Letter to the editor
shahal mohammed
Regarding the Sept. 29 opinion piece “The dangers of FERPA and too much privacy for college kids”: The writer failed to discuss why FERPA was passed in the first place. Before FERPA, parents would have access not only to their college student’s grades, but also their college medical records. This included histories of STDs and substance abuse, mental health records and women’s histories of birth control access and abortions.
While many parents love their children and want to help them through the transitions of young adulthood, some parents used this information to harass and punish their children. It was apparent that the right to privacy of these young adults was being lost simply because they chose to further their education.
While parents often help out their college students financially, others help their young adults buy cars, furniture, houses and other capital goods – transactions that are not accompanied by 21-year-olds having to give up their legal right to privacy.
When my daughter went off to college, she faced challenges in adapting, but because we had a good relationship, we talked often, and I was able to help her graduate in four years. Must we legislate away the constitutionally guaranteed privacy of young adults because of poor relationships some parents have with their children?
While parents often help out their college students financially, others help their young adults buy cars, furniture, houses and other capital goods – transactions that are not accompanied by 21-year-olds having to give up their legal right to privacy.
When my daughter went off to college, she faced challenges in adapting, but because we had a good relationship, we talked often, and I was able to help her graduate in four years. Must we legislate away the constitutionally guaranteed privacy of young adults because of poor relationships some parents have with their children?
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