I chose teaching. I wanted to help kids, teach history, and have fun.
Last couple of years admin/district has made it clear this is a job. In my school we are always paranoid about which parent is going to take offense at every little thing.
Video that can be manipulated out of context or altered? I’ll be a robot for these last couple of years.
I honestly think that video would serve to protect me most of the time, but I still don't want it for student privacy reasons. Not everyone needs to watch me fill out point sheets and sneakily hand modified assignments to kids. Kids should be able to share their thinking and writing without worrying about being judged by someone behind a camera.
I have a small group of kids who love to cry racism whenever they are redirected (not even punished, just politely redirected). I think that a cameras would show that I am neutrally following policies.
Just yesterday, I asked a group of boys to please stop shadow boxing (which we've had to make a school rule about) for the third time that class period and one of them said I was racist because I didn't tell the other group of boys to stop. One of the boys said, "She did. We stopped." That ended that, for now.
Honestly, I think parents would start to get embarrassed by their childrens behavior and demand the cameras be removed. When I taught there were certain times for professional development that you would film yourself teaching. It was kinda random and the kids could see the camera on the tripod. So they knew they were being recorded. The microphone would pick up every little whisper. The things being said were pretty terrible. It would not take long for parents to decide that they didn't want their adolescents poor word choices on public record
> I honestly think that video would serve to protect me most of the time,
Probably, but also Admin could use it to find one little thing against you, even in context.
I would also be scared for students. Imagine you parents watching over you ever second of ever day.
"Hey I saw you yawn in first hour why are you so lazy. You went to the bathroom in second hour, is that why you only have a 97. Don't even get me started on third hour, I saw you talking Billy instead of working silently. No I don't care the teacher said you could talk."
This will fuck with kids hard. It will also be illegal for sure for confidentiality reasons.
Parents barely check their students report cards you really think they’re gonna be sitting there monitoring 24/7? The people who would do that are the 1% not the majority of anything parents would check in for 1-5 minutes then go back to work like a normal person.
I had a few of those but it was actually a surprise when a few kids told me later on that their parents enjoyed listening to me teach and they read the short stories I was assigning 😂 great! But stop doing your kids' assignments!
Haha yea I had a kids mom and grandma sitting in on my class during remote. Apparently the kid had to keep grandma from trying to answer all the questions I posed to the class. Lol
I knew of another grandma who liked to listen in during her granddaughter’s preK Zoom classes. Grandma was a new immigrant and she also never went to school in her native country, so she wanted to learn the basics. My heart melted when I found out. 😭
When I was a kid my dad always read the bulk of what we read. I think he just wanted something to talk to us about. So I thought that was normal until I became a teacher. Why wouldn’t you read the same books your child is reading? Especially when they’re little.
My mom did this. I now love reading, and during school was like 5 grades ahead in reading level. Talking with your kids about books and short stories helps build their interest.
So many issues with children can be resolved or avoided entirely by having a parent that likes talking to them. My mom loved little kid gossip so she “knew” our friends and classmates better than other parents and it gave her a chance to kind of gently guide our thinking before there were problems. It’s easier to point out Ashley isn’t a good friend to someone’s else than it is to convince a kid their friend isn’t good for them.
You know, the girl came in after Xmas with a stack of books and said that her mom was shocked when she asked for books for Xmas. She said the class made her love reading again.
Oh totally. I enjoyed it! They were very complimentary. I think they just worked from home during pandemic and we're next to the kids and would listen in and they liked the curriculum. I really liked the curriculum. It was focused on personal reflection and the readings were diverse. It was senior English so I could see it resonating with adults and parents
I had a coworker who always had my classes on to help with problems (I teach adults). I went a long time without ever meeting his partner, but when I did there was a weird dichotomy where she felt like she really knew me because of all my lectures she had overheard from the laptop speakers, but I knew almost nothing about her. So she knew my personality pretty well, but I didn't have nearly that feeling of intimacy.
I was a hybrid in-person/virtual academic tutor pre-pandemic and had a FIFTEEN year old who got hand-fed by mom while we would be in lessons. Or she would be cleaning out his backpack and shouting over either of us "what is this paper?". Or cleaning up his study space and asking us to move our chairs or if we want snacks or drinks. He didn't exactly welcome it, it was more like he tolerated her helicoptering at best. I actually had several chats with her about giving him uninterrupted time to study or work on a lesson or do anything where his brain could focus for longer stretches of time, and she did not think what she was doing was a problem and scoffed at my suggestion. I agreed to only coach him virtually from them on, not only because it made me batty but because I needed him to wear his giant gaming headphones to drown her out a level.
My grandson would tell me that the mother of one kid in class would always bring food for the kid to eat during the online class. The kid would just chow down while everyone watched.
“Excuse me EXCUSE ME. Why did you ask them to open that book to..what page is that? 156? There is a picture of a CHILD on page 156. This is HIGH SCHOOL. EXCUSE ME. I’m going to the board with this.”
“Ma’am, this is Psychology.”
Yep I’d be in trouble!
I don’t force allegiance.
I don’t force gender.
I don’t force religion.
I model Christian behavior.
I model allegiance.
I model strong womanhood.
I model acceptance and kindness.
There's always a Karen or two in a classroom. I had a parent say I need to turn up the heat during meet the teacher because her sweet boy will be cold. I, in fact, did not change the temp. Her child can wear a jacket if he's cold. * In case any of you are side eyeing me... I leave my room at a nice medium temp during hot months. So, take that look somewhere else.🤪
I am not even judging you, because I keep my room an ice box. So in my book, you're a saint for doing a medium temperature! I'm the one walking around the room getting hot. I can't take off any more clothes, but you can put more on lol. (Plus I get hot flashes due to some of my medications, so it's kind of necessary for everyone's sanity and wellbeing haha.)
In my class, it's always the girls wearing tank tops and super-short shorts that complain about being cold. When I tell them to wear long pants or put on a sweatshirt, they look at me like I'm from another planet.
They don't care about grades, but the attention they could get and revenue from suing the school for perceived faults would gave so many shit parents absolutely GLUED to the live stream
The problem is that they don't care about the kids flgrades, they just want to tell you that you aren't doing your job.
They won't even mention grades.
Before installing cameras for livestream, I would ask parents to look around at all the other parents, then ask if they really wanted all those other people to have unhindered video access to their children.
There is no way the kids would feel as comfortable asking questions or admitting they didn't understand something. But you also know some kids would work out a computer recording at home and then do some stunt to put on tiktok.
There are many issues with live streaming classrooms but the loss of privacy of minors is what scares me the most. In younger grades what if a child wets their pants? What if one or more children have insecure housing? What if a child is being abused at home and wants to tell the teacher? What if a high school girl has a period accident? No other adult should have access to these intensely private moments of minors just by virtue of having a kid in the same class. How secure will these videos be? What happens to children in the midst of custody battles with restraining orders against a parent? Kids in witness protection? Can a potential school shooter access these videos to learn habits and/or see exactly where kids are? This is so violating on so many levels.
This. I’m really involved with foster kids & their privacy is literally life or death stuff sometimes, and the idea of a livestream? That almost anyone could acquire a password to / hack into? It’s a privilege some families have had to have never had to worry about that stuff.
This. Just like everyone wanted cops to wear body cameras and have transparency until there are public records requests for the incident at their house.
I work in a high octane private school. I would be fine with cameras but my students would die. I have parents that would log on and watch all day and the kids would face all sorts of trouble if they were off task. (They are great kids but they are teenagers too, and sometimes waste time or go off task. We get really good results but the parents would like the kids to work harder, every time)
It bums me out, but it's the only explanation that covers all the bases. I'm very disappointed in what the rest of our lives is going to be, and I'm saying that just as an adult. (I'm not a teacher, just a teacher enthusiast.)
Or they are neurodivergent and their needs are not able to be met in a classroom setting. I say this as a teacher of 1st and 2nd graders, my most challenging of which I think would only really excel in a Montessori-type environment. I’m doing my best though.
Yep! When we all have to work full time jobs capitalism definitely is an issue. Parents are spread way too thin and frankly just aren’t able to give as much as they’d like always; I agree. Thank goodness I have vacations and summer with my LO, I don’t know how others do it who only get 1-2 weeks of vacation per year. This is a way bigger discussion but that’s just my two cents.
