I live in and my wife works for the school district mentioned here.

I think most of us can agree that if kids are using Chromebooks or something provided by the school district they should be held accountable (similar to how if I say something awful in a work chat or email I'll be held accountable.

It is the overreach like you said that is the problem. People thinking that we "must protect the children" at all costs is the problem.

The specific district here has a "no bullying" agenda which, as a father formerly with kids in the district, is not a thing. But they promote it and they are the top performing schools in the state so whatever they can do to pander to parents is what they will do.

There's also a large Protestant population here with mega maga churches, and moms against liberty (real name: Moms for Liberty, but I like to call a spade a spade) is heavily enmeshed in the school system. Whatever the parents say goes, and this is just another example.

I always told my kids: I don't care who is asking - a teacher or the police. The answer to "show us your phone" is always "you need to call my parents". I am so glad my kids are no longer in the school system here.

Many of my friends are teachers, lots in this district, and I have to say the state of education has really gone backwards in general and specifically here