r/education • u/SteaIthed • 3d ago

School Culture & Policy Is my school allowed to install program-viewing and website blockers on my personal laptop?

This is just a question i have and i would like answers since my school wont give me any. Im currently in the process of purchasing a personal laptop. I asked the school if it was okay for me to handle everything with my laptop. They said this was okay. Now, because its my personal laptop they said it wont be covered under the schools warranty. Which makes sense. But know here comes the confusing part, for me at least. Is my school allowed to put software on my computer without my consent that restricts what i am able to do on it? If i dont use the schools provided devices, or their own network. Do they have the right to make changes to MY personal device?

Reason why im asking is because i plan to use this device after i finish school, and i dont want spyware and restrictions on my own laptop. Especially when trying to install programs ect.

Now i understand this is probably entirely dependent on the schools policy. But i would like a general answer, What most schools do at least.

For your information my school is located in Australia, Queensland, Sunshine Coast

tl;dr Is my school allow to install programs on my personal laptop without my consent?

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u/Holiday-Reply993 3d ago

What do they say if you ask to use a school-provided device instead?

-4

u/SteaIthed 3d ago

Well, they dont say anything. They just put restrictions on everything imaginable

8

u/Gooby-Please 2d ago

Well, yeah. It's a school provided device. It's meant to be used for school.

-4

u/SteaIthed 2d ago

I understand, it's just really annoying when trying to do research and the website is blocked, or I want to increase touchpad sensitivity but that's behind admin lock.

9

u/BlueMoon5k 2d ago

Use the school provided device and use another to access the things you need to access

2

u/IthacanPenny 2d ago

No I totally get what you’re saying here! My district provided GOOD devices (MacBook Airs!!) to staff and students… and then locked everything imaginable. And your characterization of it as “annoying” is apt. Like, I would like to be able to adjust my settings so that my brightness doesn’t auto adjust based on environment and that I can turn it up or down as I’d like to but NOPE, locked. I have a few students who choose to use their own devices, but it’s like the super advanced, studious students who are CLEARLY using the full capacity of their devices for the purpose of school and so that they can more easily save their own work for the future. Meh, it’s kind of whatever what you choose to do. But it’s probably easier to just use the school device and try to let the annoying stuff roll off your back.

1

u/BitcoinsForTesla 2d ago

Sorry to say, but you’re being “difficult” because you want special consideration. Use a district provided computer to do your job, like everyone else. You might chatter with the tech department about relaxing the firewall restrictions for employees — who get different rules than students. There probably is a discussion about what teachers need, and you’d think they’d be flexible to allow them to be productive.

Then use a personal computer that accesses the Internet through your phone. Don’t use it for work.