’m waiting for this to backfire. The kids will spread the names of the teachers and perverts that the unions are protecting. Parents can keep their eyes on what stupid things are occurring at the schools while they are at work. I feel there is going to be a big rise in attendance at PTA meetings.

      Report Post »  
  • Chicago Ray
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:16am

    Kids don’t belong on facebook and it should ban them until 17.

    Frankly, I‘m a staunch conservative but I follow my old man’s deal on ‘kiddyhood’ and that is “until you pay the bills and mortgage and become 18, you have no rights, even in America”…..that‘s what he said to my smart azzzz in the 70’s ;) and it worked out fine.

    Report Post » One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew  
    • Chicago Ray
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:22am

      “The letter, according to the DC, explains that principals and schools are now liable for “harassment” that takes place off school grounds or online.”

      This though is carrying things too far, as school has no place outside the school walls.

      Report Post » One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew  
    • TERMLIMITSNOW
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:23am

      Them was the rules in my house too!

      Report Post » TERMLIMITSNOW  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:25am

      i am not sure,but my parents said the same thing must have been propaganda..{ just kidding } we turned out fine. grandma always knew what is was doing are what i was about to do,i still don’t know how,but raised my kids the same way and it worked then and it would work now if parents were not lazy and spent more time with what their kids are doing.

      Report Post »  
    • jimjetearl
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:31am

      Those were the rules for me and they are th erules for my kids. Thank goodness we home school.

      Report Post » jimjetearl  
    • louzyana
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:33am

      Same way it worked in my parents’ house, too!

      Report Post »  
  • grandmaof5
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:16am

    You’ve got to be kidding! Please 2012, can you come more quickly?!!!? How about you just shut down Facebook to anyone under 18 years of age, do a profile and psychological testing before Facebook is allowed and have parents sign a permission slip (notarized) taking full responsibility until 26 (that’s when their health insurance goes away, therefore the risk increases).

    Report Post »  
    • exdem
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:21am

      GRANDMAOF5 for president!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Mannax
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:36am

      Or to save on postage, parents, how bout you take responsibility for your precious snowflakes?

      Report Post »  
    • sissykatz
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:36am

      Way to go Grandmaof 5 lol You get um.

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:38am

      Grandmaof5:

      I pray there is still time for the nation to survive until the 2012 election before Obama decides to make himself the Dictator of the USA in actuality. First Honeland Security now acts like the KGB, he has the Justice Department working on a campaign of threats and intimidation while not enforcing any of the laws he deams to be ‘unconstitutional’ and now is using “Dear Comrad” via the Dept Education in the case of monitoring everyone in the school systems.

      This has gone past the line of no return in his actions, and he has mentioned before that he desires to be a Dictator of a country.

      He is going to make the next move shortly, look for the other fist, and the thugs of the unions and his cronies in the background.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:44am

      @SissyKatz

      Indeed, Grandmaof5 is right on the money; let’s have her for the next POTUS in 2012.

      Common sense indeed, and that is what we need.

      Grandmaof5, thanks for your looking at my newest catfolk; I like it when I get a good comment about them, lets me know I am on the right path (except for the whiskers, still working on that end.)

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:52am

      Morning, SNOW, can you believe this! So this begs these questions: When are educators going to get mad at the DOE and demonstrate against them? How about the presidents of colleges, shouldn’t the president of Harvard, UCLA, Columbia, University of Albany, etc. be held personally responsible for their student’s actions? How about teachers who hear things in the lunchroom and don’t report? If all these educators are held personally responsible, they will not need their pensions because they will be incarcerated, so what’s the point of demonstrating. While this is exaggerated, it could very well follow in a heartbeat.

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:06am

      Grandmaof5:

      All you describe happening is a reality indeed, Obama is looking for any opening to declare his own will over the nation in totality; if he cannot be provided a reason via all the provocations they are now using, then they will make one or fake one. It is coming, and not far off at that.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • dmforman
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:58am

      Educators are being snowed by the unions and are part of the problem. Teachers who speak out (I was one of them) against this and about how we are not educating our children are black balled and gotten rid of and told that they are crazy and a big mouth.

