Is it good or bad when hidden cameras are installed in each classroom?
By williamjisir
@williamjisir (22819)
China
October 3, 2012 11:05am CST
Last summer(2011), hidden cameras started to be installed on some main entrances and exits on campus. But this summer vacation (2012-08-till 09), a lot more hidden cameras have been built in our teaching buildings, on each floor, including classrooms, stairs, corridors and so on, except that they are not installed in the offices and toilets.
Personally, I am not quite in favor of it when hidden cameras are installed in each classroom. I don't feel good about it, but when it is installed outside the classroom, it is ok.
I am wondering what is your say about installing hidden cameras in the classrooms. Your ideas are welcome. Thank you very much for your response in advance.
8 people like this
15 responses
@subhojit10 (7375)
• India
3 Oct 12
Hey thanks a ton for this wonderful discussion. Well as far as hidden cameras are concerned, i do not find any big deal if they are attached inside the classrooms even though that would mean infringement of the privacy. This is because in many schools and colleges the crime rate has increased and they need to be strictly checked. Why should the students fear the presence of the cameras if they are not doing anything wrong. In fact the cameras should be fixed in such a way that their presence is unknown to everyone so that the activities can be monitored properly.
What say?
1 person likes this
@popinjo (1)
• United States
4 Oct 12
I think the issue with cameras is that ultimately like many other things how is information being gathered on a person being used. Individual rights need to be strongly protected because ultimately "for the greater good" can end up not very good for personal liberty. So I came up with a few counter questions for you and in these questions I use the term "collection" in reference to the act of gathering information be it in any form.
1. Why is it correct for an institution to passively collect information while infringing a persons liberties?
2. What do collectors do with the information?
3. Are state/federal agencies allowed to use this information and under what context?
4. Is information gathered at this campus legally binding and considered reliable?
5. What qualifications gave the institution the right to collect information?
6. When is it acceptable for a person not to consent to being collected on?
And following thinking about collection for a while I have some follow up thoughts on this issue.
Ultimately I think that giving away personal liberties for safety or any other reason results in the loss of responsibility and freedom in individual while giving greater responsibility and freedom to the state. Being that the state can not ever be completely responsible for every person the system must operate solely on the presumption of a lie. The enemy then becomes the individual and information.
My apologies if any of my statements were unclear.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
4 Oct 12
Hello subhojit and popinjo. I appreciate your views on this discussion and it makes me see more of the aspects of having hidden cameras. Have a great day ahead.
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
10 Oct 12
It is partly for this kind of purpose of having cameras installed in class. Thanks, akagami.
@Buchi_bulla (8298)
• India
6 Oct 12
Now-a-days crimes have increased in class rooms too. Students killing teachers, other fellow students etc. are happening now and then, may be to collect information these hidden cameras are installed. But I feel the teacher and the students will feel self-conscious and it may affect their natural behavior. I personally do not like that.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
12 Nov 12
Hello Buchi_bulla. I appreciate your response to this and I totally agree with you that it can be very helpful in some ways though it affects their natural behaviour. Have a good day, friend.
@maygodblessu44 (7336)
• India
4 Oct 12
Hello my friend williamjisir Ji,
Well, I think they must be to keep an eye on activities of both Teaching staff and as well as of learning students, in case of mis-use of time in any form. Also, when our ancient Gurukul system has vanished and we have modernised many things, why such utility should not be given inside the class room. I am happy to know about this.
May God bless You and have a great time 
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
10 Nov 12
It is for both purposes when they are installed everywhere on campus. Now I am used to those cameras in and outside the classrooms. One of the benefits of the cameras is that if something is stolen or if someone has done something wrong, it can be easily found out with the help of the cameras. Last month, one of the boy students switched off the power on the wall close to the stairs that I lost everything typed in the computer when I was still typing, I did not save what was typed and it was very annoying. Later I went to the camera center to have the teacher in charge help figure out who did this, then we found it was a boy student who did it. When he was asked about this, he did not admit until he was shown about the pictures in the camera. So it is a good thing to have cameras installed everywhere on campus. Thanks for the response. Be blessed.
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
4 Oct 12
Dear Williams
I taught in colleges for over three decades, retired in 2006 only, in 2004 i introduced uniform for male as well female students, it was opposed by many initially, bur appreciated later
I also got fitted CCTV cameras in class rooms, but NOT HIDDEN, the students knew it was there; it was helpful for us in many ways..
Professor ‘@Bhuwan@’. .
I taught in colleges for over three decades, retired in 2006 only, in 2004 i introduced uniform for male as well female students, it was opposed by many initially, bur appreciated later
I also got fitted CCTV cameras in class rooms, but NOT HIDDEN, the students knew it was there; it was helpful for us in many ways..
