One segment in the documentary, “Digital Nation” really upset me. Usually I don’t get worked up about documentaries, but when I saw the Vice Principle of that School and realized what he was doing, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. Basically the school provides laptops for everyone and those laptops are used for homework, projects, etc. However, the real problem lies within the Vice Principle’s ability to monitor what the kids are doing on their laptops at any time. Each laptop is equipped with a camera so the V.P. can see if any of the kids are goofing around.

This is the biggest invasion of privacy I’ve ever seen. First of all, everyone should have their privacy. The kids that he showed us were just fixing their hair, but they didn’t seem to realize that they were being watched. What if the camera was on by accident and the person was in the bathroom or something? And what’s even more disturbing than that is the idea of taking those laptops back home. Does that mean the V.P. can look at what the children are doing at home if they decide to use their laptops? This just seems like the biggest invasion of privacy.

Second, how do we know whether or not the V.P. is a caring administrator who just wants to make sure his kids are working hard, or he is some huge creep who is watching the kids all day at school and even at home? I’m sure these kids had to sign a release form or something to allow this kind of voyeurism, but I’ll tell you right now there is no way I’d ever sign something that would take away my privacy.

I understand that schools like this one are trying out new learning techniques to keep up with the growing digital world. I also accept the fact that in that particular school with the laptops, attendance increased by 90 percent, overall performance was increasing, and there were less fights and problems in the school. These are great stats; however, it doesn’t take away the fact that these kids are being monitored 24/7 like lab rats. Hell, I’d go to class everyday and do everything I was supposed to do if I knew someone was monitoring my every move. But the point I’m trying to make is this: children shouldn’t be forced to go to class because of a technology or because they know someone is watching their every move. It totally reminds me of the Patriot Act in the U.S. Children should go to class because they want to learn.

I know that’s easier said than done and I definitely do not have a good solution. But I do know that there has to be a better way to motivate students than to monitor their every move by giving them laptops with cameras inside of them. That just doesn’t seem right to me at all. I’d rather do the old fashioned way: sit in a class, read my textbooks, and hand write my assignments. Yes, it might take longer, but at least I know I don’t have someone breathing down my neck every waking moment of the day.