The Roll of the Eyes Award (ITM)

A central Tennessee school district sparked concern when it asked parents to sign a form agreeing not to monitor their children’s online classes.

The Rutherford County School (RCS) letter asking parents to steer clear of their children’s virtual classroom for privacy reasons was reported August 15 by the Tennessee Star, which received a copy of the form.

“RCS strives to present these opportunities in a secure format that protects student privacy to the greatest extent possible, however because these meetings will occur virtually RCS is limited in its ability to fully control certain factors such as non-student observers that may be present in the home of a student participating in the virtual meeting,” the form stated.

“RCS strongly discourages non-student observation of online meetings due to the potential of confidential information about a student being revealed.”

“We are aware of the concern that has been raised about this distance-learning letter that was sent to parents,” Evans said.

“The intent was not to prevent parents from being involved with their children during distance learning, but it was intended to protect the academic privacy of other students in the classroom who are visible during certain virtual class sessions,” he added.

“We have issued new guidance to principals that parents can assist their children during virtual group lessons with permission of the instructor but should refrain from sharing or recording any information about other students in the classroom.”