Professor ‘@Bhuwan@’. .1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
13 Oct 12
Hello Professor. Thank you so much for sharing a similar case with me. The cameras installed in all classrooms are opposed by many of us teachers, but we are getting used to them and have to as well. lol. Take care, Professor.
@bloodmask (590)
• India
4 Oct 12
I think that it is a good Idea in that way some teachers won't be harsh with students and they will behave like good teachers and start teaching their students well. I appriciate this move and this will be good for students for their future.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
11 Oct 12
It does help make both the students and the teachers be better students and teachers with this move. Thanks, bloodmask.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
4 Oct 12
Hello William. There have been some awful things happening in the class room these days. For instance one teacher encouraged some boys to pick and bully another boy he suggested they put a chair on him and jump on it. Some teachers have bullied special need students too. If it hadn't been for kids having cell phones no one might not believe that this is happening. n the other hand students have been known to bully and attack the teachers. One 6 year old has attacked his gym teacher and broke the teacher's ankle and messed up his knee for example. Now who would believe that a 6 year old could do that? There are teachers that have taken advantage of students. The students and teachers will behave as they will even with cameras. but with the cameras at least they can't deny what they have been caught at the bad behavior. Too many students and teachers have been caught cheating and the cameras can possibly put a stop to that.
Now some one has said that the cameras would be an infringement or invasion of the privacy. The schools are public property and are not private rooms
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
11 Oct 12
It is well said that the schools are public property rather than private room. Anything can happen in it. So it is a good idea to have a camera in the classroom. Thanks for the response, deebomb.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
3 Oct 12
If the teachers or students know about it it could cause disruption / distraction. The students may be better behaved and the teachers as well, but then they'd be too worried about the cameras and what they may catch. In cases of teachers abusing their powers and exhibiting conduct unbecoming of their positions, it's good to have the cameras as proof, but otherwise it's an invasion of privacy.
I say that it could cause more people not to enroll in that school and opt for another one.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
5 Oct 12
Every coin has two sides. You have well analysed it. Thanks so much for the response, SomeCowgirl. Have a good day.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
4 Oct 12
sounds like a great idea. unless you are a bully or hideing something. it would be a great protection to students. then if a student or teacher is the one doing wrong to you you have absolute proof of ABUSE. wish they had them in my day.@williamjisir (22819)
• China
4 Oct 12
It is really good when abuse happens and it can be used to offer absolute proof. Thanks for the response, bunnybon. Have a great day.
@ptrikha_2 (45544)
• India
12 Nov 12
I think hidden cameras are good for safety. However, "where" one is installing them is a very important point. One needs to be careful and I too feel a camera inside classroom is not such a good thing, and one can feel uncomfortable about it. Maybe, they need to rethink about it.
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
4 Oct 12
William, installing the hidden cameras are not cheap in term of cost. In the first place, it must be to check on the behavior of the students who are attending the class. Maybe recently there is a dropped in their academic results. The management must be wanted to make sure that all the students who attended the class is for studying purposes not for other purposes. Even some of the kindy schools in my area here, had been installed with hidden cameras. It is for security purposes.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
8 Oct 12
Hello myfb. It is one of the purposes to have the students study more carefully in class, but quite a few of them still do what they do unrelated to their study in class. This kind of students do not seem to care... Have a good day, friend.
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
3 Oct 12
williamjisir
Camera installed in class room are not hidden cameras. They are required in engineering colleges to check he behavior of the students. Some students misbehave in the classes in spite of the fact cameras are fixed.
such cameras in ATM, banks, hospitals are useful to check the culprits.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
7 Oct 12
Thank you for the correction, ravisivan. I appreciate it and it is so true indeed that cameras in ATM, banks, hospitals are useful to check the culprits. Have a good day.
@riyauro (6421)
• India
3 Oct 12
Though i am not in school now but I would like the idea very much. There are lots of things going on nowadays and it is better to have hidden cameras. at least teachers will have a record of all happening in the class and also who enters and exists the premises. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day ahead.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
4 Oct 12
You are right to say so and I agree with it, riyauro. Take care, riyauro.
@arnabroy16 (438)
• Howrah, India
3 Oct 12
It's good for the teachers and bad for the students...
1 person likes this
@youless (112123)
• Guangzhou, China
10 Nov 12
It is hard to say, you know. On one hand, this is good since the parents can see whether their children are abused. Especially there are more abusing news about children in the kindergarten and school lately. On the other hand, it will give the teachers a high pressure. It is not fair for the good teachers. But I think it will be a trend since people lose the trust to each other. So we have to adjust to it.
