Last week, I was at a communications roundtable meeting (whenever I hear the word “roundtable” I can’t help but imagine us all sitting around a marble table wearing suits of armor) and learned about a smart, innovative service called SchoolMessenger.
It’s a notification service for parents that sends voicemail, text and email messages to home, business and mobile phones. So, for example, if your child didn’t show up for school, you could get a text message telling you about your truant offspring. Or if there’s an upcoming school event – say a parent-teacher conference – you could be notified via email to your blackberry.
This is the technology age we live in folks. And like it or not, it’ll only get more sophisticated from here. I must say, I’m quite impressed that the PSESD has implemented this service for its districts. I mean, c’mon, let’s face it. K-12 educators aren’t exactly cutting edge when it comes to technology. I’ve seen an educator or two recently use an overhead projector circa 1985.
These days practically everyone has a cell phone. How convenient is it to receive text message updates from your child’s school?! I love the idea. I think it’s genius. At the same time though, a small part of me can’t help but feel a little bad for these kids who now have to work extra hard to get around the system. (You know that if there’s a will, there’s always a way.) It does take some of the fun out of being a rebellious teenager, which is just part of growing up.
So all I can do is ask myself: Would I want these messages sent to my cell phone?
I think the answer is yes. But I’d want to pick and choose the kind of information I’d get. Emergency notifications? Check. Upcoming school events? Check. Routine absence call? Probably not, for a variety of reasons. But looking at the SchoolMessenger website, I can’t tell exactly how it works. Can parents pick and choose or is it just a school-wide/district-wide system that once you opt-in, you’re in for the long haul?
Either way, I think the benefits outweigh the costs. But what do you think?
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