      This is disgusting and reminds me of how my grandfather described Germany during the rise of Hilter. It’s very scary and I am not usually a conspiracy believer.

      Report Post »  
    • GEW
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 12:03pm

      @snow..when I mention to people that “I am not sure we will have a 2012 election, our wanna be King is nearing his goal everyday, oh, he is going on another vacation I see, anyways. I get ridiculed and mocked. I think there will be a major event that will allow or give OB an excuse to declare martial law and never remove it.

      Do I believe that we as Americans will go do with a whimper, not some of us we will stand and fight, but when I see the mice(government employees) following the Piper(Union) in WI, I wonder where are all the people of this great country of ours. The masses will follow anyone that promises them supremacy or special treatment over the rest. See how its done in WI. Washington DC, see who is are the new Generals of the Union armys, and note they do not have to follow any rules of engagement!

      Report Post » GEW  
  • Jackie Rogers, Jr.
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:15am

    Monitor kids lunchtime chatter? In my day, this was what nuns were for.

    Report Post » Jackie Rogers, Jr.  
    • robin.kevin
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:33am

      In mine just meant to use an “Inside voice” or “6 inch voice”…

      Report Post » robin.kevin  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:05am

      One principal, Two Vice Principals, 300 Student Face Book Pages, Each principal has to monitor 100 FB pages each night. Weekends, Summer vacation. under threat of the DO NOTHING Dept of Ed. No sleep for these three. Disband the DO NOTHING Dept of Ed in DC.. It’s a giant sucking black hole of Taxpayers money. While you are at it get rid of the DO NOTHING Dept of Energy. 40 years of renewable energy sources and we get Windmills and Solar Panels (Made in China????)

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • LetUsReason
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 12:57pm

      Ha! Oh no! Washington is turning into a giant convent!!

      Report Post »  
  • alrunner58
    Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:13am

    Here it comes.

    alrunner58  
    • Cemoto78
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:18am

      He alone, who owns the youth, gains the future.
      Adolf Hitler

      Report Post » Cemoto78  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:25am

      Brownshirt command and control. Lots of little Marxists coming of age. Time to pull oyr kids out of Public Schools forever or lose them to PURE EVIL.
      The Government has no business teaching our kids, we must be doing it ourselves.

      Report Post »  
    • cessna152
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:27am

      Also, monitor their bathroom habits and take stool samples! Keep believing we are free… Uh huh….

      Report Post » cessna152  
    • Gold Coin & Economic News
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:28am

      Wow , this is coming from the DOE? Now the DOE is going to monitor Facebook? Is our government OUT OF CONTROL or what? What gives them the right to think they can insist on something like this?

      Report Post » Gold Coin & Economic News  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:33am

      Not here it comes; it already is here.

      During the time of the coverage of the Japanese quake and tsunami the Drudge report has had two articles in which Homeland Security has seized another set of commercial websights without the bother of court orders, the reason they gave is due to ‘copyright and trademark infringment’ for a sight that had permission to link their sight to others of the NFL, and sports team broadcasts.

      So the move is on now, and we need to stop it before it goes any farther.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:35am

      Private companies are in compliance. I would expect police authorities to highly prioritize all public gatherings in the name of security and accountability. If kids are attempting harm and using social media, we would expect the authorities should have acted after the fact.

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • FormerLib
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:36am

      Sheesh, let’s just pass a law requiring everyone to relinquish their kids to the State at about age 4 to be raised by the Public School System and be done with it. That’s what they ultimately want anyway.

      Were I a school principal, I’d relish a lawsuit by the DOE. The federal government has no constitutional authority to issue dictates to state schools supported by local municipalities. The DOE itself is unconstitutional. Education is the purview of the states, not Uncle Sam.

      Report Post »  
    • robin.kevin
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:39am

      I understand what they are saying… kinda… But first of all if schools just simply don’t allow use of cell phones in school then that should prevent “silent abuse” or whatever you want to call it. Far as Facebook monitoring, that’s where parents need to be parents… But really what does the Feds have to do with this? To think people don’t understand why we need smaller government…

      Report Post » robin.kevin  
    • fertlmind
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:39am

      Whose monitoring the teachers and administrations facebook for bullying and meanness like the kind you might find commonly associated with radical union activity ?

