In gym? That gives me the creeps. What is the school doing, selling naked locker room videos on porn sites?
I've had many students whose IEP recommended the use of a tape recorder. I will have to say that it intimidated me, and the idea of being 'recorded' prevented a lot of the other students from answering questions and participating. Perhaps listening to the class again, at home, helped a handful of students, but is it worth the trade-off of other students feeling that it was an intrusion? I was told I had no choice; the students WILL use a tape recorder. When did it happen, that the convenience of a handful of students was allowed to override the sense of security of the majority?
I don't mind tape recorders. We've been recording every minute of every office hours session ever since an unfortunate event when an undergraduate nearly ruined a man's career by claiming that he raped her during office hours (had the university not kept it quiet, it could have turned into a Duke fiasco). No video cameras, but I never close the office door when there is a student inside. Never.
Still, cameras in the gym, well that's just freaking perverted.
I don't mind students using tape recorders, but I wouldn't like to be recorded by an observer either. Kids are taping to help them learn, I don't know why the others are doing that.
If an adult [parent or otherwise] thinks it is necessary to video tape or record the work of the classroom then that adult needs to get off their butt and sit in the classroom in an ongoing, nonroutine, but consistent manner.
The reliance on technology, in this case, is just laziness.
At one time a teacher would stay with the family of the students they taught for one week or possibly a month. The adults would have the chance to see the real person behind the teacher.
This was also the time when teachers were required to show an ability to use the bullwhip affectively. Frankly, not that long ago...
Many teachers, including my ancestors, put their foot down and insisted that the district build them a house ajoining the school. They got the house and were very good at the bullwhip.
Seriously, this was rarely necessary because they thought learning was fun. They were also very tough; and they took no prisoners when challenged.
If you want to video tape or record what happens in the room-cool-the room belongs to you [remember to secure written permission from the parent].
As for the other 'concerns'...
You guys need to be a bit more like my blessed ancient ones. Tougher, wiser, and independent of thought-right now I can guarantee they are making a highball and laughing at you.
Have a great weekend.
I think it's a bit of an intrusion as well. Security cameras in the halls are fine- we have benefited greatly from them at our school. But, I think it's a huge invasion of everyone's privacy and an infringement on spontaneity to have classes recorded. Why is it that if teachers want to record/video their classroom for graduate classes or other professional development, they are to secure parental permission, but if one child in a class wants to record a class, it's ok to do so without written consent of the other kids' parents?
My fast-twitch reaction was, why not? I've got nothing to hide. But then when you mention the shy students, I can totally see some classes shutting down. Granted, as you and I are both linguistical types, if we COULD get the struggling kids to accept recording--for instructional instead of just CYA spying purposes--they might learn even more. But they would probably shut down before they learned.
My second reaction has to do with northbrooklyn's response: if admin's or parents are worried, they SHOULD be in there. It's not like they're hiring someone to go over each and every classroom recording. There's no way to set this up like a run-the-red-light-gotcha photo. These are just to whip out if someone makes a claim against a teacher or admin. And, in the meantime, it could damage instruction.
cameras?
I wouldn't want any around, not for me or the kids.
It's bad enough the kids use their cell phones. When I catch them photographing me, I cross my eyes...and smile.
Everyone else has said it more eloquently than I, but I don't mind joining the chorus: "No cameras in classrooms." 
I have actually set up my own videocamera to tape my classes at the beginning of the year. I had the administrations approval because it was for my own personal use in order to improve my classroom techniques and management. I covered the red light with black electrical tape so the kids never knew when it was on. I taped some classes and actually had them analyze their behavior and how to improve it. My classes had very few behavior problems during the year.
I can see how a video camera in the class room could prevent behavior problems with many of the children and provide evidence of behavior if necessary. But I can also see how it would prevent some of the more withdrawn kids from opening up at all. I don't know the best answer. I wouldn't want a camera in my classroom. At all...
Super scary. The students may or may not respond to having cameras in the room, but the teachers will certainly be on best behavior...
Our gym has cameras, but they are not active during class. I know this because I do the trouble shooting for the office.
The cameras were used last year to prove that the YMCA people had an illegal key to the equipment room and were using school equipment after school. (They had previously damaged equipment, so this was not allowed.)
We also have camera's on every entrance to the school, and several trained on the area outside our portables. Those are on during the day.
I used a tape recorder in school, because dysgraphia made it impossible for me to take handwritten notes. Today I use a laptop, and that solves my problem.
Commenting by HaloScan