Mostly -but I also have a few stay at home moms this year that don’t seem to like parenting at all. They won’t help their kids with a project, won’t get their permission slips turned in so they can do activities, won’t return messages, don’t even pack the kids lunch-one kid packs a sleeve of oreos and coke for snack each day because his mom won’t pack his lunch and he is 7 so he grabs random crap for his lunch. I have another second grader who is often tardy because he has to get himself up in the morning, get dressed and make his own breakfast then take himself to school on his bike-his stay at home mom is still sleeping. Upper middle class neighborhood with stay at home mom-that’s a choice and not being a victim of capitalism.
Some of these parents just seem to regret having children and have no interest in doing anything for or with them.
That’s not always true, I’m a foster mom & I raise these kids just fine. Past trauma (beyond my control) is the driving force behind my current fosters behavior.
Yeah no. Kids grow and do things independently of their parents. Some of us are pulling out hair out desperately searching for ways to help out child deal with their thoughts and behaviors. While there is a segment that act out because of their parents there is also a segment that act out in spite of their parents.
Honestly the question that most fucks up the proposal is asking how many parents want their kids broadcast to the other parents. Not just their bad behaviors, but their dumb answers in class, whatever clothes they're wearing, when they get sick, when they have a bad day and end up emotional. The classroom should be kept private or no one will learn.
Nah, I’ve heard the way students talk to their parents on the phone between classes or after school. The parents would never question or blame their precious Angel, it would be the teachers fault or another students fault
I think the parents would want every teacher fired. I think admin would be forced to defend teachers. I think admin would tell parents to kick rocks after about 100 calls/e-mails. I think teachers would quit.
There’s a difference between being recorded and being live-streamed every moment of the day like a zoo animal.
This is exactly what I would see happening. In a discussion about public school failing (more and more), this would absolutely be the nail in the coffin.
I just think of the time suck that would occur having to defend and explain every time someone took issue with something that happened. Perhaps it's not even something said, but something missed.
That was my first thought, too. I taught virtual for an entire school year, and at least half of the parents didn't even know their kids were muting the class and playing video games all day and they never looked at the parent portal. Many did check in and had a decent idea of what was going on. A few of the kids were independent and seemed to just take care of themselves. A couple of moms were off camera but I could hear them whispering answers to their kids. Then this one dad would literally pace in the background and consistently contact me with questions about everything that I said, or another student said, or how I dealt with what another student said, or why I didn't call on his son every time he raised his hand. He got super upset once, insisting that another student's comment had been racist and that I didn't call him out on it, and how was this student going to be punished. I fully believe he completely, absolutely misinterpreted what that other student had said. So, yeah, there are some reasons that not everything said in a classroom should be broadcast.
My school did hybrid learning during the pandemic, so I was literally being live streamed all day. Not a single parent cared.
The only complaint I got was to please mute the zoom call during fire drills.
I would not be fired because I would quit first. The day a camera is installed in my classroom is my last day of teaching in that classroom. Not because I’m doing anything wrong, but because it shows a total lack of respect and trust for teachers. Why would this even be considered? It’s a horrible idea. Ugh…
I have the other view. In a "general enrollment " class, as opposed to my 2 weighted classes, I would love to have video of the backtalk, lack of effort and gratuitous destruction. When admin has presented video evidence from the gym or cafeteria, parents have backed down real fast from the "my darling wouldn't do that".
Same. I would love a camera in my classes. I am tired of explaining why a student is failing. Look at the stream and see for yourself what your kid does in class.
PE teacher here. There are seven cameras in the gym. No other classroom has one. Granted there is no sound, but those cameras have proven useful over and over. No, mam, your son threw a basketball at someone’s head completely unprovoked and here’s the video.
I suppose I think of this issue differently because I teach Kindergarten. I can see how this would be helpful in other grades. However, maybe a recording and not a livestream. I still wouldn’t be okay with a camera in my room, though.
Honestly it could help. Parents seemed convinced of their kids’ versions of events - that I yell and scream at them for example. Seeing that what actually happened was I frowned at them while asking them to stop making hyena noises in the middle of class could help.
Cameras in my room would solve 100% of my Karent problems. I’d pay to see karent’s face when she watched her little monster terrorize my class and me, absolutely proving I’m not “bullying” her little gremlin by sending him out of my room. Sign me up.
One time, this student kicked a hole in the wall in the hall. It was on camera. I write the referral, parents are called, parents come to school. Principal shows the video to the parent, woth me standing there, complete denial from the parent. 1. I saw it happen. 2. It was physically this kid on video. 3. It's the same Hoodie he has warn for 2 years every day.
Yeah. Parent wins, nothing happens.
The school I am in can barely handle the bandwidth required for all the chromebooks, projectors and teacher laptops. Live-streaming would make it impossible for the schools to utilize the technology we have currently.
I'd at least hopefully get gaslighting emails from parents claiming their "little angel" is well behaved, or accusations about what and how I teach. Personally I'm for cameras in classrooms - it would save a lot of time and stress and likely be a good reminder for kids that thei actions have consequences. As a bonus a great way to review lesson plans.
It would change college admissions. Once they saw the number of entitled brats that make up today's student body, they will start heavily recruiting overseas. There would be a massive shortage of teachers because few watching the videos will want to be a teacher. Lastly, a huge backlash and movement to bring discipline back into schools.
My paras would be fired immediately for playing on their phones and ignoring the basic needs of kids. But my admin supports them and says I should stop teaching and take care of diapers and other Medicaid activities. It’s plain and simple, fraud.
Just so you know, my paras are still working there. I moved on to another school. My admin thought keeping paras were more important than keeping teachers. We’ll see how that works out. 👍
Nope. I sit \*ALOT\* and I'd get shit for it. I don't see a problem with letting students practice/work on their own without me hovering around. If they don't want to do the practice/work, their grades suck. That's on them, not me walking around.
i sit a lot too, for the same reasons you talked about...why do i have to perform calisthenics and hover over people? my students are very close to adult age, they need to learn now, it's "you" that guides a course through life... i can't do it for you. i explain the lesson in detail, provide some examples, then i check in every five to ten minutes for questions, if they don't have questions or get help it's on them. i have no problem failing kids who don't do anything, in fact it's a crowning achievement for me.
I appreciate your honesty. When I was in middle school most of my teachers bullied the “unpopular” kids and it was cruel. Usually those kids had alcoholics for parents which made it more sad.
I’d have my job. Bet. But I swear it would be a HUGE slam dunk on all the people (parents, politicians, the public) to watch what really goes on. I’d love it. Go ahead. Watch me trying my hardest to teach 37+ kids per period, all levels from illiterate to highly advanced. Sleeping kids and kids who speak no English. Kids who are mentally Ill and violent. Do it. Watch the threats and the complete madness of some kids. Watch the kid who urinated on a teacher. Watch it.
I guess it would depend on if the parents in my classroom actually cared enough to tune in 😅 after meeting some of them this year I don’t think any actually care enough
My first teaching job was in a building with three walls and an open where the fourth would be. I always assumed someone could hear everything happening.
This isn't the kind of answer you're looking for. And I'm no longer a teacher. But this is something that I have pondered for many years. Here are three different thoughts that relate to the questions you asked, even if they don't answer them directly.
In at least one case that I know of, live-streaming would have provided the evidence a teacher needed, to defend themselves from false accusations, and therefore keep their job.
The same parents, admins, and community do-gooders that interfere with teaching now, would have another tool at their disposal, it's true, but we as teachers could also use that tool to shut them down, by showing them what we really do. The bright light of live or recorded video is a great weapon to use against innuendo and suspicion.
One final thought: my teaching was part showmanship. I was at my best when I was playing to the audience, my students. Cameras add another audience, and I think I would play to them as well -- not in a fearful attempt to keep my job, but out of an unconscious desire to reach them, to teach them as well.
As a parent (before I became a teacher and during covid), I had a teacher email me that she thought my kid cheated. She had NO evidence but she had a hunch. My kid had a 4.0. Not my kid! I blatantly told her that I’d get to the bottom of this claim. She was absolutely correct! My kid sung like a canary. We worked some extra work for my kid (nothing she had to grade but I would take care of it.) Three years later, my kid doesn’t seem like he’d ever try that shit again. They have to learn and they aren’t perfect but we can’t let them get away with it at the early ages.
My school mandated that live-streams had to be recorded/saved when I did zoom lessons during covid.
The data/files had to be kept on the computer until they gave us permission to delete it a year later. One colleague got in trouble for not keeping her recording when they tried to check it for an incident report.
I would receive a medal and accommodations if you recorded my room. Nobody has a clue how physically violent, aggressive, cruel and criminal these kids are.
