Extreme Parenting, Helicopter Edition: Mom Hacks School Computer To Change Kids’ Grades

Talks about helicopter parenting! Pennsylvania mom Catherine Venusto has been arrested for allegedly hacking her children’s school computer to change their grades. She changed her daughter’s failing grade from an F to an M (for “medical exception”). What’s really nutty is that she also changed her son’s 98 to a 99, which I don’t get one bit. But hey, the whole thing is bizarre to begin with, wouldn’t you say? I mean, I’ve heard of crazy parents blaming and screaming at teachers for their children’s lousy grades. But hacking into a school’s computer system is a whole other level of crazy.

Venusto, 45, worked for the Northwestern Lehigh School District as administrative office secretary from 2008 through April 2011 and has at least two children in the district, according to reports. She’s accused of using the Superintendent’s username and password more than 100 times to access the district’s online grading system. She also allegedly accessed nine other faculty members’ email account without permission, among other claims.

Needless to say, I feel really badly for Veneusto’s children. Thankfully, the media hasn’t released their names but that doesn’t change the fact that everyone at school will know who they are. It also doesn’t change the fact that their mother is nuts. Of course, I know nothing of how she parents them and for all we know she could be the most loving mom around. But she committed a major crime here, and that doesn’t exactly make her an ideal role model.

According to the Associated Press, police say Venusto admitted to changing the grades, though she claims her actions were unethical but not illegal. Venusto now faces six felony charges; if convicted, she could face up to 42 years in prison or a $90,000 fine. I guess she’s learned her lesson…

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