Most parents think their kids are pretty safe at school. They know the teachers, and they know their motives are genuine. But there are a few ways that outside sources can get to your kids at school. You might be surprised at what is exempted and what information is collected about you and your children.
We want to thank Betsy Harrington for this Op-Ed. Please submit it to Editor@GraniteGrok.com.
One way they can access your kids is through an online library and another is through surveys you aren’t informed of. Also, if your children join groups, that may create access to additional outside sources. Alt-gender secrecy has been known to give unknown groups access to your children. Know your school’s policy on what is kept secret from parents.
“Curriculum” and “library content” are not the same
What would be illegal as “curriculum” is generally exempted from library rules. Online sources take advantage of that. Sexually explicit materials and critical race theory are illegal to TEACH in New Hampshire, but they can be advertised to your child as award-winning reading through their online reading library. “Sora” is a popular student library that is a perfect example of an online library exploiting kids.
Sora is mostly free content so no one can complain. It makes its money off your children. It hyperlinks them to outside sources like adult dating sites after teaching them how to engage in explicit sex. It hyperlinks them to all sorts of unwanted and unknown sources. It then uses an algorithm to show them more of the same content once they have looked. It’s collecting data the entire time. Eventually, they are advertising specifically to your children to change their attitudes.
In Sora, kids can’t discern what books contain explicit content before they read. The book may have an award on the front yet be grossly explicit beyond a child’s comfort level. Many parents want rating levels for books like the Motion Picture Association of America. Some states (Utah) already have laws using such ratings. Booklooks.org is an excellent resource for book ratings.
In New Hampshire, books are not rated and are exempt from state obscenity laws. Federal laws might be challenged throughout New Hampshire. This analysis of the law is helpful to read.
Recently, parents are seeing inappropriate content and contacting their local representatives, their school boards, and the Board of Education in New Hampshire. Parents want to know their kids aren’t being exploited through their school-sponsored library or through unknown surveys. Surveys that ask things like how often your child is sexually assaulted and about parents’ criminal activities.
The Youth Risk Survey is incredibly intrusive and triggering to anyone who has been victimized and provides no support after doing so. “Exploit and discard” is how it feels to parents. Read the hundred or so questions as they go further and further past parents’ boundaries. It’s NOT OK to ask children these questions without parents permission. Yet this year, they are able to do so. Parents need to opt-out ahead of time. They won’t be asking for permission.
So what can parents do?
Start by looking. Find out if your school uses an online library. Ask if you can challenge existing books you find inappropriate and exploitative. You can opt your child out of all online libraries and non-educational surveys. Stop the exploitation of your kids before it happens. Make sure the school knows where you stand.
For instance, two examples of sex dating sites “instructions”:
And:
And because Sora is online, you may never know what your kids are access all under the rubric that your School District is a “member”.
Betsy Harrington, MSW
mother of 2 at SAU34 (Hillsboro-Deering)