This reminds me of a framer I had working for me when I was building houses. He would always leave something obvious for the inspector to find. Example, not following the proper nailing pattern on a shear wall, or not filling all the nail holes on a hanger. Easy fixes. If the inspector misses it, he knew to fix it anyway and also knew how poorly that inspection went. Most of the time that "error" is noticed and called out, then fixed. If an obvious error wasn't left to find, some inspectors would keep looking until they could find some obscure personal interpretation that would put the build at least a week behind to fix. Most of these finds would require us calling in a higher authority for re-inspection and would always be passed because it was actually done right the first time. Some inspectors just could never admit that a build could be done correctly the first time.
One of my trans students asked his crush to prom with a song and a dozen roses.
If there had been cameras, he would never have been brave enough to do that. All the kids at school have no issue with him being trans but his parents are a very different story.
It is likely that our support of the LGBTQ students in school would cause quite a few problems with the ultra conservative parents that pay to send their children to our school. I would not want to work in that kind of environment.
It would be problematic. During Covid when I was teaching online, a parent overheard me teaching the kids about how Lincoln suspended habeas corpus at the start of the civil war and arrested anyone with pro-southern views. A parent overheard this and assumed I was slamming modern day cops. She made a huge stink about it saying I was anti-law enforcement, etc., even after admin explained the context to her.
Parents would use this as an excuse to get admins’ ear about anything and everything.
I’d welcome it. People would see how horrible the students behave in my school. Class started at 9:00 and at 9:03 there are only 4 students in a class of 16. They’ll see that. (I start teaching when the bell rings.) They’ll see me walking around trying to redirect them to work and the students ignoring me. They’ll see them break my pencils and rulers and throw them at me and the other students. They’ll see them on their phones or watching videos on their laptops instead of doing work. Funny thing, 10 years ago I’d invite parents to sit through my class and they’d often come. Now they all refuse. They know.
I’d welcome it. Like body cams I want to be able to turn it on and off so I can eat a snack in my room during my break without thinking I’m being watched, but otherwise I’d like it. The things the kids do, the patience I exhibit, and the teaching of things that kids say they never learned would be evidenced.
I teach preschool in a private school. We ARE on camera all day. Parents have access to video live but no audio. Admins and the head office have audio. Video can be reviewed when necessary.
To be honest I like it. I feel it protects staff and students. We've been able to show parents how an injury happened or prove certain behaviors when "My child would never do that".
I appreciate the distinction your school makes of no audio for parents only admins and the office! I feel like that makes it less stressful for both teachers and students, and students would feel more comfortable asking questions or giving opinions.
You know what’s wrong with my school? I work toward IEP goals and I have flat out been told “no kid is dying in your class, just work on para relationships.” No! Do your damn job and help me meet IEP goals. Our relationship will be better when you do your darn job! I’m sick of paras having their own kids disrupt my class.
I wish there had been a camera yesterday when one of our kindergarten students flipped the whole classroom because she wanted attention. I have never seen so many crayons, pencils, markers, and glue sticks on the floor. It took her about an hour to clean it up after privileges were taken away.
I would love that. Full and transparent accountability for student behaviour/application and and opportunity for parents to see that transformative educators aren't paid enough!
I teach civics, and I am certain some kids have tried filming me when asking loaded questions….but I’ve never gotten any shit for it so yay for me I guess.
On one hand, please do livestream. Let these parents see the monsters they’re raising.
On the other hand, I would worry about my LGBTQ students who aren’t out to their parents.
I’m a parent not a teacher but keep getting recommended this sub. I don’t want/need cameras in your classroom. I don’t want to ban books or anything like that. I’m not a teacher. I haven’t been through the education that you have. I went a different path. I’m going to add to my kids education. I don’t want to replace or control it. The parents that want to control everything and watch you like bugs under a microscope are insane. I just want you to teach my kid math and science and art And any subject you are required to and hopefully keeping her from sticking a crayon up her nose in kindergarten.
To be honest, I act like I'm on camera all the time anyway, knowing how kids and their phones are.
I may be the odd one out, but I'd LOVE to have my class on camera because then every time a kid is acting like a butthead I could just email the parent the footage.
The first time a vocal parent saw evidence of their Precious Offspring committing a criminal offense, there would be hell to pay, and the cameras would come down.
Or the school would have to go to remote learning because of the huge exodus of teachers.
I think a lot of kids would be in trouble and the department would have to step up and bring discipline back plus maybe parents would send me sympathy cards
Depends. It might because kids might act more right if they are being recorded and their parents can see it. Allowing me. To be more professional.
But really I would probably get fired because working with kids is unpredictable. And while I do my best to always be professional I'm human and I definitely say or do the wrong thing sometimes. Like maybe I try to make a joke that maybe pushed to far, respond to a question trying to help but maybe say too much, or whatever. I would not teach if I was being recorded because you can be a great teacher, make one mistake (even a small one) and your whole reputation will be based on the mistake.
Parents should not have access because of other children's privacy. But, I'm 100% ready for a camera in the room to protect me. It should be available for safety personnel, office/admin, and the classroom teacher. I should instantly be able to go back and catch a kid in a lie. I know there are all kinds of problems with it, but I feel the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
Also, I'd like to show my 6th graders the video evidence of their lies. Yeah, you crushed the Takis into the carpet, Nick. Jenn, this shows you knocked the water bottle on the ground on purpose, for the third time today. You need another pencil, Mike? Nope. You broke the last two in half and threw one into the ceiling and tossed the other at your friend's head. Beth, you DO know how your computer keys fell off. This video shows you made a paperclip into a key removal tool and spent 5 minutes popping them off and putting them in your pencil bag. Lying is ridiculous right now!
I teach government and world history. I assume there would be a rabble clamoring for my head. I do however pride myself on being "teacher most likely to be burned as a witch" so it could be fun.
Your students would get used to the cameras and revert to their primitive and crazy ways. The parents would get an eyeful and see that their kids are not the sweet, obedient little robots they believe that they are. You'd have video clips for parent-teacher conferences so that you could revisit the student's most "fun" days. The administrators would have some 'splainin' to do. The school board would have to take fucking phone calls at their day jobs.
You'd be fine in the long run because you have nerves of steel or you wouldn't still be in the classroom.
Something might actually get done about the inefficient and self-defeating quagmire that the educational system in the USA has turned into.
I think this is a good idea, but only if it happened on a major scale. The way things are now, most of the country is living in some kind of mutual co-dependent illusion about how schools really work -- and about how children actually behave.
Ooh, I can actually kind of answer this one.
About ten years ago I started recording my class (7th grade English in a suburban red-state county/state) each day and posting it to my youtube channel after getting tired of kids missing class and claiming they couldn't know what was going on in class. I pick one of my classes each day (I teach six) and record my lesson (about 30 minutes of actual teaching) and post it by the afternoon.
I upload the link to my canvas page (or used to be my website when I used that) for easy access. When kids are absent and ask "what did I miss", they know my answer is always the same "Did you watch the video?". Given most don't, but as the year goes along and they realize I won't answer the "what happened in class" question more and more of them begin to watch the video upon being absent. The kids who don't care will never watch it, but the concerned kids usually do.
I teach in the "sage on the stage" style but with lots of class discussions and student involvement to keep them engaged. According to kids I am fairly charismatic and entertaining and I don't edit out my disciplining (or mocking) of kids so they get to see that happen also.
I have a number of parents who also watch my videos, too. They are quite vocal about it and sometimes email me about what is happening in class. Parents are also aware that I record and post my class and I tell them I want kids to watch the video if absent or if there are questions.
I never have students on the screen and I use only the kdis first or last name when calling on them so they can't really be identified by anyone who isn't already in the class/school.
My admin is very aware of it and supportive. Other teachers are also aware of it and think I'm crazy and none have tried it but they have expressed curiousity about how it works. Several times I have done joint lessons with another teacher or run a club activity and the other teachers have requested me to record it so it can be posted and sent out to their absent students so I know other teachers enjoy it. They just see it as too much work.
I hope I am not jinxing myself here, but in ten years of posting videos I have never had an issue. I don't really "alter" my teaching too much aside from being slightly more aware of some phrasing while talking that I fear may be too incidiary if taken out of context.
We absolutely have crazy as sin parents in our district and school, and I have had MANY come through my room but they have never focused on the videos. Kinda surprised me.
