Security Camera in the Hall

[disney junky]

I teach high school. On Tuesday, a new security camera was installed at the end of the hall. They are all over the place, but I also know that these are able to be remote accessed from home by certain teachers and administrators. However, yesterday one of my students whose father was until recently on the school board told me that school board members also can access these remotely. That, I thought, was odd. We've never been advised as to the purpose of these.

How would you feel?

 

[Aliceacc]

Honestly, I teach with my door open. Any administrator who passes by is welcome to stop in (or stop in the hall) and listen in on what's going on in my classroom.

And if they're in the hallway, not pointed at your room, I don't think it's about you. I think it's a way of keeping order in the hallways-- or at least determinig after the fact what went on.

Also, I'm not sure I believe everything my kids tell me

 

[sam_gordon]

I teach high school. On Tuesday, a new security camera was installed at the end of the hall. They are all over the place, but I also know that these are able to be remote accessed from home by certain teachers and administrators. However, yesterday one of my students whose father was until recently on the school board told me that school board members also can access these remotely. That, I thought, was odd. We've never been advised as to the purpose of these.

How would you feel?

Sorry, don't see the problem. I don't understand what you're concerned about. Are you doing things in the school's hallway you don't want other teachers, administrators, or board members to know about?

 

[emer95]

It sounds a little odd to be able to watch it from home (I've never heard that one before!). We have had cameras in our hallways for about 2 years now. I forget they're there, but occasionally they come in handy. I had one of my girls steal something from a locker. She flat out denied it, even though she crossed out the girl's name that it belonged to, and wrote her OWN name on it in Sharpie marker- LOL. She was a master at lying, said she had been framed, accused another child, etc. The principal and I almost believed her, until the principal said, "Oh wait! We'll just review the tape from the camera in the hall! Then we'll know for sure what happened." Well!! That sure changed her story fast.

I have used that again, with other kids who accuse kids of things and I'm not sure if they're being completely honest. As soon as I say I'm going to look at the camera, they start being very honest.

 

[Pixiedust34]

It sounds a little odd to be able to watch it from home (I've never heard that one before!). We have had cameras in our hallways for about 2 years now. I forget they're there, but occasionally they come in handy. I had one of my girls steal something from a locker. She flat out denied it, even though she crossed out the girl's name that it belonged to, and wrote her OWN name on it in Sharpie marker- LOL. She was a master at lying, said she had been framed, accused another child, etc. The principal and I almost believed her, until the principal said, "Oh wait! We'll just review the tape from the camera in the hall! Then we'll know for sure what happened." Well!! That sure changed her story fast.

I have used that again, with other kids who accuse kids of things and I'm not sure if they're being completely honest. As soon as I say I'm going to look at the camera, they start being very honest.

Yes--the security cameras at the school where my dh teaches have been able to determine whether or not a student has stolen something, vandalized something, etc. The cameras come in handy for these circumstances.

AFAIK, only the SRO and school administrators can access the camera.

 

[disney junky]

Sorry, don't see the problem. I don't understand what you're concerned about. Are you doing things in the school's hallway you don't want other teachers, administrators, or board members to know about?

Not sure why you would even pose this question. Of course I'm not doing anything in the hall, in school, at home, or on vacation that I wouldn't mind anyone knowing about. However, I know the personalities of individuals who have access to these cameras. It's not about being caught doing something wrong as much as it's about people having power and abusing it.

 

[Piper]

I don't understand why you don't want cameras. I retired from teaching and also had an open door policy. I also had the district office install cameras in my room to video tape lessons that were used at district training sessions. And one year I was in a classroom that had a two-way mirror. It is a little weird at first knowing everything that you say and do may be "viewed," but I was happy that the "powers that be" thought enough of my teaching to want to share with others.

 

[Art 1]

I teach high school. On Tuesday, a new security camera was installed at the end of the hall. They are all over the place, but I also know that these are able to be remote accessed from home by certain teachers and administrators. However, yesterday one of my students whose father was until recently on the school board told me that school board members also can access these remotely. That, I thought, was odd. We've never been advised as to the purpose of these.

How would you feel?

The cameras are a wonderful idea. I would feel very good about having them.

