Safety
Safety at Schoolhouse
While we're excited to connect people around the world to help each other learn, we realize that this comes with risks that must be carefully addressed. Building a safe environment for our community to connect is our top priority. We want to be as transparent as we can about safety measures so that students, parents and teachers can feel confident in their decision to participate in the community. Below, you'll find a summary of some of the key safety measures we use to protect our learners andPopularWhat should I do if someone makes me uncomfortable?
The first step to take when you have a negative interaction with someone on Schoolhouse is to ask yourself: do I feel unsafe with this person, or do I mostly feel annoyed by the way they interact? I feel unsafe with this person If you feel uneasy around someone, especially if they're an adult and you're a minor, it's important to stop interacting with them. Whether the interaction was on Slack or anywhere else in Schoolhouse, please share your concerFew readersCan I, as a parent, still enroll my child into Schoolhouse even if they are under 13?
Few readersHow can I report an issue to the Safety Team?
You can reach out at [email protected] or directly report the issue here.Few readersHow do safety reports work?
Is my concern worth reporting? Yes! It's always best to err on the side of sharing—even if it turns out to be something the safety team doesn't act on immediately, it will help add context for them to understand how to best support the person in the future. What happens when I share a concern? There are two layers of potential actions in response to a safety report. If your concern is very straightforward (like someone sharing personal contact information), our automated systemFew readersWhat should I do if someone is distant or unfriendly towards me?
To be able to build a global community like Schoolhouse, we all have to learn to respect and uplift other people who have different cultures, backgrounds, communication styles, and belief systems than we do. This is not always easy—it takes patience, reflection and empathy. However, it's an awesome opportunity to learn interpersonal skills that will help you connect with all kinds of people later in life. As we try to get to know others, we might accidentally hurt, offend or annoy them in someFew readersWhy was my account flagged?
If you notice that your account has been flagged, it indicates that our safety system detected something requiring further attention. Here's how this works: Our system found an issue that warranted escalation to the safety team. This is a precautionary measure to ensure a safe and comfortable learning environment for all users. If the issue requires additional context to evaluate, the safety team will conduct an investigation into the issue. This process helps us assess the nature of the coFew readersMental Health Resources
What should I do if I’m worried about a community member? To start, provide an empathetic ear, and let them know you’re sorry to hear that they’re struggling and glad that they’re opening up. As soon as it feels appropriate, redirect the conversation towards connecting them to the support they need. How can I guide someone to find support? Ask if there is a trusted adult in their in-person life who they may be able to open up to. If they do not have anyone and you are concerFew readersWhat's Considered Spamming?
Spamming is when you share messages or content that is repetitive or excessively calls attention to yourself. Here are some examples of behaviors that may be flagged as spamming: Sending several messages or posts in a row that don’t build upon each other Asking for the same thing repeatedly instead of waiting for someone to respond Commenting the same thing on a post several times Sharing random or irrelevant messages that don’t provide obvious values to the community Adding aFew readersCan my child who is under 13 join sessions with me?
Unfortunately, Schoolhouse cannot support participants under the age of 13 at this time. This means that while your child may watch you attend a session, it is not appropriate for them to interact with others as a learner in the session via video, audio or chat. We hope to be able to support younger children in the future.Few readersKeeping Behavior Classroom Appropriate
At Schoolhouse, we're building a community with people of many ages, cultures, and walks of life. To ensure that all interactions on the platform feel safe, comfortable and age-appropriate for everyone involved, it's important to keep what you share classroom appropriate—whether you're in a large session, a 1:1 sessions, a DM, or a post. Here are some examples of behaviors that are not classroom appropriate, which we ask you to avoid in the Schoolhouse context: Conversation about very personFew readersKeeping Interactions Respectful
At Schoolhouse, we prioritize fostering a positive and respectful learning environment. Keep in mind that in building a global community, we all have to learn to respect and uplift other people who have different cultures, backgrounds, communication styles, and belief systems than we do. This is not always easy—it takes patience, reflection and empathy. However, it's an awesome opportunity to learn interpersonal skills that will help you connect with all kinds of people later in life. WFew readersMaintaining Healthy Boundaries at Schoolhouse
In a global community like Schoolhouse, it's important to set healthy personal boundaries to maintain a safe, productive environment for everyone. What are healthy personal boundaries? Personal boundaries at Schoolhouse refer to the limits that we establish to protect themselves and maintain a sense of well-being. These boundaries define the acceptable and unacceptable behaviors or interactions from others. Setting and maintaining personal boundaries is crucial for fostering healthy andFew readers
Privacy
What happens to the Zoom recordings from the tutoring sessions?
