Parents refuse permission for child to appear in school photos, then complain...

quote:

---

"He sees in the classroom that there are pictures of his peers. He doesn't see his," Maheux-Pelletier told CBC Toronto, "Why is it that my child is put aside and being told, 'No, I'm sorry but you cannot be part of the picture?'"

---

quote:

---

At the beginning of the school year at the French school in Kleinburg, his parents were given a form similar to the one used by all school boards in the province. It requests permission to take photographs, including videos, of their children at school and allows for their use on social media.

Karim's parents didn't want him in photos that might be used on social media, so they decided against saying okay.

---

quote:

---

His mother said the school isn't interested in the intent behind the family's decision — which was to manage online exposure, which she hoped mitigates potential risks like "cyber bullying" or "predators."

She wanted educators to apply discretion depending on when photos or video are taken and what they're used for.

When the principal of the school told them this isn't possible, they took their concerns to the director of education and superintendent.

---

quote:

---

school superintendent Sylvie Longo responded, writing that the school couldn't accommodate the request "to use and disclose your child's images and school work in particular circumstances or locations only."

---

quote:

---

Claire Francoeur, the Conseil Scolaire Viamonde (school board) spokeswoman, told CBC Toronto this would be too challenging to govern, so the only option is a strict "no photo" policy when parents don't give authorization.

---