      Let‘s get all in THEIR biz and monitor THEM to insure THEY are nonviolent and ’PURE’

      And since when did facebook become an arm of the government?

      IS THIS COMMUNIEST CHINA OR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA????????

      Report Post » fertlmind  
    • lovenfl3
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:39am

      We’ve seen this all before. Look at the teachers in Wisconsin that were coaching the kids on how to protest. In the words of Pink Floyd….hey teacher, leave the kids alone.

      Report Post » lovenfl3  
    • Cobra Blue
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:40am

      In response to a previous post….To be retorical…is our government out of control or what?….And what are WE THE PEOPLE doing about it? Repeat after me…NOT A DAMN thing except talking about it. Boy…I bet our conversations just scare the Marxist regime to death. We keep talking and they keep marching on.

      Report Post »  
    • Mikeyyy
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:43am

      Weeeeeeee! Thank you Big Brother for intruding into every facet of our lives! Thank you for controlling our kids, weeeeee!

      Report Post »  
    • Cobra Blue
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:50am

      Correction…rhetorical…haste makes waste.

      Report Post »  
    • Think4yourself
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:55am

      We have allowed this to happen…Big brother has been slowly removing our rights and privacy bit by bit. It is time we stop this from happening. We can start by voting out the problems and voting in those who will restore us to our former glory! http://www.unsalvageable.org

      Report Post »  
    • omgfolks
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:06am

      Where did America the home of the free go? I think I am in the wrong country. It appears we are being manipulated and controlled at every turn. I for one am scared of what the future holds, especially if it is all up to goverment. how can this happen in America? I mean really????

      Report Post »  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:10am

      Big Brother…GET OUT OF OUR FACE!!!!!

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • Red Meat
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:17am

      If our feckless GOP crap weasals won’t defund the the DOE/NEA than it’s time to start a third party. Yesterday.

      Report Post » Red Meat  
    • jblovesAmerica
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:18am

      It time for home schooling.
      Teaching children-with love makes much more sense.
      Get the kids away from the liberal twits

      Report Post »  
    • 7.62AirMailComeGetIt
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:21am

      Nothing about EDUCATION only

      “limit a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by a school.”

      Parents should pull their kids from these schools and start a COMMUNITY HOME SCHOOL PROGRAM.
      My 4 1/2 year old is smarter then most 5th graders. Reads Writes adds subtracts. i send him to school and he will end up coming home as DUMB as The prez we have, whos takin a VACATION TO RIO on the taxpayer dime AKA The INVISIBLE PREZ

      Report Post »  
    • Dahart
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:33am

      “reinterpreted the civil-rights laws” By whom the supreme court or some punk setting in some basement office at the Department of Ed? Really I want know , if I can monitor them at home as well.

      Report Post » Dahart  
    • FormerLib
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:40am

      @7.62AIRMAILCOMEGETIT

      Yes indeed. My kids went to private school through 8th grade, which is as far as it went. When they transferred to public school, they were between two and 4 years ahead, depending on the subject. The first thing that happened to my first kid to transfer was his books were vandalized, he was offered condoms and at least three kids tried to sell him pot. But hey, at least he learned about Kwaanza, Cinco de Mayo, all the great women of history and that our founders were such a bunch of white murdering racist misogynist capitalist imperialists.

      Report Post »  
    • Uncle Crusty
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:43am

      1984 and Communism…hey big brother – shove it up your arse!

      Report Post »  
    • normanster
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:50am

      Bullying to conform against bullying to conform. As in the other story about the kid who bodyslammed the bully “They pick on (us) every day.”

      Report Post »  
    • A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:00am

      Capitalism in the Bible

      Prov 10:4

      Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

      Acts 5:3-4

      3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land ?

      4 “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control ? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart ? You have not lied to men but to God.”

      The money Ananias got from selling his land was his to do with as he pleased. He could have given all, some, or none of it, and that’s fine because it belonged to him.

       
    • watchtheotherhand
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:02am

      1984 anyone ??????

