EACS parent: Inappropriate apps not off limits to students

ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - A couple of school districts in our area are now having students use iPads for schoolwork.  One parent's warning others about what these children are able to download on the device once they're at home.

The mother of the East Allen County Schools student told NewsChannel 15's Megan Reust that she had an understanding that her daughter would only be able to download school approved apps to her school issued iPad.  She just learned a couple of days ago that's not the case.  EACS gave the iPads to the students this school year. 

"My daughter downloaded some apps that I didn't approve of. She downloaded some chats and was chatting with some people that I just don't think she should have been chatting with," the mother explained.

Each student has their own Apple ID.  This allows them to download apps in the app store on their iPad.  Administrators have it set up that way so teachers can have students download apps in class for lectures and to complete homework assignments.  This mother had the understanding though her young teen daughter wouldn't be able to download inappropriate apps on the iPad.  The school told parents those apps are blocked during the school day.

"Once those kids leave the school with the iPad everything is open and the kids can get into it."

According to the EACS technology policy, parents are responsible for what their children download on the iPads.  On the EACS wireless internet the apps are blocked.  Once students connect to wireless internet at home or elsewhere they can download any apps to the iPads.  The spokesperson for EACS, Tamyra Kelly, told NewsChannel 15 this particular student has been blocked from downloading inappropriate apps both at home and school.
But her mother showed us she's still able to download and access the chat rooms.

Kelly said concerned parents can opt their children out from bringing the iPads home.  But the concerned mother we talked with said students need the iPads to complete some homework assignments.

Click here to see the EACS technology policy.

If parents would like to have certain apps blocked on their child's iPad or opt them out from bringing it home, they should contact their school.  For more information about iPads at EACS click here .