Several years ago I was eating in a restaurant with two colleagues. One was a principal, and the other was a supervisor in our local school system. There was only one other person in the restaurant, sitting against the far opposite wall.
My two dining companions were discussing a situation that involved a student. They referenced the student by first name only. The conversation was private for our table only, which is why we were sitting as far as possible away from any other customer.
Obviously, the other patron was most interested in our private conversation, and probably strained to hear what was said. After approximately forty-five minutes, the other patron got up to go to the counter to pay her bill. She stopped at our table and said, “I just want you to know—I’m a nurse, and you’re breaking the HIPPO law by talking about kids.”
Let’s forget for a moment that there is no “HIPPO” law, except possibly in a zoo if you are a beast so named as part of the display. I would assume that a truly professional, highly trained, knowledgeable nurse would have known that the proper term is HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
Could there be an argument that the eavesdropper was also breaking the “HIPPO” law by listening to a private conversation? Does the severity of the punishment increase with the length of overhearing?
My supervisor friend sweetly said to our accuser, “Thank you for informing us. We will do better.”
I will not bore you, Dear Reader, with the particulars of HIPAA. Educators are trained in the provisions of the act, and confidentiality of student information is stressed over and over in endless annual trainings and professional development. HIPAA basically states that health information is private and is to be protected, even from eavesdroppers from across the room.
Educators are also trained annually about FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). Basically, this act states that student PII (Personally Identifiable Information) is to be guarded to protect students from becoming victims of crime and other calamities.
Believe it or not, my principal colleague, now in the happy land of retirement, in a recent text posted a reference to HERPA! I was beginning to wonder if a new cross between HIPAA and FERPA had been legislated.
Perhaps if a HIPPO got together with FERPA their offspring would be HERPA!
Strangely enough, Herpa does exist. According to Wikipedia:

Herpa Miniaturmodelle GMBH (or simply Herpa, an acronym for "Hergenröther und Patente”, the original name of the firm), is a German manufacturing company that produces die-cast scale model aircraft (under the “Herpa Wings” trademark) and plastic model cars and trucks under the "Herpa Cars & Trucks" trademark.

Be on the lookout, Dear Reader, when you have private conversations in public places. You never know when the Hungry HERPA HIPPO might attack!

ANSWER TO QUESTION OF THE WEEK # 74
What kind of books take the longest to read? (ANSWER: Yearbooks)

QUESTION OF THE WEEK # 75
What are two small words that will open most the doors for you? (See next week’s article in historicunioncounty.com for the answer.)

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