Many of our public schools have new computer systems to organize large amounts of data being collected on all of your children. Talking with any administrator they will state this is a good thing because it will help the schools better help their students. But, how much data is too much data?
Most students grades are now kept and calculated through grading programs. This has been around for awhile and to be honest I sometimes miss the old fashioned green grade book. I felt I had more control and would be able to adjust a student's grades according to how hard they worked and what capacity they had for doing the work. In other words, this was my call and not the call of some computer program.
Grades are not the only data being held by these new programs. All standardized state test scores are now kept throughout the students public school years. If the school uses other means of testing that is not part of the standardized system, these too are kept in the student's file. When the child evolves into high school their PSAT, SAT. SAT II, and any AP scores are also kept in their ever growing permanent file.
These new computer systems do not only follow the student through all their testing. If the child has an IEP, (individual education plan), this is also kept on their computer file. Any physical problems the child may have is also part of their profile. A students history of disciplinary actions are also included with any correspondence from teachers, administrators, or social workers. This all becomes part of their history. I was playing around with the program my school uses and I can even see where my student lives according to 'GOOGLE EARTH'. I even looked up my own address and could easily see what I had planted in my garden.
The photos of children also become part of their file evolving with them throughout their school years. Every time a student takes a school photo at the beginning of the year it replaces the photo that was taken the previous year. Administrators love these new programs and insist their teachers report on all activities their students undergo whether they be in or out of the classroom. Many teachers complain because this demanded data input takes a lot of time away from what they are supposed to be doing; teaching.
These computer systems will be part of all our futures. The primary fear I have is many, if not most,of these programs are web-based. Web-based data collections are not held in the schools but rather held in large servers owned and operated by the computer programs. All of the information collected on students are outside the school. Of course, they promise to never share this information. But, what if it was?
If a young man or woman apply for a job when they left the public schools would this information be available to their potential employers? Lets say someone had a difficult time in school with discipline. Could the availability of their massive school records determine whether or not they get the job. Lets say someone had a difficult time reading as stated in an old 'IEP'. Could this cause an employer to worry about the competence of a potential employee. What if a student had a physical problem that never affected how the student succeeded in their studies. Would this cause an employer or insurance carrier to reject this individual?
OK, I sound like a conspiracy maniac. I am not but I am a dinosaur who believes the history of a child's time in school should stay in the school and not become part of the World Wide Web.
Jim Fabiano, a teacher and writer who lives in York, Maine and is a past recipient of the Maine Press Association's award for Best Weekly Column. He is also the recipient of the Theodore William Richards Award for excellence in teaching chemistry and is a member of the AULA LAUDIS Society of the American Chemical Society.
