Here are some of the responses to the teacher's query about taping a classroom for
disciplinary reasons.
George Anne Draper, librarian
Wynne High School, Wynne, AR
gdraper@wynne.k12.ar.us
We had the same problem......The teacher set up the camera and it
certainly made a difference in her room!
The teacher needs to check with the principal before doing that. I just
had a teacher do this and she got in trouble for recording her class.
She had only one student she wanted recorded. I had given her our
camcorder, but I wasn't in trouble.
I've done that before. First I show it to the class because I don't
think they realize how bad they get. Then, when a parent came for a
parent/teacher conference the teacher would send the parent to the
library to watch their child. I had the schedule of the teacher's
conferences so that when the parent came down, the tape was set at the
most appropriate part to see that particular child's behavior. Worked
like a charm.
Granted, this was an elementary class. I'm not sure how well it would
work with teenagers. But you never know......
We got permission from the principal. Otherwise, since we weren't
making this public, we decided we didn't need permission from parents.
After we used the tape, it was erased. We had no parents object later
at all.
If the equipment is available for check-out to faculty for classroom use,
then I don't think we police the use of it in their classroom. However, I
think I might ask the teacher if he or she has talked to the principal
about what the school policy is on the issue. Also, does the teacher have
written permission to film the students?
Before opening that can of worms, does you district have a policy about
recording students, i.e. media release permission forms, guidelines
concerning the usage of recordings, etc.? Also is this a special education
student. I know that for specific uses recording student is permisable if
it is for portfolio record. The school buses record student behavior but we
only strict guidelines including notification signs on the buses that
students are being recorded. I would consult with you adminstrator and you
special education person as to what is allowed on your campus.
I think if the teacher is taping the class to evaluate herself and
wanting to see what is really going on, it is approbriate. While
watching herself, she may find things that she does that are
distracting, she may see what students should not be sitting next to one
another, and she may see things that need to be reported and kept a
written journal in case she needs to have help from a principal or
something. I would surely advise her to tape herself from the back of
the room so that the students can be seen but it is basically taping
her.
It will be interesting to see what others think of this.
I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole! Tell the teacher they need
to check it with administration. I doubt it is legal, you would need
permission for every kid and the reason for the taping. Methinks she
needs some HELP! That's my take as a former administrator.
Okay, so don't do it to catch the students. Do it because the teacher
would like to become better at the craft of teaching. Then if she
happens to catch bad behavior, she has it on tape.
Thinking about going for her National Board Certification? She has to
tape at least two lessons to include in her portfolio. Need to practice
first, so she is comfortable.
Looking back at the tape she can...
See if she does a good job of
introducing the lesson
outlining the expectations
delivering the lesson
wrap up of the lesson
If she has permission from all the parents to do so, I'd say yes.
If she is going to use it for the counselor and principal to HELP her in
positively directing the students, it might be a good thing. She
apparently is asking for help in her classroom management.
You may want to look at Arkansas Code 5-16-101 - Crime of video
voyeurism. I read d. (Exceptions) 3. to give permission as long as the
student is not in a place expected to be private (bathroom, dressing
room) and the camera isn't hidden "secretly observing". We recently had
a large class in the media center that after two days of temper fits,
vandalism, rude behavior, etc. I set the video camera up in the plain
site and they settled down and worked. The teacher asked if she could
borrow the camera. We are looking at installing permanent security
cameras next year. The cameras are in our buses and on many of our
campuses monitoring student behavior and for building security. Our
special ed department, I understand are required to have pictures and
videos in their students' portfolios. Our motive for this class was to
modify their behavior. Sometimes it is just a bad mix of kids. Let me
know if someone gives you a definitive answer.
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