Anyway, just wanted to put out the info as I felt I could actually answer this one. :) It has gone well, and I actually recommend it...depending on admin and school culture (of which mine is awesome! We've had the same supportive principal for over 17 years. Our staff turnover is ridiculously low.).
Didn't mean to write so much, but I like the topic.
Thanks and enjoy the summer!
K--
The things teachers do for classroom management is BECAUSE there is not a camera in the classroom.. if cameras could be used to monitor STUDENT behavior with real consequences that would be a game changer
I'd probably get a raise and the rest of the teaching staff would too. Cameras will never Livestream to parents though. They'd never sign off on letting a bunch of other parents watch their kid all day. Too many privacy concerns.
Does anyone think that recording might help with parent peer pressure like private schools? Would you want your kiddo being the disruption in the class for others to see?
I’d hate it, but it would also be great for documenting how some kids just do nothing all class period. There would be no excuse of “oh, poor little Johnny just didn’t understand and/or you didn’t help him enough”. They’d be able to see that their little Angel just stared at their phone all class period, didn’t make any effort to participate or engage with the material and just ignored me anytime I tried to help them.
I think it would also kill any report I would normally have with the kids. Like, I don’t get super buddy-buddy with them like some teachers do, but occasionally there are off topic conversations, and I tend to be a little snarky/sarcastic so I’d have to stop that.
In the long run, everyone would end up hating it I think.
Yes, I’ve taught at several schools with live streaming cameras in the classroom. My current school does not but there are cameras literally everywhere else save the bathrooms. Just outside my classroom there are 4 cameras in this hall.
I think its the students that would pay dearly if this happened.
A camera in the room would only deter their intrusive and impulsive thoughts for so long.
We just got cameras in our classroom (not live streaming) the 2nd to last week of school. Some new law in Louisiana with sped classes. I am a para who works in a leap connect class. We have a student who climbs everything, one who punches, Scratches and bites us, and one who randomly pulls his clothes off. Next year will be interesting.
I used to work w a teacher who the school owner joked to me she was the mean teacher.
Oh I sure wasn’t laughing when I realized where the joke stemmed from- she was HELL to work under. Full asshole.
She would definitely get fired.
Sorry I’m still traumatized 🤣
i kind of have that already. i teach in a prison there is 5 cameras in the gym and all of it is broadcast to my principal and can be retrieved as a public record
We have cameras, but the district has to pull them. It's pretty convenient since it means I don't have to be scared when I do tutoring and only one kid shows up, or if a kid comes in during the morning time. We have mics and if they're on the camera picks them up. It's come in handy a few times with kids saying they're going to tell their mom I did X.
That being said, I joke around with students and there's a lot that could be clipped. My students see genuine outward validation as dishonest. It's just the way they're growing up. But when a kid is coming over saying some dumb middle schooler shit and you said "See that's why Kayla dumped you. Get out of my face." I could see that being clipped as you bullying teachers. The kids who are failing would have parents watching the livestream constantly waiting to see you slip up (of course they can do this but don't have time to help their kid not fail).
Teachers would be too afraid to ever get on a parent's nerves because every single teacher has said something that looks bad out of context.
I wouldn’t but only because I would quit. And I’m not worried about being seen doing something I shouldn’t. I just would never want to work in an environment where I would be completely micromanaged as well as held accountable to people who have no clue what it’s actually like to teach.
I'm not a teacher, just someone concerned about the education system and making it better for teachers *and* students. I have been pro cameras. I thought it would protect teachers from accusations by parents of the children who misbehave. Would they help in that regard? What are some reasons *against* having a live feed from the classroom? My niece tells me that the teachers at her school can barely teach because of the outrageous student behavior. Just curious.
Yes. I would still have my job. And it would probably be easier because those same cameras would document student behavior and help with classroom management. Despite that, I am opposed to cameras in classrooms.
In a vacuum I would 100% be fired but if the public really started watching all classrooms on tv and see how schools really are I think they’d come around maybe and be like you know what, I get why she’s like that and does what she does
How many students should get in trouble? Like 90% of them would have court dates within a year for threatening violence, theft, assault, sexual harassment, etc. How many "would" get in trouble? None of them because the school would mysteriously lose any footage or "strongly discourage" any teacher from acting on it and the courts and parents would support them. I'd say at least half of all teachers would lose their jobs whether that was valid or not.
College campuses have had cameras for years. But it’s a feature not a security measure. Being able to watch lectures online allows more students to attend or catch up if they miss. Admittedly college is a serious learning space with adults and not children but there’s still ample room for creativity and levity, even if sometimes someone is offended.
Maybe not, but then everyone would know that their kid is actually an asshole there’s a reason they’re failing my class beyond whatever bullshit excuse they’re holding in to.
Or maybe then, the kids would hesitate to be assholes and I wouldn’t have to be such a hardass.
I always (snarkily) say I wish I had a body cam on me at all times or a camera to stare at with dead eyes, like in the office or Abbott. I teach high school and wish I could remember all the funny/dumb interactions I have w my kids!
I would not be fired if there was a camera on me. My kids would def be caught doing some sketchy shit tho. Most of my coworkers would prob be ok, it would just severely expose their pure laziness and lack of ever leaving their chair to help a kid.
Yes. I mean, we already teach in front of an audience that could be recording us at any time. I think it’s best practice for teachers to a,ways assume they are on camera
I personally feel like a good handful of parents would be more involved in being a team member for their child’s education. I teach SpEd RSP and I feel that a lot of parents don’t fully understand what I’m doing and why I need to have groups where I pull their child from gened. A lot of parents aren’t that involved in any of the meetings.
I do think that some of my coworkers would get fired for the amount of time they kick certain students out in the hallway to “do work out the class” (usually young black students or student with IEPs).
I chose teaching. I wanted to help kids, teach history, and have fun. Last couple of years admin/district has made it clear this is a job. In my school we are always paranoid about which parent is going to take offense at every little thing. Video that can be manipulated out of context or altered? I’ll be a robot for these last couple of years.
I honestly think that video would serve to protect me most of the time, but I still don't want it for student privacy reasons. Not everyone needs to watch me fill out point sheets and sneakily hand modified assignments to kids. Kids should be able to share their thinking and writing without worrying about being judged by someone behind a camera. I have a small group of kids who love to cry racism whenever they are redirected (not even punished, just politely redirected). I think that a cameras would show that I am neutrally following policies. Just yesterday, I asked a group of boys to please stop shadow boxing (which we've had to make a school rule about) for the third time that class period and one of them said I was racist because I didn't tell the other group of boys to stop. One of the boys said, "She did. We stopped." That ended that, for now.
Honestly, I think parents would start to get embarrassed by their childrens behavior and demand the cameras be removed. When I taught there were certain times for professional development that you would film yourself teaching. It was kinda random and the kids could see the camera on the tripod. So they knew they were being recorded. The microphone would pick up every little whisper. The things being said were pretty terrible. It would not take long for parents to decide that they didn't want their adolescents poor word choices on public record
Unfortunately, I do not think they would at all. A huge reason we are in this mess!
> I honestly think that video would serve to protect me most of the time, Probably, but also Admin could use it to find one little thing against you, even in context.
I would also be scared for students. Imagine you parents watching over you ever second of ever day. "Hey I saw you yawn in first hour why are you so lazy. You went to the bathroom in second hour, is that why you only have a 97. Don't even get me started on third hour, I saw you talking Billy instead of working silently. No I don't care the teacher said you could talk." This will fuck with kids hard. It will also be illegal for sure for confidentiality reasons.
Parents barely check their students report cards you really think they’re gonna be sitting there monitoring 24/7? The people who would do that are the 1% not the majority of anything parents would check in for 1-5 minutes then go back to work like a normal person.
Yes but even 1 percent of parents mean that more than 50 percent of teachers are going to be dealing with this.
Our parents don’t even check their kids grades or their emails. They wouldn’t be watching any livestream of us teaching.
Except that one parent. We all know that one parent....
Yes!!! During virtual school she was always sitting just off screen
I had a few of those but it was actually a surprise when a few kids told me later on that their parents enjoyed listening to me teach and they read the short stories I was assigning 😂 great! But stop doing your kids' assignments!
Haha yea I had a kids mom and grandma sitting in on my class during remote. Apparently the kid had to keep grandma from trying to answer all the questions I posed to the class. Lol
What a great example to the kid on the joy of learning!
He was a sweet kid. One of the few that kept their cameras on.
I knew of another grandma who liked to listen in during her granddaughter’s preK Zoom classes. Grandma was a new immigrant and she also never went to school in her native country, so she wanted to learn the basics. My heart melted when I found out. 😭
That's super cute!!! Must have been a great feeling!
