Question:
Recent cell phone videos, taken secretly inside classrooms, reveal abuses and shameful actions by both teachers and students as they appear on video sharing sites. Do you believe such videos should be shown on the web?
Replies:
Ange Kenos - Melbourne, Victoria, Aust
In my state, this has become a very very serious matter with cases where girls have been assaulted and it all taped via mobile phone and then sent off, downloaded to DVD and sold... This is a heinous crime and we, as teachers, must not allow phones to be used in the class room at all and controlled within the school yard.
anonymous - youngstown, OH
NO
Dr Mike Currier - Ft Worth, TX
I had an administrator who once said: "Speak in your class in such a way that you would be willing to have everything you said broadcast over the school's PA system all day long."
I still appreciate this wise advice; only the technology has changed.
oh
No, I think that they do, however, need to be taken seriously... as a teacher, I have nothing to hide. I would feel comfortable with anyone seeing what I'm doing in my classroom any day of the week. However, it is apparent that other (can we even call them) professionals are acting in outrageous and shameful ways- which needs to be addressed. I personally would like video to show parents how disruptive their children are in class- but, I don't feel that these videos should be able to be posted on-line on sites like Youtube and such.
Russ Knopp - Waitsburg, WA
The following criteria should be used to determine whether videos or and medium should be published on the web: 1. Is the topic/subject appropriate for any age person to see/hear? 2. Has the person who is the subject of the video granted permission for the video to be published? 3. Does the video display the person in anything less than a respectful light? If any or all of the questions are correctly answered with a "no", the video/other should not be published.
Alexius Gandyloyd - St. Louis, MO
Two terms standout the most to me in this week's question: 1)'believe' and 2)'should'. The passion and vigor of youth towards technology (specifically phone functions, and there are many) should be matched with growth in their Mathematics, Science, Art, Physical Education, Personal Finance, Driver's Education and other courses in a students' academic career. The moment students are placed in a position where they design their curriculum or determine WHAT they learn or HOW to learn, cell phone videos, picture-taking, phone-call making, and other functions become their priority-not instruction. The moment a teacher becomes more egoic/focus-less, the more distant from establish policies and procedures they become. In short, if students are prepared to involve their parents in what can turn out to be lengthy and costly legal proceedings. And, if teachers blatantly disregard their districts rules regarding the taping of minors or students (which exposes them to disciplinary action), then Yes - Show On! But, the proceedures for administration, staff and teachers (in a public school capacity)involve expressed written authorization, for students to be shown in advertisements, shows and such.
Everyone being held to the same standard, would be most consistant with a more accurate solution. Whether what students or teachers publish is shameful or not can be arguable-but,publishing anyone without permission makes you vulnerable to legal action. So, the choice is clear.
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