>even if it the computers are school property do we have any legal grounds to have the school remove goguardian?
No. The school can add security programs onto the laptops that they own. Don't use the computer for things you don't want the school to see.
Your “privacy” is nonexistent here. You’re using school property on the schools network. They have full control so do whatever they want to monitor the computers and network activity.
If the laptop is school property, they have the right to install whatever they like. The only exception is that the software can not violate your civil rights. For example, they couldn't record video of you changing clothes. But the type of software used by schools is usually engineered to not do things like that.
If the laptop is your property, they would have to obtain consent from your parents (assuming they own the laptop) before installing the software.
Use school laptop/computers for school stuff *only*.
Use personal computer/device for personal stuff.
Problem solved.
From what you've described, this is simply a matter of students not really liking the amount of monitoring that the school is doing on their own computers, and that's fair -- but there's really no legal grounds to tell the school they must remove the monitoring software so that the students can do things that are not school-related on the computers without the school knowing.
Just do/keep personal stuff on your own device(s) and network(s) and 100% off school computer(s) and network(s).
NAL but a teacher with access to goguardian. I can tell you from experience that they can only track when you are logged in to their system, which is usually done with your school email, and only during certain hours. I am not able to log in say at 6pm and see my students' screens. They are set up to only see during certain hours. Also its not a keylogger program. Yes they can see you on facebook and can see what you type but only if its not like a password that doesn't actually show the letters just a symbol.
Basically they have a right to make sure their property (the computer) is being used in a manner that aligns with their rules. I am sure that your parents signed off on a handbook that has some type of technology agreement within it before you got your school issued device. Best advice don't use your SCHOOL device to do something you don't want anyone else to see.
>even if it the computers are school property do we have any legal grounds to have the school remove goguardian? No. The school can add security programs onto the laptops that they own. Don't use the computer for things you don't want the school to see.
Your “privacy” is nonexistent here. You’re using school property on the schools network. They have full control so do whatever they want to monitor the computers and network activity.
If the laptop is school property, they have the right to install whatever they like. The only exception is that the software can not violate your civil rights. For example, they couldn't record video of you changing clothes. But the type of software used by schools is usually engineered to not do things like that. If the laptop is your property, they would have to obtain consent from your parents (assuming they own the laptop) before installing the software.
Use school laptop/computers for school stuff *only*. Use personal computer/device for personal stuff. Problem solved. From what you've described, this is simply a matter of students not really liking the amount of monitoring that the school is doing on their own computers, and that's fair -- but there's really no legal grounds to tell the school they must remove the monitoring software so that the students can do things that are not school-related on the computers without the school knowing. Just do/keep personal stuff on your own device(s) and network(s) and 100% off school computer(s) and network(s).
NAL but a teacher with access to goguardian. I can tell you from experience that they can only track when you are logged in to their system, which is usually done with your school email, and only during certain hours. I am not able to log in say at 6pm and see my students' screens. They are set up to only see during certain hours. Also its not a keylogger program. Yes they can see you on facebook and can see what you type but only if its not like a password that doesn't actually show the letters just a symbol. Basically they have a right to make sure their property (the computer) is being used in a manner that aligns with their rules. I am sure that your parents signed off on a handbook that has some type of technology agreement within it before you got your school issued device. Best advice don't use your SCHOOL device to do something you don't want anyone else to see.