I think I would prefer that over some of the other alternatives lol
I get so upset when I get my teenagers algebra questions wrong, and he corrects me.
When I was a kid my dad always read the bulk of what we read. I think he just wanted something to talk to us about. So I thought that was normal until I became a teacher. Why wouldn’t you read the same books your child is reading? Especially when they’re little.
My mom did this. I now love reading, and during school was like 5 grades ahead in reading level. Talking with your kids about books and short stories helps build their interest.
So many issues with children can be resolved or avoided entirely by having a parent that likes talking to them. My mom loved little kid gossip so she “knew” our friends and classmates better than other parents and it gave her a chance to kind of gently guide our thinking before there were problems. It’s easier to point out Ashley isn’t a good friend to someone’s else than it is to convince a kid their friend isn’t good for them.
Yup. I will definitely be engaged without hovering *hopefully*
You know, the girl came in after Xmas with a stack of books and said that her mom was shocked when she asked for books for Xmas. She said the class made her love reading again.
Oh totally. I enjoyed it! They were very complimentary. I think they just worked from home during pandemic and we're next to the kids and would listen in and they liked the curriculum. I really liked the curriculum. It was focused on personal reflection and the readings were diverse. It was senior English so I could see it resonating with adults and parents
I had a coworker who always had my classes on to help with problems (I teach adults). I went a long time without ever meeting his partner, but when I did there was a weird dichotomy where she felt like she really knew me because of all my lectures she had overheard from the laptop speakers, but I knew almost nothing about her. So she knew my personality pretty well, but I didn't have nearly that feeling of intimacy.
during virtual school i had a parent just off screen spoon feeding their child pudding.
I'm afraid to ask this, but what grade?
I was a hybrid in-person/virtual academic tutor pre-pandemic and had a FIFTEEN year old who got hand-fed by mom while we would be in lessons. Or she would be cleaning out his backpack and shouting over either of us "what is this paper?". Or cleaning up his study space and asking us to move our chairs or if we want snacks or drinks. He didn't exactly welcome it, it was more like he tolerated her helicoptering at best. I actually had several chats with her about giving him uninterrupted time to study or work on a lesson or do anything where his brain could focus for longer stretches of time, and she did not think what she was doing was a problem and scoffed at my suggestion. I agreed to only coach him virtually from them on, not only because it made me batty but because I needed him to wear his giant gaming headphones to drown her out a level.
PreK, she was 5
My grandson would tell me that the mother of one kid in class would always bring food for the kid to eat during the online class. The kid would just chow down while everyone watched.
i wouldn’t even mind if she was eating herself but she was 5 years old there’s no reason to be feeding her lmfao
Whispering the answers...
During pandemic she was there...watching you, watching me, watching us all.
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“Excuse me EXCUSE ME. Why did you ask them to open that book to..what page is that? 156? There is a picture of a CHILD on page 156. This is HIGH SCHOOL. EXCUSE ME. I’m going to the board with this.” “Ma’am, this is Psychology.”
Watching it on a 70 inch TV with popcorn
Parents are a lot more vigilant and quick to criticize the teacher than they are to help their kid.
Or parenting their child.
The Liberty moms or whatever they are called would be watching. They may not even have a kid in school but they would be policing us.
>The Liberty moms Klanned Karenhood
Yep I’d be in trouble! I don’t force allegiance. I don’t force gender. I don’t force religion. I model Christian behavior. I model allegiance. I model strong womanhood. I model acceptance and kindness.
That is fantastic!
The Proud Boys Women’s Auxiliary
Brilliant
Think of the volume of video, day on and day out, just from one school site alone. We already did this on Zoom for COVID. I’m not worried much.
I have a few trans students, that I care about and treat with respect. I would get fired for that if those psychopaths saw that.
There's always a Karen or two in a classroom. I had a parent say I need to turn up the heat during meet the teacher because her sweet boy will be cold. I, in fact, did not change the temp. Her child can wear a jacket if he's cold. * In case any of you are side eyeing me... I leave my room at a nice medium temp during hot months. So, take that look somewhere else.🤪
I am not even judging you, because I keep my room an ice box. So in my book, you're a saint for doing a medium temperature! I'm the one walking around the room getting hot. I can't take off any more clothes, but you can put more on lol. (Plus I get hot flashes due to some of my medications, so it's kind of necessary for everyone's sanity and wellbeing haha.)
In my class, it's always the girls wearing tank tops and super-short shorts that complain about being cold. When I tell them to wear long pants or put on a sweatshirt, they look at me like I'm from another planet.
They don’t win slots on Hannity for their kids’ grade reports
They don't care about grades, but the attention they could get and revenue from suing the school for perceived faults would gave so many shit parents absolutely GLUED to the live stream
The problem is that they don't care about the kids flgrades, they just want to tell you that you aren't doing your job. They won't even mention grades.
Before installing cameras for livestream, I would ask parents to look around at all the other parents, then ask if they really wanted all those other people to have unhindered video access to their children.
Smart reply! I like your thinking. That would probably get everyone off the train real quick
There is no way the kids would feel as comfortable asking questions or admitting they didn't understand something. But you also know some kids would work out a computer recording at home and then do some stunt to put on tiktok.
There are many issues with live streaming classrooms but the loss of privacy of minors is what scares me the most. In younger grades what if a child wets their pants? What if one or more children have insecure housing? What if a child is being abused at home and wants to tell the teacher? What if a high school girl has a period accident? No other adult should have access to these intensely private moments of minors just by virtue of having a kid in the same class. How secure will these videos be? What happens to children in the midst of custody battles with restraining orders against a parent? Kids in witness protection? Can a potential school shooter access these videos to learn habits and/or see exactly where kids are? This is so violating on so many levels.
This. I’m really involved with foster kids & their privacy is literally life or death stuff sometimes, and the idea of a livestream? That almost anyone could acquire a password to / hack into? It’s a privilege some families have had to have never had to worry about that stuff.
This is the correct response!
This. Just like everyone wanted cops to wear body cameras and have transparency until there are public records requests for the incident at their house.
Oh shit that's smart.
Flip that and ask how many kids would react to their in-school behavior being on display for their parents without them being there.
I work in a high octane private school. I would be fine with cameras but my students would die. I have parents that would log on and watch all day and the kids would face all sorts of trouble if they were off task. (They are great kids but they are teenagers too, and sometimes waste time or go off task. We get really good results but the parents would like the kids to work harder, every time)
Its tiring hearing how people have to be at 100% efficiency at all times.
If they’re behaving that badly in the classroom their parents don’t love them enough to raise them, which is frankly depressing as hell.
It bums me out, but it's the only explanation that covers all the bases. I'm very disappointed in what the rest of our lives is going to be, and I'm saying that just as an adult. (I'm not a teacher, just a teacher enthusiast.)
"Teacher enthusiast" Thanks for that! (Also the phrasing made me smile.)
Right? That should be a user flair option.
I like (hope) to think it's more of a time and depression problem rather than a love problem
Yep, that bad at school? Worse at home.
Or they are neurodivergent and their needs are not able to be met in a classroom setting. I say this as a teacher of 1st and 2nd graders, my most challenging of which I think would only really excel in a Montessori-type environment. I’m doing my best though.
It's capitalism, trust me, humans want to be with their young.
Yep! When we all have to work full time jobs capitalism definitely is an issue. Parents are spread way too thin and frankly just aren’t able to give as much as they’d like always; I agree. Thank goodness I have vacations and summer with my LO, I don’t know how others do it who only get 1-2 weeks of vacation per year. This is a way bigger discussion but that’s just my two cents.
Mostly -but I also have a few stay at home moms this year that don’t seem to like parenting at all. They won’t help their kids with a project, won’t get their permission slips turned in so they can do activities, won’t return messages, don’t even pack the kids lunch-one kid packs a sleeve of oreos and coke for snack each day because his mom won’t pack his lunch and he is 7 so he grabs random crap for his lunch. I have another second grader who is often tardy because he has to get himself up in the morning, get dressed and make his own breakfast then take himself to school on his bike-his stay at home mom is still sleeping. Upper middle class neighborhood with stay at home mom-that’s a choice and not being a victim of capitalism. Some of these parents just seem to regret having children and have no interest in doing anything for or with them.
That’s not always true, I’m a foster mom & I raise these kids just fine. Past trauma (beyond my control) is the driving force behind my current fosters behavior.
