To Snoop or Not to Snoop…

  Unless you’ve been living under a rock when it comes to current mishaps, we all have heard about the recent “sexting” scandal in which 12 students at Lake Hamilton were caught with a number of racy photos on their cell phones. I have overheard many students claim that parents/ adults have no right whatsoever to look through their personal belongings, such as text messages, Facebook accounts, and cell phones. On the other hand, some feel that in order to keep us, today’s youth, remembering our morals, parents should keep tabs on our actions. In a nutshell, it all boils down to one question: just where is that thin line drawn between dutifully protective and overly obsessive parents?

            Josh Ware, a senior here at Lake Hamilton, voiced his opinions when questioned on this sticky topic. “Personally, my parents don’t have any of my passwords to anything, nor do they check my texts,” he explained, “I think that parents should trust their children  but not abuse their authority to some extremity like, gluing together shredded papers or something crazy like that.” On the other hand, one Lake Hamilton student, whom preferred to remain anonymous, disclosed that her parents not only read her texts every night but also, constantly monitor her Facebook account and take it upon themselves to remove anything they deem inappropriate. “My parents are very protective of me. At times I feel like they just don’t trust me. If they’d just let me make my own decisions, they’d be pleased with the outcome.” Clearly, not all parents take the same approach to raising their child.

            Despite the fact that there are stark differences in parenting methods, there’s still the big question that everyone wants to know the answer to: just where should parents draw the line? Jill Tolleson, a mother of two, believes that there honestly is not a black-and-white answer to that question. “Parents should be involved in their kids’ lives, but at the same time, there comes the point when you have to trust not only them but the fact that you raised them with the right mindset to make the right choices.” Jill stated that parents should have a little faith in their kids and yes—they DO deserve some privacy once they are teenagers. However, parents should still be involved in their lives and know what’s going on so as to prevent some (shocking) mishap appearing. “We only want what is best for you. It’s a parents duty to prevent their child from getting into trouble with the law,” Lisa, a mother of three, explained. “Those twelve young individuals who found themselves answering questions from the police… their records are scarred for life. Parents are here to keep that sort of thing from happening to their child, which is exactly why we do what we do.”

            As for myself, my parents are more on the strict side. However, I have grown to appreciate that fact and firmly believe that they have just the right amount of influence in my decisions as well as behavior. I can honestly say that due to my mother’s constant surveillance of my Facebook account, texts, and knowing my whereabouts at all times, I have never participated in any sexual activities, drugs, or taken any racy photos. Also, my parents have raised my sisters and I well, giving us an example of good morals and other positive influences that have stuck with throughout the years. Their involvement in my life is a major key as to my staying out of trouble with the law. That is what we all must understand. We are going to make stupid mistakes, fall down a bit, and maybe even get into some major trouble. However, if our parents were to never ask where we are going, checked and make sure we aren’t doing things we shouldn’t be, and other parental measures, a lot of us would find ourselves in the positions of those same twelve students did.     

Between drugs, sex, and other “immoral” things we teenagers are peer pressured to partake in on nearly a daily basis, it’s tough for our parents to let us live our lives and have that trust that we’ll make the right decisions. Some parents go extreme, for instance checking through their kids trash, while others check their child’s profile every once in a blue moon. No matter which side you’re on though, there is something that we all must remember: while kids do in fact need the freedom to make mistakes and the chance to learn from those very faults, we all (yes, even you Mr. “I’m Eighteen, though”) still need our parents to help us stick to the straight path.                                                                                                             

            

                                  By: Candace Boehm