 

[sam_gordon]

Not sure why you would even pose this question. Of course I'm not doing anything in the hall, in school, at home, or on vacation that I wouldn't mind anyone knowing about. However, I know the personalities of individuals who have access to these cameras. It's not about being caught doing something wrong as much as it's about people having power and abusing it.

OK, how would they abuse it? What's the worst thing you can imagine someone seeing (whether from home or in their office)? I just don't get the concern.

 

[luvmy3]

Not sure why you would even pose this question. Of course I'm not doing anything in the hall, in school, at home, or on vacation that I wouldn't mind anyone knowing about. However, I know the personalities of individuals who have access to these cameras. It's not about being caught doing something wrong as much as it's about people having power and abusing it.

Abusing it in what way?
I'm with the pp who doesn't understand your concern, its not like these cameras are in the bathrooms and locker rooms, they are in the public area of the school. What is the difference between someone watching remotely and someone actually standing in the hallway keeping an eye on things

 

[Claudia1]

I agree that remote access is an issue. Not only a privacy issue (images of students shared in an unsecured manner) but just a general issue of wondering who else has access to these images and why.

It's not about having cameras, its about responsibility of the images being used appropriately.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Um, I don't want the general public watching the students in my high school in the hallway,. Administrators, sure. But any random person? No.

Edit: Never mid, I read the OP wrong. I thought someone said ANYONE can get to it.

 

[happygirl]

I think it a great idea. I can't see how it would be bad idea

 

[englishteacha]

I would feel weird knowing that a school board member could sit at home and watch our hallways. Not that we're doing anything we shouldn't, but it feels very 1984/Big Brother to me. We have cameras recording what goes on in our building, and they're very useful when incidents occur. But it's kind of creepy to think of a school board member at home, just watchin' the middle school hallway.

 

[Claudia1]

I would also wonder who else might be in visual range of the computer screen. A Board Member may be cleared and approved but viewing outside of a secure area would be an issue for me. With today's technology, we can view almost anything in a public setting with our cell phones, public WiFi, etc...

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Jennasis]

Accessing the cameras remotely doesn't necessarily mean "from home". The board members and administrators would need to have the software uploaded into their home computers or laptops in order to access the cameras wouldn't they? Perhaps you could address that at the next school board meeting? There really isn't a reason for them to need to watch the hallways at home. From the office, sure.

And I have no problem with the admin or board members having access.

 

[Allison]

I would get additional verification before I went by what the kid said.

 

[Coconut36]

Not sure why you would even pose this question. Of course I'm not doing anything in the hall, in school, at home, or on vacation that I wouldn't mind anyone knowing about. However, I know the personalities of individuals who have access to these cameras. It's not about being caught doing something wrong as much as it's about people having power and abusing it.

Huh? How could they "abuse it"? At the very worst they are on there a lot looking at the comings/goings of the hallway. I fail to see a concern or issue. You are talking about a hallway and access granted to staff/admin/board members only.

 

[Northstar]

OK, how would they abuse it? What's the worst thing you can imagine someone seeing (whether from home or in their office)? I just don't get the concern.

I do. It's like a webcam. School board members could have the feed running in their offices, on their computers, idly... just because they can. It feels like TV. They don't know the students, aren't watching for anything in particular, they just watch. Some of them could get pretty voyeuristic about it.

People come into their offices. Those people have no connection to the school or the students. It feels even more like TV. They comment on the looks and clothing of the people they see on the cam.

Derogatory remarks about students may be passed.
Screenshots of students can be uploaded to Internet, with derogatory comments.

It's one thing to know that there are security cameras that security or office personnel can watch. That's a limited number of people and they know what their responsibilities are.

But when you start giving access to the feed to a whole bunch of people, it's creepy. Stalkers could be watching. Voyeurs could be watching. People who want to know about the school's layout and security systems, so they can come in and shoot up the place, could be watching.

The hall's public space within the school community and kids should behave accordingly in it. But they have a right to expect that the hall is not public like a street, where you never know who's watching you. The feed from a security camera should stay within the school. At a minimum, the school board members should have to sign a statement of confidentiality saying they'll be responsible for making sure outsiders don't see it without a reason.

 

[Hannathy]

Wouldn't bother me a bit.

No one should be doing anything in a hallway in a place with thousands of people that they would care who sees it.

If the people who have access to it are so un trustworthy then the school and town have more problems than cameras in the hall since they elected these folks.