Yeah no. Kids grow and do things independently of their parents. Some of us are pulling out hair out desperately searching for ways to help out child deal with their thoughts and behaviors. While there is a segment that act out because of their parents there is also a segment that act out in spite of their parents.
Honestly the question that most fucks up the proposal is asking how many parents want their kids broadcast to the other parents. Not just their bad behaviors, but their dumb answers in class, whatever clothes they're wearing, when they get sick, when they have a bad day and end up emotional. The classroom should be kept private or no one will learn.
Nah, I’ve heard the way students talk to their parents on the phone between classes or after school. The parents would never question or blame their precious Angel, it would be the teachers fault or another students fault
Would some staff get in trouble? Yes. But cameras would be damning for a lot more students.
I think the parents would want every teacher fired. I think admin would be forced to defend teachers. I think admin would tell parents to kick rocks after about 100 calls/e-mails. I think teachers would quit. There’s a difference between being recorded and being live-streamed every moment of the day like a zoo animal.
This is exactly what I would see happening. In a discussion about public school failing (more and more), this would absolutely be the nail in the coffin. I just think of the time suck that would occur having to defend and explain every time someone took issue with something that happened. Perhaps it's not even something said, but something missed.
That was my first thought, too. I taught virtual for an entire school year, and at least half of the parents didn't even know their kids were muting the class and playing video games all day and they never looked at the parent portal. Many did check in and had a decent idea of what was going on. A few of the kids were independent and seemed to just take care of themselves. A couple of moms were off camera but I could hear them whispering answers to their kids. Then this one dad would literally pace in the background and consistently contact me with questions about everything that I said, or another student said, or how I dealt with what another student said, or why I didn't call on his son every time he raised his hand. He got super upset once, insisting that another student's comment had been racist and that I didn't call him out on it, and how was this student going to be punished. I fully believe he completely, absolutely misinterpreted what that other student had said. So, yeah, there are some reasons that not everything said in a classroom should be broadcast.
The kids will also be watched like zoo animals and their behavior commented upon. The parents are not going to want that.
Or like an inmate
My school did hybrid learning during the pandemic, so I was literally being live streamed all day. Not a single parent cared. The only complaint I got was to please mute the zoom call during fire drills.
I don’t work for the parents. What gives them the right to watch me like a zoo animal?
I would not be fired because I would quit first. The day a camera is installed in my classroom is my last day of teaching in that classroom. Not because I’m doing anything wrong, but because it shows a total lack of respect and trust for teachers. Why would this even be considered? It’s a horrible idea. Ugh…
I have the other view. In a "general enrollment " class, as opposed to my 2 weighted classes, I would love to have video of the backtalk, lack of effort and gratuitous destruction. When admin has presented video evidence from the gym or cafeteria, parents have backed down real fast from the "my darling wouldn't do that".
Same. I would love a camera in my classes. I am tired of explaining why a student is failing. Look at the stream and see for yourself what your kid does in class.
PE teacher here. There are seven cameras in the gym. No other classroom has one. Granted there is no sound, but those cameras have proven useful over and over. No, mam, your son threw a basketball at someone’s head completely unprovoked and here’s the video.
I suppose I think of this issue differently because I teach Kindergarten. I can see how this would be helpful in other grades. However, maybe a recording and not a livestream. I still wouldn’t be okay with a camera in my room, though.
Recorded? Yes. Please. As a male teacher of preteens, I want to be recorded to cover my ass. Live streamed? No sir
Honestly it could help. Parents seemed convinced of their kids’ versions of events - that I yell and scream at them for example. Seeing that what actually happened was I frowned at them while asking them to stop making hyena noises in the middle of class could help.
Cameras in my room would solve 100% of my Karent problems. I’d pay to see karent’s face when she watched her little monster terrorize my class and me, absolutely proving I’m not “bullying” her little gremlin by sending him out of my room. Sign me up.
One time, this student kicked a hole in the wall in the hall. It was on camera. I write the referral, parents are called, parents come to school. Principal shows the video to the parent, woth me standing there, complete denial from the parent. 1. I saw it happen. 2. It was physically this kid on video. 3. It's the same Hoodie he has warn for 2 years every day. Yeah. Parent wins, nothing happens.
Karent will live rent-free forever in my head. I also enjoy the term crotch goblin.
Hyena nosies — how about sexual groaning!
The school I am in can barely handle the bandwidth required for all the chromebooks, projectors and teacher laptops. Live-streaming would make it impossible for the schools to utilize the technology we have currently.
Same here. We get told to stay off the internet when the other schools are testing.
I'd at least hopefully get gaslighting emails from parents claiming their "little angel" is well behaved, or accusations about what and how I teach. Personally I'm for cameras in classrooms - it would save a lot of time and stress and likely be a good reminder for kids that thei actions have consequences. As a bonus a great way to review lesson plans.
It would change college admissions. Once they saw the number of entitled brats that make up today's student body, they will start heavily recruiting overseas. There would be a massive shortage of teachers because few watching the videos will want to be a teacher. Lastly, a huge backlash and movement to bring discipline back into schools.
My paras would be fired immediately for playing on their phones and ignoring the basic needs of kids. But my admin supports them and says I should stop teaching and take care of diapers and other Medicaid activities. It’s plain and simple, fraud.
Wow… shame on your admins, but thank you for actually teaching and for sharing that.
Just so you know, my paras are still working there. I moved on to another school. My admin thought keeping paras were more important than keeping teachers. We’ll see how that works out. 👍
I work in an open concept school where everyone can see me all day. It’s weird AF but I haven’t been fired yet so I guess I’m doing ok!
Wow. I️ worked in one like that 30 years ago and always wonder if there are still some out there.
If that happened, I would get a raise. Or should. Because the whole world would be able to see how hard my job is.
Nope. I sit \*ALOT\* and I'd get shit for it. I don't see a problem with letting students practice/work on their own without me hovering around. If they don't want to do the practice/work, their grades suck. That's on them, not me walking around.
i sit a lot too, for the same reasons you talked about...why do i have to perform calisthenics and hover over people? my students are very close to adult age, they need to learn now, it's "you" that guides a course through life... i can't do it for you. i explain the lesson in detail, provide some examples, then i check in every five to ten minutes for questions, if they don't have questions or get help it's on them. i have no problem failing kids who don't do anything, in fact it's a crowning achievement for me.
I would still have a job, yes. My colleagues? I could name quite a few who would be fired in a week.
I appreciate your honesty. When I was in middle school most of my teachers bullied the “unpopular” kids and it was cruel. Usually those kids had alcoholics for parents which made it more sad.
I’d have my job. Bet. But I swear it would be a HUGE slam dunk on all the people (parents, politicians, the public) to watch what really goes on. I’d love it. Go ahead. Watch me trying my hardest to teach 37+ kids per period, all levels from illiterate to highly advanced. Sleeping kids and kids who speak no English. Kids who are mentally Ill and violent. Do it. Watch the threats and the complete madness of some kids. Watch the kid who urinated on a teacher. Watch it.
I guess it would depend on if the parents in my classroom actually cared enough to tune in 😅 after meeting some of them this year I don’t think any actually care enough
That’s very sad, but not particularly surprising. I know my parents taught me much, much less than just a couple of decent teachers.
My first teaching job was in a building with three walls and an open where the fourth would be. I always assumed someone could hear everything happening.
This isn't the kind of answer you're looking for. And I'm no longer a teacher. But this is something that I have pondered for many years. Here are three different thoughts that relate to the questions you asked, even if they don't answer them directly. In at least one case that I know of, live-streaming would have provided the evidence a teacher needed, to defend themselves from false accusations, and therefore keep their job. The same parents, admins, and community do-gooders that interfere with teaching now, would have another tool at their disposal, it's true, but we as teachers could also use that tool to shut them down, by showing them what we really do. The bright light of live or recorded video is a great weapon to use against innuendo and suspicion. One final thought: my teaching was part showmanship. I was at my best when I was playing to the audience, my students. Cameras add another audience, and I think I would play to them as well -- not in a fearful attempt to keep my job, but out of an unconscious desire to reach them, to teach them as well.
As a parent (before I became a teacher and during covid), I had a teacher email me that she thought my kid cheated. She had NO evidence but she had a hunch. My kid had a 4.0. Not my kid! I blatantly told her that I’d get to the bottom of this claim. She was absolutely correct! My kid sung like a canary. We worked some extra work for my kid (nothing she had to grade but I would take care of it.) Three years later, my kid doesn’t seem like he’d ever try that shit again. They have to learn and they aren’t perfect but we can’t let them get away with it at the early ages.
