Great food for thought about the directory.
We have always put one together- but never included a page asking parents NOT to use this for business purposes. We always assumed they would not. But it might be worth adding something like
" This directory is provided as a service by_____PTA. It is meant for our students, parents and faculty private use, ONLY".
That should cover everything.
Unfortunately, there's nothing the school can do and they'd probably invite trouble on themselves for intervening. Your neighborhood dentist should have respected the privacy notice - and I think you have every right to call or write her directly and complain.
But I doubt she broke any rules/laws that the school or police could enforce. Unless you have a do-not-disclose request on file, the name/address info used for the directory is probably public information as part of the info specifically not protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
And once you allowed the information to be published in the directory, you really lost any confidentiality at all at that point.
If I were you, I would contact her to express my displeasure. But I wouldn't expect the school to take any stand on it.
thanks for your input. the school didn't seem to take my complaint very seriously so i have a feeling i may have to be in touch with her directly.
it was probably a little naive of me to put the info in there in the first place. i just didn't want my daughter to be the one left out of a birthday, etc. because there isn't any contact info on her.
Originally posted by <rose>: i'll keep this brief. our address/phone number is listed in the school directory. i did actively elect to be included after much thought. my daughter's biological father doesn't know of our whereabouts and i have full legal and physical custody so i'm not required to keep him informed. so i don't...with good reason! there is a privacy notice in front of the book that is very clear. yet, another parent used the directory to solicit patients when she opened a dental practice. i know she received our information from the school directory because my daughter's stepfather's first name is listed on the envelope with her last name. this is the ONLY place his name is listed in relation to her last name.
i am extremely upset about this and i've basically been told that there isn't anything they can do besides remind people not to use it for solicitation. they know who this person is. i just don't understand why they don't contact her specifically to address the situation.
am i out of line?
NO I don't feel you are out of line. I would point blank ask this person how she got your information, just out of curiosity, then when she tells you then explain that she wasn't suppose to do that, and as a business in the community, she should respect the rules and explain that she wouldn't appreciate it if you went and told everyone what she had done. I would explain that she could have indangered your child by this and thats not good for business. I don't know, this is just something I would do just to get the point across!
i'll keep this brief. our address/phone number is listed in the school directory. i did actively elect to be included after much thought. my daughter's biological father doesn't know of our whereabouts and i have full legal and physical custody so i'm not required to keep him informed. so i don't...with good reason! there is a privacy notice in front of the book that is very clear. yet, another parent used the directory to solicit patients when she opened a dental practice. i know she received our information from the school directory because my daughter's stepfather's first name is listed on the envelope with her last name. this is the ONLY place his name is listed in relation to her last name.
i am extremely upset about this and i've basically been told that there isn't anything they can do besides remind people not to use it for solicitation. they know who this person is. i just don't understand why they don't contact her specifically to address the situation.
