I work at an eikaiwa & I was recently informed that the children’s lessons will be recorded via a surveillance camera soon and shown to the parents.
Could someone tell me if this is perfectly legal, has anyone else experienced this? I have no worries as I am a fine teacher and I have never had a difficult time with the kids. I just do feel somewhat uncomfortable with the idea of it.
10 comments
I don’t see why it would be illegal.
It’s fairly normal to have a demo lesson or a video lesson to show parents what is going on.
I think the key here is
a) are they recording in an open way where by the camera is put at the back of the class like a demo lesson
b) a security type camera thats hidden in the corner so its not obvious its there.
Both are legal if they have valid reason. The second in particular could be to protect the school from parents accusing you of doing something bad in class etc. or insurance.
My kids swimming school has a live feed of the class in the waiting area so that parents can see without being in class.
You might want to ask what are they doing with the footage, how long they will keep it for and who has access to it.
It’s perfectly legal to do. I personally would have qualms if it was a permanent thing rather than just a short term thing. I worked at an eikaiwa in Korea once where all lessons were recorded and displayed on a large TV by the entrance. Parents would regularly come in and watch the video footage and use it as a way to critique the teacher for not calling on their child enough, sitting a child too close to the window (will give the student a tan, you see), and other such things.
As long as it’s just a one time thing though, I think you’re grand.
A one off is fine. If its a permanent thing that wouldnt fly with me at all.
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There’s plenty of eikaiwa that have a classroom with a window that people outside the school can see into. 🤷♀️
What exactly bothers you? The surveillance or that parents can see?
It is really that uncommon for security cameras in the classroom? I know of at least three off the top of my head. I work for one of them now. Doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Any place with kids should have cameras imo.
If a shit head kid accused me of slapping them, and I didn’t, then having that video would save my ass
Pretty sure parents don’t have access tho. I don’t think that would last long. I can see karens complaining about the dumbest shit.
It’s legal but it sucks.
Always being watched sucks.
Only there to point out mistakes, minor ones at that.
I’m lucky at my current eikawa but my god do I hate the industry.
I asked because I wanted to know if it’s normal, now many have pointed out that it is so I’m not too worried tbh. I’m just a little anxious in general about having my picture taken or anything like that, so I was a little worried about video taping too. You’re coming off a little matter of fact & rude, and tbh it’s not that deep. I was just curious.
We are thinking of installing cameras in classrooms for liability/protecting staff from untrue accusations. We would keep the footage for a week or so unless something happened. Kind of like a drivecam.
Haven’t done it yet though.
Small uni I worked at had a video system. All classes were recorded and kept on file so that students could review a ‘lecture’. And yes, the system was based on the idea that learning was the teacher talking and writing on the board at the front of the classrooms. The cameras were positioned/pointed so that they barely got the students’ heads in the front row, but the full blackboard and whatever the teacher was doing there. There were wireless mics so the teacher’s voice came thru–and that was monitored: if you ‘forgot’ to use the mic or turn it on, someone would be around to remind you to use it.
It was sold PR-wise to parents and students as being an educational service, to ‘help’ students get everything they could out of the school.