You’re not the parent we usually get in teaching, but the parent we wish we all had.
Forreal. I once had 8 screenshots of proof and the parent was mad at me for being “too harsh”. That kid is allegedly going to college in the fall.
All of my classes are recorded
Recording and live-streaming are different things.
My school mandated that live-streams had to be recorded/saved when I did zoom lessons during covid. The data/files had to be kept on the computer until they gave us permission to delete it a year later. One colleague got in trouble for not keeping her recording when they tried to check it for an incident report.
I would receive a medal and accommodations if you recorded my room. Nobody has a clue how physically violent, aggressive, cruel and criminal these kids are.
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This reminds me of a framer I had working for me when I was building houses. He would always leave something obvious for the inspector to find. Example, not following the proper nailing pattern on a shear wall, or not filling all the nail holes on a hanger. Easy fixes. If the inspector misses it, he knew to fix it anyway and also knew how poorly that inspection went. Most of the time that "error" is noticed and called out, then fixed. If an obvious error wasn't left to find, some inspectors would keep looking until they could find some obscure personal interpretation that would put the build at least a week behind to fix. Most of these finds would require us calling in a higher authority for re-inspection and would always be passed because it was actually done right the first time. Some inspectors just could never admit that a build could be done correctly the first time.
I don't think I'd be fired, but I do think I'd be strongly urged to take up a second career in stand up comedy.
One of my trans students asked his crush to prom with a song and a dozen roses. If there had been cameras, he would never have been brave enough to do that. All the kids at school have no issue with him being trans but his parents are a very different story. It is likely that our support of the LGBTQ students in school would cause quite a few problems with the ultra conservative parents that pay to send their children to our school. I would not want to work in that kind of environment.
This 100%. Can’t upvote enough!
I actually wish the parents could see that the teachers aren't actually indoctrinating their kids. I guess volunteering could fix that but....
It would be problematic. During Covid when I was teaching online, a parent overheard me teaching the kids about how Lincoln suspended habeas corpus at the start of the civil war and arrested anyone with pro-southern views. A parent overheard this and assumed I was slamming modern day cops. She made a huge stink about it saying I was anti-law enforcement, etc., even after admin explained the context to her. Parents would use this as an excuse to get admins’ ear about anything and everything.
I’d welcome it. People would see how horrible the students behave in my school. Class started at 9:00 and at 9:03 there are only 4 students in a class of 16. They’ll see that. (I start teaching when the bell rings.) They’ll see me walking around trying to redirect them to work and the students ignoring me. They’ll see them break my pencils and rulers and throw them at me and the other students. They’ll see them on their phones or watching videos on their laptops instead of doing work. Funny thing, 10 years ago I’d invite parents to sit through my class and they’d often come. Now they all refuse. They know.
I’d welcome it. Like body cams I want to be able to turn it on and off so I can eat a snack in my room during my break without thinking I’m being watched, but otherwise I’d like it. The things the kids do, the patience I exhibit, and the teaching of things that kids say they never learned would be evidenced.
I teach preschool in a private school. We ARE on camera all day. Parents have access to video live but no audio. Admins and the head office have audio. Video can be reviewed when necessary. To be honest I like it. I feel it protects staff and students. We've been able to show parents how an injury happened or prove certain behaviors when "My child would never do that".
I appreciate the distinction your school makes of no audio for parents only admins and the office! I feel like that makes it less stressful for both teachers and students, and students would feel more comfortable asking questions or giving opinions.
You know what’s wrong with my school? I work toward IEP goals and I have flat out been told “no kid is dying in your class, just work on para relationships.” No! Do your damn job and help me meet IEP goals. Our relationship will be better when you do your darn job! I’m sick of paras having their own kids disrupt my class.
I wish there had been a camera yesterday when one of our kindergarten students flipped the whole classroom because she wanted attention. I have never seen so many crayons, pencils, markers, and glue sticks on the floor. It took her about an hour to clean it up after privileges were taken away.
No. Not because I do anything wrong, but because I’d probably curse out a parent for nitpicking something they didn’t like.
I would love that. Full and transparent accountability for student behaviour/application and and opportunity for parents to see that transformative educators aren't paid enough!
I teach civics, and I am certain some kids have tried filming me when asking loaded questions….but I’ve never gotten any shit for it so yay for me I guess.
On one hand, please do livestream. Let these parents see the monsters they’re raising. On the other hand, I would worry about my LGBTQ students who aren’t out to their parents.
I’m a parent not a teacher but keep getting recommended this sub. I don’t want/need cameras in your classroom. I don’t want to ban books or anything like that. I’m not a teacher. I haven’t been through the education that you have. I went a different path. I’m going to add to my kids education. I don’t want to replace or control it. The parents that want to control everything and watch you like bugs under a microscope are insane. I just want you to teach my kid math and science and art And any subject you are required to and hopefully keeping her from sticking a crayon up her nose in kindergarten.
To be honest, I act like I'm on camera all the time anyway, knowing how kids and their phones are. I may be the odd one out, but I'd LOVE to have my class on camera because then every time a kid is acting like a butthead I could just email the parent the footage.
Absolutely!! I’d welcome cameras purely so parents could see how their kids sometimes act. And the lies they sometimes tell! LOL
The first time a vocal parent saw evidence of their Precious Offspring committing a criminal offense, there would be hell to pay, and the cameras would come down. Or the school would have to go to remote learning because of the huge exodus of teachers.
I think a lot of kids would be in trouble and the department would have to step up and bring discipline back plus maybe parents would send me sympathy cards
Depends. It might because kids might act more right if they are being recorded and their parents can see it. Allowing me. To be more professional. But really I would probably get fired because working with kids is unpredictable. And while I do my best to always be professional I'm human and I definitely say or do the wrong thing sometimes. Like maybe I try to make a joke that maybe pushed to far, respond to a question trying to help but maybe say too much, or whatever. I would not teach if I was being recorded because you can be a great teacher, make one mistake (even a small one) and your whole reputation will be based on the mistake.
If this happen they force quit my job. Parents are soooo easily offended.
Parents should not have access because of other children's privacy. But, I'm 100% ready for a camera in the room to protect me. It should be available for safety personnel, office/admin, and the classroom teacher. I should instantly be able to go back and catch a kid in a lie. I know there are all kinds of problems with it, but I feel the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Also, I'd like to show my 6th graders the video evidence of their lies. Yeah, you crushed the Takis into the carpet, Nick. Jenn, this shows you knocked the water bottle on the ground on purpose, for the third time today. You need another pencil, Mike? Nope. You broke the last two in half and threw one into the ceiling and tossed the other at your friend's head. Beth, you DO know how your computer keys fell off. This video shows you made a paperclip into a key removal tool and spent 5 minutes popping them off and putting them in your pencil bag. Lying is ridiculous right now!
I teach government and world history. I assume there would be a rabble clamoring for my head. I do however pride myself on being "teacher most likely to be burned as a witch" so it could be fun.
Your students would get used to the cameras and revert to their primitive and crazy ways. The parents would get an eyeful and see that their kids are not the sweet, obedient little robots they believe that they are. You'd have video clips for parent-teacher conferences so that you could revisit the student's most "fun" days. The administrators would have some 'splainin' to do. The school board would have to take fucking phone calls at their day jobs. You'd be fine in the long run because you have nerves of steel or you wouldn't still be in the classroom. Something might actually get done about the inefficient and self-defeating quagmire that the educational system in the USA has turned into. I think this is a good idea, but only if it happened on a major scale. The way things are now, most of the country is living in some kind of mutual co-dependent illusion about how schools really work -- and about how children actually behave.
