When I returned to school after the Christmas break, I found this in my room…
Not sure what you’re looking at?
Take a look at this…
Yep.
Cameras.
“Security” cameras.
They are in every classroom and the lunchroom. There is a big screen in one of the front offices where administrators can watch what’s going on in the rooms.
I will admit that I have very mixed feelings about this.
Visitors are always welcome in my classroom. In fact, I expect it as being evaluated is crucial to helping me become a better teacher.
However, I don’t really like the idea of my every action being monitored at will. I’m also concerned that it might put a damper on my carefree enthusiasm.
I am determined to just act myself.
Who knows…maybe this is God’s way of getting me used to cameras so when I go on Survivor, I won’t be bothered by them.
heehee
So, weigh in with your thoughts. How would you feel?
Filed under: Teaching | Tagged: surveillance, teaching |
AuburnChick's Adventures 
Wow. If you have a window in the door, I don’t see the point in cameras in the rooms. I don’t think I would like it.
I could see it if I was teaching in a school that had a ton of violent issues within the kids where maybe kids safety was the reason or teachers. However, if I was teaching in a calm setting I’d wonder did they put those just to watch me? 😀
It would make me very self conscience and prolly affect my teaching. I might over time get used to it and forget, but don’t think I’d care for it. : )
I think it would kinda freak me out… but I’m sure you’ll just get used to it & not think twice about it in a few weeks.
Let them see how much fun you & the kids are having learning! Maybe they’ll learn MORE from you just watching!!!!
Just remember its there & not change clothes after work for a workout or something … THAT would be embarassing! 🙂
At least they let you know about it….it would be much worse the other way around.
Actually the teachers were not told ahead of time, so that’s why it came as a shock. Nobody seems to know why there were installed. This is a two-building school. I only have 26 students in the five grades I teach. It’s just odd.
I would not have liked a camera in my classroom. My former school had cameras in the hallways and all the common areas, but not in the classrooms. All of the exterior door, except the one by the office were locked. (Teachers only had a key to the office entry door.)
I did have a principal that made a practice of listening to classes on the intercom system, which gave me the creeps.
I didn’t mind being evaluated or observed (I knew they were in the classroom) but electronic observation is the lazy administrators method of evaluating in the guise of “safety.”
Wow….I don’t think I would like that very much. You see to have a wonderful attitude about it, though.
“Security” cameras are meant to keep the kids and campus safe. Cameras in the hallways and public areas that are not monitored 24/7 seems logical to me, if it’s deemed necessary by the community.
Cameras in the classrooms is an invasion of privacy – the teachers AND the kids. They can only get away with that because they’re a private school.
The teachers are supposed to be keeping the classrooms safe and are responsible for the kids – not someone sitting behind a desk far away watching. If the teacher isn’t being responsible and not conducting things in a safe manner that teacher needs to be let go or counseled.
I hope that at least the cameras are really only surveillance and not recorders that keep footage that are saved and stored. I could see people abusing that in all kinds of ways.
that is not only an invasion of privacy for the teacher; but for the students also.
one more reason why I chose to homeschool!