CCTV

[dylansaunty]

Now I admit, my DD is 6 and may have got the wrong end of the stick, but anyway....
she has said something that leads me to believe there is CCTV in her classroom.
She is in year 2 of an infant school.

Before I go into school and make a fool of myself, can anyone tell me, is this usual? is it acceptable? I feel quite upset about it, but I cant actually put my finger on why I feel like this.

your views would be appreciated. thanks

[MamaG]

what did she say?

[dylansaunty]

something of the teachers has gone missing, a toy car. DD said that the teacher is planning to ask all the parents next week at parents evening if they have seen it at home.

Then she said "miss J has already looked on the camera in the corner and cant see where it has gone"

[MamaG]

Well I don'tthink a teacher wuo ld view CCTV videos for a toy car!

i think she's got the wrong end of the stick. they often do at that age don't they?!

If you still feel anxious, just quietly mention in to teacher

[starstudent]

As a Head Teacher I've heard of this many times: this is probably a strategy used by the teacher to encourage the child who took the toy to own up. If the child thinks there's a CCTV camera in the classroom they will probably either panic that they've been seen and own up or they won't be tempted to take anything again because they think there's a CCTV in place!
So the CCTV most probably does not exist.

[Goblinchild]

We have a couple of CCTV cameras in the corridors of our primary school, not in rooms, but all parents were informed and governors involved at the time of their installation.
Sounds like a ploy to make the possible thief uncomfortable. Bit heavy-handed for Y2, little toys often go for a 'visit' home and then come back if the problem is discussed gently.

[SeaTrek]

Almost certainly would have said there is CCTV so that the culprit could own up first. When they failed to so the teacher then made that up [not being able to see it]. Now the children think there really is CCTV.

HIGHLY unlikely to actually be there!

[primarymum]

A quick internet search will show that there ARE some primary schools with CCTV cameras fitted into classrooms. I would check first, yours might be one of them!

[claig]

just did a search as primarymum suggested
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1111826/Caught-classroom-spy-camera--primary-school-pupil-hid-girls -shoes.html

[BigBadMummy]

There are CCTV cameras at my DC's school and I am on the verge of making a formal complaint.

THere have to be clear signs up declaring the presence of CCTV cameras and explaining why they are there. ie either public safety, or crime prevention. It also has to say who is in charge of the footage.

There are no signs at my DC's school.

I am just gathering all my bits together to quote and then I am going to hit them with it.

I think it is shocking and can see no reason why a school needs CCTV cameras IN the the classroom.

My DC's have them in the locker rooms and in various corridors, but not in classrooms from what I can gather.

Even if your DC has got the wrong end of the stick, I still think it is worth the question. In theory if they have got cameras you should be well aware of it and not having to ask. It should be obvious from signage.

[Goblinchild]

Do you remember this case from last year?
www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/mar/25/alex-dolan-guilty-dispatches

I hope I retire before there's a spy in every classroom, but with the constant drive for accountability and blame, I can see this being the future. Like nannycams, only at a national level.

[gorionine]

I predict they will find the toy car, end of July, {concentration emoticon] under a cupboard...

I think it might be a strategy from the teacher too but it is a bit silly to go to that length for a toy car that might have been stolen but was probably just misplaced.

I reallly would not like cameras in the classroom (I am not a teacher)our society is really Big Brother enough as it is.

[claig]

You have to feel sorry for the teachers, they are also being monitored
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1159183/Schools-Big-Brother-CCTV-cameras-classrooms-monitor-teacher s-performance.html

but there are also more frightening cases
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-517250/School-removes-CCTV-cameras-childrens-toilets-furious-protes t-parents.html

[dylansaunty]

thanks everyone,

I was just concerned, cos my DD does not know about CCTV (the subject has just never come up) so wouldn't have made it up.

I realise now it was probably just the teacher trying to get someone to own up. That sounds much more likely than them actually having them in an infant school.

[strawberrykate]

I think every school uses this tactic at some point! I havr many a time asked if should 'check the camera' to resolve an argument, the truth comes out pretty quickly and it's far more stress free for all involved.