      Report Post » SLEAZYHIPPOs ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING  
    • watchtheotherhand
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:04am

      When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. —- Thomas Jefferson

      The people must speak and hold the politicians accountable !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » SLEAZYHIPPOs ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING  
    • A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:06am

      Sorry, that was for the Jeremiah Wright story. My bad.

      Report Post »  
    • A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:08am

      Big government creates a hostile environment.

      Report Post »  
    • Michael Vick
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:14am

      And there is goes…

      Report Post »  
    • jmbogstad
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:15am

      Obamster does not need congress, he will re-interpret the regulations to do anything he wants, just like he re-interpreted the Constitution. That is why he studied the Constitution, to figure out where he could subvert it the easiest, not how it was meant to be followed.
      http://WWW.PoliticalTs.com

      Report Post »  
    • GODSAMERICA
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:22am

      Sue and eliminate the Department of Education and sue the principles if they try to go beyond their power. Then criminally charge every one of them starting with the director of the DOE! Let them ALL go to prison.

      Report Post » GODSAMERICA  
    • PATTY HENRY
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:28am

      ALL PARENTS need to have the AMERICAN/FREEDOM /PATRIOTISM conversation with their kids to let them know that there are ‘would-be’ Hitlers who come after the kids first.

      Report Post » PATTY HENRY  
    • BlueStrat
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:35am

      Hmm, monitor children’s Facebook pages?

      Pages with lots and lots of photos of underage children?

      Makes me wonder if Bawney Fwank has some connections at the DOE, and is looking for fresh material.

      I remember a time when, if it was discovered that some teacher or school administrator was regularly examining student’s personal web activities & postings, said individual would land themselves a starring role in an investigation by the Feds and/or local police/AGs regarding criminal sexual conduct with, or criminal harassment/stalking of, a minor by a school employee/administrator.

      I guess the Progressives are adding a disturbing new meaning to their standard “…think of the children!” meme.

      Report Post »  
    • GEW
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:49am

      First thought here, 1st the protection of the weak in the school yard, with kids, reporting other kids behavior, then next kids reporting mom and pops conversations at home, then what…next the DOE coming to get parents and remove them from home and children. Its been done before….what..you’re not laughing? Do away with the Dept. of Education.

      Report Post » GEW  
    • valarie
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:54am

      “Here it comes…” You said it. Parents need to pull their kids out of government schools and form their own homeschooling programs if they can’t afford private, Christian schools. These communists are drunk with power. I‘ve seen it in my own childrens’ schools. NO rules apply to the “administration.”

      Report Post » valarie  
    • NancyBee
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:55am

      This makes me sick to my stomach….excuse me while I go throw up!

      Report Post » NancyBee  
    • drbage
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 12:08pm

      This has got to be unconstitutional. Among the many things that made me gasp was the lack of specificity on what could be interpreted as bullying or harassment. Never used Facebook that much since I have never felt the need to share my entire life with the world, but will definitely end my participation now. I am having a flashback to my days of working in Iran(pre-Ayatollah days) when ALL phone calls were monitored and you had to watch everything you or your caller said. The mail system was slow and unreliable (once got a birth announcement from a friend when the child was 2 years old) so our company used courier for all our mail. Incoming mail was sent to an address in MA and outgoing mail was postmarked in CA. In the course of one conversation, my mother was telling me that my uncle was convinced that I worked for the CIA because of the mail. Within five minutes, SAVAK(the Iranian secret police under the Shah) was knocking at my door. Is this what our government intends to impose on us?

      Report Post »  
    • restorehope
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 12:38pm

      History is repeating itself. This time the progressives are taking the most oppressive actions of Hitler’s Germany and the Soviet Union and claiming them for their own. They will continue to repress freedom and oppress those who oppose them until we oust them from office. 2012 may prove to be our last stand against this latest Big Brother threat. Independents have to realize that sitting on the fence wavering between the side of freedom and the side of socialism is no longer an option. There is a clear choice here in 2012. We have to save our children.

      Report Post »  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 12:59pm

      Wait, wait, wait! Let’s do the math, people!!!

