Question for parents AND teachers re: using photos on a school website...

[Miller1412]

*Inspired by the teacher website thread*

How do you feel about posting photos of students on a classroom website? Obviously, names wouldn't be posted, but what do you think about posting photos with no names?

I am a teacher starting a website this year and I'm not sure I'm comfortable posting photos of our classroom on the internet. I'd love to do it for the sake of the families, because it would be an easy way to share, but I wouldn't want to be unsafe and I don't think I would do it.

What are your thoughts? Teachers, do you post photos? Parents, would you allow it or want your child's photo on a school site?

Just wondering...Thanks!!

 

[java]

If it is a PRIVATE password only site, I would be ok with it. But I believe you would need to get a parents signature first. Our teacher last year tried to do it but she only got a few people willing to put their children's pictures up. It was an unsecure site. I believe a permission slip is in order.

 

[MushyMushy]

At my kids' schools we have a form we fill out every year that photos can be taken and used for various things. The local newspaper comes into the school quite a bit, and also the teachers just do different things in taking pics of the kids.

Do you already get permission like that?

 

[skuttle]

I agree...you need to first get permission from each parent for each child. After that, I wouldn't have a problem with it. There are crazy people everywhere, IMO. Not just on the internet.

 

[Miller1412]

At my kids' schools we have a form we fill out every year that photos can be taken and used for various things. The local newspaper comes into the school quite a bit, and also the teachers just do different things in taking pics of the kids.

Do you already get permission like that?

My principal is a stickler for getting parental consent before photos are taken. I do have parents fill out a permission form for taking photos of the kids, and in the past I have used shutterfly to share the photos with parents, but I have not posted photos online before.

The site that I made is not password protected...the network that I used to build it did not provide that as an option. (Teacherweb.com)

 

[Miller1412]

Wait, I just saw that I CAN password protect the photo galleries. , Now I feel better about it.

I'd still like your thoughts though!!

 

[Kteacher]

We have an internet consent form as well as a photo consent form. The internet consent form asks for parent's permission for a child to use the internet as well as have their name and/or photo appear on a school website. Do you have an open house or information night at the beginning of the school year? If this is a new venture for you or your school you could introduce the idea then and see what kind of feedback you get before you proceed.

 

[Sir Ron]

I would go with parental consent for sure. The idea of a password protected site is a good idea too. Kids put way too much info on the internet anyway but I agree that you are doing the right thing.

 

[belle&beast]

Wait, I just saw that I CAN password protect the photo galleries. , Now I feel better about it.

I'd still like your thoughts though!!

I would use that option. As a parent that does not post pictures on the internet, I would be ok with a password protected site for the parents in the classroom.

Also be sure that you have parental permission to photograph and/or video tape every student in your classroom. I am a speech pathologist in a preschool and we do a lot of videotaping for workshops and self monitoring. There are always a few children we cannot tape or photograph for various reasons, but most commonly they are in foster care or in a custody battle.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Your school district has policy rules that you MUST follow.

So find out what you are allowed legally to do in your school.

 

[pooksma]

I have a Wiki space set up for my class. Will not post any pics just to avoid any hassle. Our district policy is that faces cannot be shown without parental permission. One teacher had done a mask making activity with her class and the kids all covered their faces with their masks.

I just don't feel comfortable doing it. JMHO

 

[Tikicampers]

I send pictures out through my email newsletter. If the site is password protected, I would think that would be ok too. There are just too many sickos out there with internet access. I think the chance of one stumbling across my page are small, but the chance is still there.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I just signed the media consent forms for my girls for the upcoming year. the district mails them out to every student in the summer along with back to school info, volunteer request forms and other announcements.

release to publish photos of student both in print media and on the net

release to publish artwork and identify artist by first name last initial

 

[Daxx]

Teacher here. Parents are given an Image Release/Consent form that they can sign off on (or choose not to sign off on). The form, once signed, gives the school the right to use student photos on the school website, in print or video. That means that if a camera crew comes to our school to film some activity we're doing (ie: charity drive), any students whose parents did not sign the release are placed in the library while the camera crews are there. Likewise, if they appear in a photo w/other students, that photo cannot be used in any way, shape or form. Our school is v. careful about protecting the children. On the website, we don't list any student names w/the photos -- just generic titles like "Kindergartners at work". However, if a few students are in a photo that appears in the newspaper, their names will be listed. If it's a large group of kids, the caption would be "8th graders from XYZ School".

 

[The Mystery Machine]

For example...when I lived in Missouri, they allowed nothing. They still don't. There NO PHOTOS allowed, period. I keep checking my kid's old school to see if they came into the 21st Century on the Web and nope.

Moved to Texas and man.... Kids are on the web, in newspapers, newletters, EVERYWHERE with names, dates, and places.

We do sign consent forms at the beginning of school.

 

[solferino]

At my kids' schools we have a form we fill out every year that photos can be taken and used for various things. The local newspaper comes into the school quite a bit, and also the teachers just do different things in taking pics of the kids.

Do you already get permission like that?

Our school has the form as well, and the students whose parents don't want them publicized are posted in the office where all staff members can see. (I'm on staff so I know this) AFAIK there are only 2 kids who are on the list.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I just went and looked up my old school in Missouri. They have updated the webpage....finally!!!!!
It was terrible.

However they have the internet policy which states clearly that absolutely NO PHOTOS ARE ALLOWED for children and staff.

So make sure you read your guidelines first.