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Pa. school official defended in webcam spy case
MyWay.com ^ | Feb 20, 3:54 PM | RON TODT

Posted on 02/21/2010 5:59:06 PM PST by Mad Dawgg

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A suburban Philadelphia school district accused of secretly switching on laptop computer webcams inside students' homes says it never used webcam images to monitor or discipline students and believes one of its administrators has been "unfairly portrayed and unjustly attacked."

The Lower Merion School District, in response to a suit filed by a student, has acknowledged that webcams were remotely activated 42 times in the past 14 months, but only to find missing, lost or stolen laptops - which the district noted would include "a loaner computer that, against regulations, might be taken off campus."

"Despite some reports to the contrary, be assured that the security-tracking software has been completely disabled," Superintendent Christopher W. McGinley said in a statement on the district's Web site late Friday. Officials vowed a comprehensive review that McGinley said should result in stronger privacy policies.

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: arth; laptops; webcams
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We all believe that those computers were only taking pics to find out where the units were, right?

No one in the school system would misuse this system now would they?

1 posted on 02/21/2010 5:59:07 PM PST by Mad Dawgg
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To: Mad Dawgg

If you bring a computer that someone else owns into your house, don’t expect all the files to be protected.


2 posted on 02/21/2010 6:02:27 PM PST by marktwain
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To: Mad Dawgg

This is disgusting. They should be sued and everyone involved fired. They’ll get fired all right, fired with pay for the rest of there lives. I’m sick of government.


3 posted on 02/21/2010 6:03:19 PM PST by MsLady (If you died tonight, where would you go? Salvation, don't leave earth without it!)
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To: Mad Dawgg

So are they lying about remotely accessing the student’s computer or are they calling the students thieves? Either way, not much of a defense...


4 posted on 02/21/2010 6:03:52 PM PST by rockrr (Everything is different now...)
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To: Mad Dawgg

If this were true, how could they accuse a kid of “inappropriate conduct” while using his PC?


5 posted on 02/21/2010 6:03:56 PM PST by expatpat
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To: Mad Dawgg

Time to put the person who spied on the kids in jail.

And then onto the sexual predator list.


6 posted on 02/21/2010 6:05:22 PM PST by Carley
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To: expatpat

What was he doing? Praying?


7 posted on 02/21/2010 6:05:26 PM PST by Ingtar (I closed my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment's gone...)
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To: MsLady

Firing their union asses would take decades and millions.


8 posted on 02/21/2010 6:06:14 PM PST by eleni121 (For Jesus did not give us a timid spirit , but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline)
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To: Mad Dawgg

“Officials vowed a comprehensive review that McGinley said should result in stronger privacy policies.”

Should?


9 posted on 02/21/2010 6:06:20 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: rockrr
"So are they lying about remotely accessing the student’s computer or are they calling the students thieves?"

You know I don't think these guys were pervs or anything taking pics of students in their bedrooms when the kids had no idea they were being viewed. I am sure it was all harmless. After all our school systems have stellar reps as far as sexual situations with students are concerned.

Right everyone?

.

.

.

.

.

[crickets chirping]

10 posted on 02/21/2010 6:08:39 PM PST by Mad Dawgg (If you're going to deny my 1st Amendment rights then I must proceed to the next one...)
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To: Mad Dawgg

If the school officials weren’t doing anything wrong, and were only turning on the webcams to find lost laptops, why are they immediately cease and desisting the policy?


11 posted on 02/21/2010 6:09:09 PM PST by Vigilantcitizen
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To: eleni121

I just heard the superintendent of a school, can’t remember where, is firing every teacher, because of the teachers unions. Seems to me more school supers should be doing this.


12 posted on 02/21/2010 6:09:22 PM PST by MsLady (If you died tonight, where would you go? Salvation, don't leave earth without it!)
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To: Mad Dawgg

Well, it sounds like the students who took these computers home were violating the rules.


13 posted on 02/21/2010 6:09:43 PM PST by Bigg Red (Palin/Hunter 2012 -- Bolton their Secretary of State)
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To: Mad Dawgg
CYOA...


14 posted on 02/21/2010 6:10:59 PM PST by darkwing104 (Lets get dangerous)
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To: Vigilantcitizen

Where did the ‘broke’ school system get the money to pass out thousands of laptops to the students in the first place?! We hear all the time about schools running out of money!


15 posted on 02/21/2010 6:11:08 PM PST by kcvl
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To: Vigilantcitizen
"If the school officials weren’t doing anything wrong, and were only turning on the webcams to find lost laptops, why are they immediately cease and desisting the policy?"

Remember we are dealing with the school systems and the Teachers Unions, so logical questions such as yours are not permitted. Please resubmit a question and alter the subject. Maybe you could ask something about why conservatives are trying to starve students and deny them computers...

16 posted on 02/21/2010 6:14:13 PM PST by Mad Dawgg (If you're going to deny my 1st Amendment rights then I must proceed to the next one...)
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To: Mad Dawgg

I know what they did looks bad, but put yourself in their position. We are talking about Philadelphia. These computers belong to the tax payers. I wonder how many computers they’ve lost. IMO


17 posted on 02/21/2010 6:17:52 PM PST by Racer1
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To: marktwain

dead on


18 posted on 02/21/2010 6:18:01 PM PST by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: MsLady

Spt Gullo did that in Rhode Island ...and more like this should happen.

http://www.parentdish.com/2010/02/17/superintendent-to-teachers-youre-all-fired/


19 posted on 02/21/2010 6:18:14 PM PST by eleni121 (For Jesus did not give us a timid spirit , but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline)
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To: Mad Dawgg

On a brighter note, most of the teen boys got A+ in there Reproductive Education classes, and many were noted for extra credit work.


20 posted on 02/21/2010 6:20:17 PM PST by healy61
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