Seattle Schools Community Forum

 From Stay Safe Online : Data Privacy Day is an international effort to empower and educate people to protect their privacy and control their digital footprint. Data Privacy Day began in the United States and Canada in January 2008 as an extension of the Data Protection Day celebration in Europe. Data Protection Day commemorates the January 28, 1981, signing of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection. Data Privacy Day is now a celebration for everyone, observed annually on January 28.  Data flows freely in today's online world. Everyone - from home computer users to multinational corporations - needs to be aware of the personal data others have entrusted to them and remain vigilant and proactive about protecting it. Being a good online citizen means practicing conscientious data stewardship. Data Privacy Day is an effort to empower and educate people to protect their privacy, control t...

Sorry to be blunt but NOW is the time to pay attention to what is coming. There's a front-page story in the NY Times today on this issue.  I, along with several other activists, have several irons in the fire on this issue. I tell you - as parents - this should be the SINGLE issue to most concern you.    Why? There is NO ONE but you to protect your child's data.   Truly. Your child cannot just be another data point (or a brick in the wall) for any number of "researchers" or data collectors.  Where is the proof that more data makes better academic outcomes?  If you have been a parent for longer than a minute, you know that children and learning is a complex issue.  You, as a parent, know your child better than anyone and yet can you say, with complete accuracy, what is the best way for your child to learn?  In 3rd grade?  7th grade?  10 grade? Well, having 100 data points and throwing it at the wall and seeing what sticks is...