So does it draw the line when a school be it private or public requires its students to turn over their passwords for private facebook accounts? Yesterday while at the dentist with my son I was watching the news. They were talking about a private christian school in the south that is now requiring their students to turn over their facebook passwords. Some students have canceled their facebooks, some have turned over their passwords and some are just not happy about it.

They interviewed one of the students dads. He stated that the school did not need the password of their daughters facebook and that requiring it was a violation of her privacy. He also stated that facebook is blocked at the school so the students are not on facebook while at school so it is no business of the school.

They then interviewed the principle. He stated that the students signed a morality statement stating that they would be held to higher standards off of the school campus. He even stated that if the students do not like it they can always choose another private school. He went on to say that the students should have nothing to hide so this should not be a issue.

I looked for the story on the internet but could not find it (the school was called Victory Christian, that I remember). I did find however that this is not a isolated instance. In 2007 a school in Mississippi, Pearl High School, had a cheer leading coach that required their students to turn over facebook passwords. Well Mandi Jackson did this only to find out that her private messages were read and not only read but distributed to the other teachers. She was banned from a number or school activities simply because she used foul language. She is now suing the school for breaking her privacy. You can read more about it here on Legalzoom.

So what do you think? Do schools have the rights to look? If you think they do is there anything off bounds (like private messages)? What would you do if your child was in a school that required a password?