Parental Rights and Student Privacy

The debate over whether universities should share academic transcripts with parents highlights issues of student privacy versus parental rights, especially in the context of tuition payments. Critics argue that this practice undermines student autonomy and fosters an environment of dependency, viewing it as an infantilization of young adults. In contrast, some parents believe they deserve this information to intervene if their child is struggling academically, fearing potential dropouts without prior knowledge. This topic further extends to the differences in educational policies and cultural norms between China and the West, particularly the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) in the United States, which protects student privacy once the student turns 18.