      Take an average grade school, K-5, and let’s say that there are two classes for each grade. That’s 12 classrooms. Now, in our small corner of the world, there are only 23 kids per class by contract. My trusty calculator (solar powered for those who are concerned about the environment) tells me that the grand total would be 276 students, if the classes were full.

      So, the principal and the staff are supposed to be monitoring the Facebook posts for anywhere between 200 and 276 students (I‘m assuming the Kindergartner kids can’t read yet and not every class is at max for the lower number) while the kids are out of school? These are the people that are supposed to be filling out forms for the State Department of Education on Race to the Top (see Race to Nowhere), running their schools, making sure that all the administrative forms are filled out and submitted, attend meetings, provide Professional Development for the teaching staff, develop school budgets, review curriculum, attend BOE meetings and Heaven alone knows what else, and in their “free time” they are to monitor about 200 Facebook pages? Right.

      BTW, remember Jennifer Petkov, the gal who bullied Kathleen Edward back in the fall with pictures of the child‘s dead mother posted on Petkov’s facebook page and other acts of Harassment. Well, what goes around, comes around. Petkov tried to run down a neighbor and ended up with a court order to move out of the neighborhood.

      http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/the_edge/facebook-taunting-jennifer-petkov-must-move-out-trenton-neighborhod

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • prmermen
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 1:32pm

      DOE is the first program we need to cut..the second is the DOJ..the money we would save…

      Report Post » prmermen  
    • M-O-O-N Spells Moon
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 1:34pm

      I wonder if they plan to change the “Like” button to a “Double-plus Good” button?
      Here’s a “radical” thought… Why not encourage parents to monitor their kids?

      Report Post » M-O-O-N Spells Moon  
    • Mystapitt
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:32pm

      How can a school monitor a FB account? The student would have to “accept” the invite from the principal to be “friends”. Such silliness and shows the DOE doesn’t even know what/how FB works.

      Report Post »  
    • Locke
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:39pm

      It’s official, “Big Brother IS Watching”.

      Report Post » Locke  
    • just the facts
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:24pm

      Hate to disappoint you all but facebook HAS been the most monitored for a while now. So much information is put on that site by unknowing individuals that one can follow your life to the second. Information in its simple form is priceless and big brother needs to know what they are up against.
      Facebook allows that monitoring.

      Report Post »  
    • ilovethiscountry
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:47pm

      @DUSTYLUV

      You mentioned brownshirts. Do you know what Hitler did tho the brownshirts once they had done the damage and intimidated the public? He had them killed because they were too violent. The unions are playing the part of the brownshirts. Once they are deemed too violent they will be done away with. Just look at how violent and destructive tha unions are. they are causing millions of dollars in damage per week. They are getting to be too expensive.

      Report Post »  
    • GETLIFE
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 5:04pm

      It doesn’t add up. How is it possible for school officials to be liable for cell phone or internet messages any time of day or night? Oh I get it–that‘s where Facebook’s great new unique feature, developed with “safety experts” comes in… I wonder what other plans they have for this “unique feature, developed with safety experts.” Just slip it in there, you know, as a solution to a social problem which now needs to be controlled and resolved by big brother…. Sounds comforting to me!

      Report Post » GETLIFE  
    • patriotgamer
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 7:15pm

      An, oh by the way, “The leading advocate for the expanded rules is Kevin Jennings, who heads the Education Department’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools.” My bad, I thought he was gone after he was exposed.

      Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2011/03/16/fed-instructs-teachers-to-facebook-creep-students/#ixzz1Go7350FD

      Report Post » patriotgamer  
    • ILUVJESUS
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:05pm

      We once has something called freedom of speech.

      Report Post » ILUVJESUS  
    • restorehope
      Posted on March 17, 2011 at 12:31am

      Everybody, get a copy of 1984 to read asap. Big brother is here and we need to circle the wagons.

      Report Post »  
    • jackrorabbit
      Posted on March 18, 2011 at 1:10am

      Which part of the First Amendment do the schools not understand? First it was no prayer, then no bullying(and if you fight back against one then you are at fault too.), and now watching everything? TIME TO HOME SCHOOL parents, if you haven’t started, and I have, you had better!

      Report Post »  
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