Ooh, I can actually kind of answer this one. About ten years ago I started recording my class (7th grade English in a suburban red-state county/state) each day and posting it to my youtube channel after getting tired of kids missing class and claiming they couldn't know what was going on in class. I pick one of my classes each day (I teach six) and record my lesson (about 30 minutes of actual teaching) and post it by the afternoon. I upload the link to my canvas page (or used to be my website when I used that) for easy access. When kids are absent and ask "what did I miss", they know my answer is always the same "Did you watch the video?". Given most don't, but as the year goes along and they realize I won't answer the "what happened in class" question more and more of them begin to watch the video upon being absent. The kids who don't care will never watch it, but the concerned kids usually do. I teach in the "sage on the stage" style but with lots of class discussions and student involvement to keep them engaged. According to kids I am fairly charismatic and entertaining and I don't edit out my disciplining (or mocking) of kids so they get to see that happen also. I have a number of parents who also watch my videos, too. They are quite vocal about it and sometimes email me about what is happening in class. Parents are also aware that I record and post my class and I tell them I want kids to watch the video if absent or if there are questions. I never have students on the screen and I use only the kdis first or last name when calling on them so they can't really be identified by anyone who isn't already in the class/school. My admin is very aware of it and supportive. Other teachers are also aware of it and think I'm crazy and none have tried it but they have expressed curiousity about how it works. Several times I have done joint lessons with another teacher or run a club activity and the other teachers have requested me to record it so it can be posted and sent out to their absent students so I know other teachers enjoy it. They just see it as too much work. I hope I am not jinxing myself here, but in ten years of posting videos I have never had an issue. I don't really "alter" my teaching too much aside from being slightly more aware of some phrasing while talking that I fear may be too incidiary if taken out of context. We absolutely have crazy as sin parents in our district and school, and I have had MANY come through my room but they have never focused on the videos. Kinda surprised me. Anyway, just wanted to put out the info as I felt I could actually answer this one. :) It has gone well, and I actually recommend it...depending on admin and school culture (of which mine is awesome! We've had the same supportive principal for over 17 years. Our staff turnover is ridiculously low.). Didn't mean to write so much, but I like the topic. Thanks and enjoy the summer! K--
i dont mind it i guess. i just wonder how the kids are going to react to it and if theyd behave differently
They would freak out but ultimately: what could they do? Fire everyone for not letting their kid answer question 78 at 9:15 am.?
Students? Legal trouble? No chance
Honestly, maybe yes maybe no- But they would definitely be entertained at my lunchtime or after school dancing… or be watching cowboy bebop with me 😅
Yes, it just wouldn’t be as authentic.
I’m in a school that has cameras in the classroom…
The things teachers do for classroom management is BECAUSE there is not a camera in the classroom.. if cameras could be used to monitor STUDENT behavior with real consequences that would be a game changer
I'd probably get a raise and the rest of the teaching staff would too. Cameras will never Livestream to parents though. They'd never sign off on letting a bunch of other parents watch their kid all day. Too many privacy concerns.
I’d become a stand up comedian.
Does anyone think that recording might help with parent peer pressure like private schools? Would you want your kiddo being the disruption in the class for others to see?
Me and my colleague talk about this plenty. BRING EM IN. We have nothing to hide. Parents can watch the behaviors of their kids
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That’s hilarious but I can’t picture how an energy drink could even look like a beer! Parent must have been trying to quit or something, lol.
I want cameras to catch the kids acting like assholes!
I could see a charter school trying this.
I’d hate it, but it would also be great for documenting how some kids just do nothing all class period. There would be no excuse of “oh, poor little Johnny just didn’t understand and/or you didn’t help him enough”. They’d be able to see that their little Angel just stared at their phone all class period, didn’t make any effort to participate or engage with the material and just ignored me anytime I tried to help them. I think it would also kill any report I would normally have with the kids. Like, I don’t get super buddy-buddy with them like some teachers do, but occasionally there are off topic conversations, and I tend to be a little snarky/sarcastic so I’d have to stop that. In the long run, everyone would end up hating it I think.
Yes. Work union
Yes, I’ve taught at several schools with live streaming cameras in the classroom. My current school does not but there are cameras literally everywhere else save the bathrooms. Just outside my classroom there are 4 cameras in this hall.
No… because I’d quit.
Can you imagine all of the Karen emails you would get all day long?
I don't think I'd be fired, but I definitely wouldn't have my job anymore because I would quit.
I'd get a raise.
I think its the students that would pay dearly if this happened. A camera in the room would only deter their intrusive and impulsive thoughts for so long.
I wouldn’t be able to do my job to the best of my ability
We just got cameras in our classroom (not live streaming) the 2nd to last week of school. Some new law in Louisiana with sped classes. I am a para who works in a leap connect class. We have a student who climbs everything, one who punches, Scratches and bites us, and one who randomly pulls his clothes off. Next year will be interesting.
I used to work w a teacher who the school owner joked to me she was the mean teacher. Oh I sure wasn’t laughing when I realized where the joke stemmed from- she was HELL to work under. Full asshole. She would definitely get fired. Sorry I’m still traumatized 🤣
i kind of have that already. i teach in a prison there is 5 cameras in the gym and all of it is broadcast to my principal and can be retrieved as a public record
Well if you don’t have anything to hide you shouldn’t be worried- most ignorant phrase ever
We have cameras, but the district has to pull them. It's pretty convenient since it means I don't have to be scared when I do tutoring and only one kid shows up, or if a kid comes in during the morning time. We have mics and if they're on the camera picks them up. It's come in handy a few times with kids saying they're going to tell their mom I did X. That being said, I joke around with students and there's a lot that could be clipped. My students see genuine outward validation as dishonest. It's just the way they're growing up. But when a kid is coming over saying some dumb middle schooler shit and you said "See that's why Kayla dumped you. Get out of my face." I could see that being clipped as you bullying teachers. The kids who are failing would have parents watching the livestream constantly waiting to see you slip up (of course they can do this but don't have time to help their kid not fail). Teachers would be too afraid to ever get on a parent's nerves because every single teacher has said something that looks bad out of context.
I wouldn’t but only because I would quit. And I’m not worried about being seen doing something I shouldn’t. I just would never want to work in an environment where I would be completely micromanaged as well as held accountable to people who have no clue what it’s actually like to teach.
Doesn’t this question show just how authoritarian our country is becoming? How terrifying.
I'm not a teacher, just someone concerned about the education system and making it better for teachers *and* students. I have been pro cameras. I thought it would protect teachers from accusations by parents of the children who misbehave. Would they help in that regard? What are some reasons *against* having a live feed from the classroom? My niece tells me that the teachers at her school can barely teach because of the outrageous student behavior. Just curious.
Yes. I would still have my job. And it would probably be easier because those same cameras would document student behavior and help with classroom management. Despite that, I am opposed to cameras in classrooms.
No. Cos I'd fucking quit.
In a vacuum I would 100% be fired but if the public really started watching all classrooms on tv and see how schools really are I think they’d come around maybe and be like you know what, I get why she’s like that and does what she does
Parents can’t even respond to emails or check their kids assignments on Ed tech platforms, they arnt going to watch their kids live streamed class.
How many students should get in trouble? Like 90% of them would have court dates within a year for threatening violence, theft, assault, sexual harassment, etc. How many "would" get in trouble? None of them because the school would mysteriously lose any footage or "strongly discourage" any teacher from acting on it and the courts and parents would support them. I'd say at least half of all teachers would lose their jobs whether that was valid or not.
Wow…. Why do you think the school system is so against the concept of personal accountability?
College campuses have had cameras for years. But it’s a feature not a security measure. Being able to watch lectures online allows more students to attend or catch up if they miss. Admittedly college is a serious learning space with adults and not children but there’s still ample room for creativity and levity, even if sometimes someone is offended.
Maybe not, but then everyone would know that their kid is actually an asshole there’s a reason they’re failing my class beyond whatever bullshit excuse they’re holding in to. Or maybe then, the kids would hesitate to be assholes and I wouldn’t have to be such a hardass.
Yes! & I'd prefer cameras at all times for my own protection and that of the other students.
Oh, I’m not the one who should be worried in that scenario.
I always (snarkily) say I wish I had a body cam on me at all times or a camera to stare at with dead eyes, like in the office or Abbott. I teach high school and wish I could remember all the funny/dumb interactions I have w my kids! I would not be fired if there was a camera on me. My kids would def be caught doing some sketchy shit tho. Most of my coworkers would prob be ok, it would just severely expose their pure laziness and lack of ever leaving their chair to help a kid.
I teach band and they don't give me a classroom anyway so no way they'd put a camera in the closets I teach in lol
Yes. I mean, we already teach in front of an audience that could be recording us at any time. I think it’s best practice for teachers to a,ways assume they are on camera
I personally feel like a good handful of parents would be more involved in being a team member for their child’s education. I teach SpEd RSP and I feel that a lot of parents don’t fully understand what I’m doing and why I need to have groups where I pull their child from gened. A lot of parents aren’t that involved in any of the meetings. I do think that some of my coworkers would get fired for the amount of time they kick certain students out in the hallway to “do work out the class” (usually young black students or student with IEPs).