School software flags and reports kids who use "LGBTQ+ keywords"

[Del Tachi]

Big non-story.  If you read the article or visit Gaggle's website, it's pretty obvious that the software works by only letting school administrators know when certain keywords, in any context, are searched or typed.  The fact that it doesn't actually track/record/share any of a minor person's actual search history or web activity is what keeps it FERPA-compliant.  It's an entirely appropriate solution to have implemented on school-managed devices.   

[Del Tachi]

Big non-story.  If you read the article or visit Gaggle's website, it's pretty obvious that the software works by only letting school administrators know when certain keywords, in any context, are searched or typed.  The fact that it doesn't actually track/record/share any of a minor person's actual search history or web activity is what keeps it FERPA-compliant.  It's an entirely appropriate solution to have implemented on school-managed devices.   

The school freaking outed a kid to his parents without even talking to him.

I'd ask if you have so sense of empathy whatsoever, but your posting history answers that.

I'd say it's pretty clear that Del Tachi does indeed empathize in this situation. With homophobic parents, busybody school administrators, and petty wielders of unchecked interpersonal authority in general.

There's only one line about this "outing" in the article OP linked.  The only information is buried in a school newspaper article that provides absolutely no context about the alleged incident.  Salacious accusations demand real evidence; when such isn't presented (like in this case) it's irresponsible to make the kind of assumptions and innuendoes you do.

Nonetheless, schools have an obligation when providing students with adult tools to ensure that these tools are being used safely and appropriately.  Flagging searches for words like "gay" or "lesbian" for review is appropriate because these terms are inherently sexual. 

[Del Tachi]

This is why people shouldn't do personal stuff on school computers.

some kids have nothing else. I know some of them, and I lived in the richest school district in my county.

Kids aren't entitled to a computer?  and certainly not entitled to do whatever they like with one? 

[Del Tachi]

This is why people shouldn't do personal stuff on school computers.

some kids have nothing else. I know some of them, and I lived in the richest school district in my county.

Kids aren't entitled to a computer?  and certainly not entitled to do whatever they like with one? 

Do you think kids are “entitled” to know what being gay is?

What does this question even mean?  I didn't have to Google what "gay" was and I still turned out that way, lol

Kids aren't entitled to use school-provided equipment or resources to access potentially inappropriate or dangerous content, or any other content the school doesn't sanction for that matter. The Internet is an adult space.  Tracking and monitoring what students do online empowers parents to make choices for what is and is not appropriate for their children   

[Del Tachi]

Flagging searches for words like "gay" or "lesbian" for review is appropriate because these terms are inherently sexual. 

Sexual in the sense of being related to sex, yes, as are words and phrases like "marriage" and "reproductive system" and "Nevada". Using the word here in a way that implies it's also meant in the sense of explicit or pornographic is scurrilous, dishonest implication-mongering of the lowest order. And I think you know that.

The words "gay" and "lesbian" are two of the most commonly used terms in pornography searches, as well as commonly hurled as online insults that could be indicative of classroom bullying.  It is not the fault of the school that this is how these words are used in reality.

And you didn't address the point that this supposed "outing" of an LGBT student to his parents is most likely a fake story,  or at the very least one where no corroborating details have been established

[Del Tachi]

This school ought to be ashamed of themselves. Content filtering designed to prevent access to pornography and viruses shouldn't be used to harass LGBT children, especially not ones with homophobic parents. This should be flatly illegal.

What should be illegal?  Monitoring student's activity on district-managed devices or disclosing a student's sexual orientation to his parents? 

[Del Tachi]

This is why people shouldn't do personal stuff on school computers.

some kids have nothing else. I know some of them, and I lived in the richest school district in my county.

Kids aren't entitled to a computer?  and certainly not entitled to do whatever they like with one? 

Do you think kids are “entitled” to know what being gay is?

What does this question even mean?  I didn't have to Google what "gay" was and I still turned out that way, lol

Kids aren't entitled to use school-provided equipment or resources to access potentially inappropriate or dangerous content, or any other content the school doesn't sanction for that matter. The Internet is an adult space.  Tracking and monitoring what students do online empowers parents to make choices for what is and is not appropriate for their children   

Good for you. Some people are served by help from others.

Public schools should not be bypassing parents to facilitate minor students getting anonymous "help" from God knows who on the Internet.  If a kid wants to talk to his teacher or counselor, that's appropriate and a type of communication that can be protected from involuntary disclosure in many circumstances.

[Del Tachi]

This is why people shouldn't do personal stuff on school computers.

some kids have nothing else. I know some of them, and I lived in the richest school district in my county.

Kids aren't entitled to a computer?  and certainly not entitled to do whatever they like with one? 

Do you think kids are “entitled” to know what being gay is?

What does this question even mean?  I didn't have to Google what "gay" was and I still turned out that way, lol

Kids aren't entitled to use school-provided equipment or resources to access potentially inappropriate or dangerous content, or any other content the school doesn't sanction for that matter. The Internet is an adult space.  Tracking and monitoring what students do online empowers parents to make choices for what is and is not appropriate for their children   

Good for you. Some people are served by help from others.

Public schools should not be bypassing parents to facilitate minor students getting anonymous "help" from God knows who on the Internet.  If a kid wants to talk to his teacher or counselor, that's appropriate and a type of communication that can be protected from involuntary disclosure in many circumstances.

Public schools should not be outing kids to their parents.

Once again, none of the reporting linked to by OP establishes that the school "outed" a student to his parents.  Per the description of district policy posted by PiT, information is only released to parents when it's determined a student is in immediate danger.  I can think of multiple scenarios in which a school would be justified to release information under this policy that would have the effect of non-purposely suggesting or revealing a student's sexual orientation.  That isn't some callous, anti-queer "outing" however.