Why are sessions recorded? All Zoom sessions are recorded and reviewed regularly for both quality and safety purposes. Quality issues are escalated to our tutor coach team, who step in to help coach tutors who need extra support. Who has access to the recordings and for what purposes? Quality and Safety — Zoom recordings are reviewed by employees and certain volunteer teams (Peer Review, Mentor/Coach, Safety, etc.) to ensure tutoring standards and safety on the platform. AfterSome readersCan I (as a learner) access recorded Zoom sessions?
Unfortunately, no. For privacy reasons, we can't share these recordings. To learn more about how Zoom recordings are used, see this article.Few readersDo privacy laws differ if I live outside of the United States?
Few readersWhat type of content can I post on Schoolhouse?
When you post any type of information, such as comments, feedback, etc., (collectively, “Content”), you agree to adhere to the following "User Content Posting Guidelines": To the extent our Website contains areas where you can post or submit to be posted such as comments, product reviews, testimonials, etc., you agree to post Content that is proper and related to the general theme of the Website. Content also includes that which you send to us by email, text, mail, or other means. You agreeFew readersHow does Schoolhouse collect my personal information?
Schoolhouse collects your personal information from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to: Information you provide to us Information collected from automatic data collection technologies Browser cookies Local storage cookies Web beacons GIFs Information we collect from third partiesFew readersWhat happens when I delete my account?
First, to delete your account, follow these directions. When you delete your account, we delete your profile information and any other content you provide in your profile (such as your name, username, password, email address, and profile photos). The data is typically “soft deleted” for 30 days before then being “hard deleted”. More details in our privacy policy. InformatFew readersHow does Schoolhouse use and share my information?
To present our Website and its contents to you. To provide you with information and respond to your questions on products or Services that you request from us and information on new products and services, and features or offers that we believe will be of interest to you. To provide you with the products, services, orFew readersWhat personal information does Schoolhouse collect?
You can refer to this page, https://schoolhouse.world/about/privacy, to learn more about what type of personal information Schoolhouse collects or does not collect.Few readersWhat notice will I receive if Schoolhouse were to go out of business?
In the unlikely event that we go out of business or file for bankruptcy, we will provide you with notice of the event by posting on our homepage, or by email to your email address that you provided to us. To the extent legally feasible, we will provide you with thirty (30) days notice prior to such a dissolution event. We will provide instructions in the notice on how to request access to (and removal from our Service) of any personal information you have the rights to. We may reject requests fFew readersProtecting Personal Information at Schoolhouse
One of our priorities at Schoolhouse is to create a safe and secure academic environment for everyone. Disclosing personal information can compromise your safety and privacy, so we ask that you please refrain from sharing it anywhere on the platform. When determining what information is allowed to be shared on Schoolhouse, consider whether or not this information can be used to identify you outside of Schoolhouse. Here are some types of information that you should not share, since they could beFew readers
Policies
What content can Schoolhouse sessions cover?
Overview In addition to our terms and conditions, we have specific content policies that tutors must follow when creating sessions. These policies are intended to support Schoolhouse.world’s mission of connecting the world through learning, while fostering a safe and inclusive learning environment. One of the beauties of Schoolhouse.world is that tutors are given agency and freedom to be creative with their sessions. However, in order to ensure we staPopularLearner Attendance Policy
We're thrilled to have you here and appreciate your commitment to attending sessions. Our volunteer tutors are dedicated to supporting you, and we value the time they invest in tutoring. To make the most of this opportunity, we request that learners make every effort to maintain good attendance. This is the best way to thank your tutor for sharing their time to support you. Platform Wide Policy Many sessions on Schoolhouse, such as SAT Bootcamp sessions, have required attendance. If yPopularSchoolhouse.world Community Guidelines
Schoolhouse.world Community Guidelines Schoolhouse.world is a community of people around the world who want to grow and help each other grow. The goal of these guidelines is to help us create an environment where everyone can feel comfortable and find their place in this community. Be respectful Show empathy and respect towards all community members. We have members from all over the world, of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. Let’s learn from each-other, and value the differeSome readersWhat are your volunteer policies?
Overview Schoolhouse.world is deeply grateful for the help of our dedicated volunteers. This Volunteer Policy explains possible risks of volunteering and includes liability waivers, consents, and other legal agreements on your part. Please read carefully. Volunteer Hours You understand that Schoolhouse.world will keep track of the number of hours you spend volunteering as a tutor. However, you understand that Schoolhouse.world makes no promises or guarantees that you will be allottedFew readersWhat types of conversations are appropriate at Schoolhouse?
Schoolhouse is a non-profit platform that aims to connect the world through learning in a safe and inclusive way. Unlike social media platforms, Schoolhouse focuses on connecting through learning rather than having purely social interactions. To maintain this focus and ensure a safe environment for everyone, we moderate all messages, DMs, and sessions. On Schoolhouse and official Schoolhouse channels, you are welcome to discuss topics that align with our mission of learning and personal growth.Few readersTutor Attendance Policy
Schoolhouse is incredibly thankful to all our volunteer tutors! We understand that you are donating your time and you’re an essential part of our mission for learning. However, it can be very disappointing for learners to sign up for a session, anticipate receiving help, only to have their tutor not show up — and it hurts their learning too! For this reason, we do take attendance seriously. SAT Bootcamp Attendance Policy If a tutor does not join 15 minutes into a session, it is considFew readersHow does Schoolhouse policy extend to the community slack?
Schoolhouse policy extends to & beyond our slack community and if you’re ever confused about what is or isn’t acceptable, you should check out this article about the types of conversations that are appropriate to have at Schoolhouse and check out this article if someone on slack made you uncomfortable (https://schoolhouse.world/faq/en/article/what-should-i-do-if-someone-makes-me-uncomFew readersSelf-Promotion at Schoolhouse
At Schoolhouse, our priority is to foster a supportive learning environment for our community members. Subworld discussion boards play a crucial role in connecting learners seeking help with tutors available to provide support. To maintain the effectiveness of these posts, it is essential to prevent self-promotional posts so that they do not overshadow learner support requests. Why isn't self-promotion allowed? The primary purpose of subworld discussion boards is to facilitate learnerFew readersCan tutors use AI on Schoolhouse subworlds or sessions?
At Schoolhouse, our mission is to connect the world through learning. We recognize that AI can be a valuable learning tool and we embrace its use as long as it doesn’t affect the quality of interactions or misrepresent someone’s experience. Participation on Schoolhouse, irregardless of AI usage, should reflect personal understanding to ensure high-quality interactions. AI should not misrepresent someone's knowledge or experience, as authentic contributions are essential to building a trustworthyFew readersProfane Language Policy
At Schoolhouse, we value open communication and encourage members to express themselves freely. However, it is essential to maintain a respectful and inclusive environment for everyone. This includes being mindful of the language we use in conversations, both inside and outside of sessions. Profane language, offensive slurs, and inappropriate remarks are strictly prohibited. This includes all written communication and any content that may be considered offensive, disrespectful, or harmful towarFew readersOff-topic Content Policy
Related: Keeping Conversations on Topic At Schoolhouse, our emphasis is on cultivating academic discussions that are relevant to the Subworld they are posted to. While we understand the value of non-academic conversations for relationship-building, the focus in our Subworlds should predominantly be on Subworld specific, academic content. How do I know if my content is on topic? Consider if it has a learning focus. That’s apprFew readersSharing Personal Information as a Verified College Student
In all academic contexts at Schoolhouse, it's important to keep conversations focused on learning, keep communication on the platform and avoid sharing personal information that could be used to identify someone. However, for tutors who have been verified as college students, there are relaxed restrictions to encourage connecting on a social andFew readers