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Having been a special education teacher for a few years before becoming a general education teacher I have mixed feelings about placing cameras in classrooms. On one hand it provides a record in case a student does get injured and it is not as a result of neglect on the teachers part, but on the other hand I feel that the cameras could also take the place of professional walk throughs and that teachers might have a sense of always being evaluated. I also feel that some campuses might take advantage of having cameras and find loopholes to begin placing them in gyms(which as considered classrooms), elective classrooms, libraries, any where that could be seen as a common area. Because the laws only pertain to cameras in self contained special education classrooms currently, that would be my selective audience but I do feel that this is an area that all teachers need to be aware of and watch for more legislation regarding this. Especially after the year with Covid where so much learning was taking place on a camera where parents could report any thing they didn't like. I chose this topic because the teacher organization I am apart of recently had to deal with an issue of cameras in classrooms which they were reporting was a common area. We had several meetings with the Superintendent and the principal of the school.

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The topic of cameras in classrooms is an important one especially following the trend of virtual learning. What is defined as a classroom? What is defined as a common area? If I happen to teach my class in a common area can the school legally place cameras there? While the cameras in the classrooms have helped with evidence against the neglect and mistreatment of severely disabled students that would normally not have a voice, I feel that at some point it could be used as a punitive measure for teachers who are doing their job, or as an evaluative tool which could make teachers feel threatened. An emerging area of cameras in classrooms is the definition of a classroom versus a common area. Schools have been allowed to place cameras in common areas for extra protection, common areas such as parking lots, hallways, cafeterias, but there has been no definition to when that common area becomes a classroom or when a classroom is a common area. My district recently placed cameras in school gyms, gym teachers felt this was an invasion as the gyms were their classrooms. The district argued that when schools held assemblies, or after school programs in those gyms that they became common areas and kept the cameras in place.

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An article found in NEAtoday, In 2014 a district in Tennessee purchased cameras but not for the purpose of installing in self contained classrooms. Their purpose was to record interactions in the classroom and then evaluate teachers on the ineffective teaching styles. The article goes onto mention that another district in New Jersey installed cameras with both video and audio capabilities and it was met with resistance from both staff and parents. The struggle is that the debate on placing cameras in classrooms has such passionate supporters on both sides of the fence. Some claim that having cameras helps students and staff to feel safe while others say that it makes them be less effective teachers feeling as though they are always being watched (Walker,2015).
https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/cameras-classroom-big-brother-evaluating-you

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An article in the New York post addresses the problems with cameras in classrooms. Parents are wanting to know what is being taught to their students and be able to have say and control over what and how it is taught. The problem with putting cameras in the classroom is with security, especially with teenagers who often speak and act first and don't always make the best decisions. Imagine the possible catastrophic effects if one of those poor decisions was to be copied and then placed on the internet and went viral. The effects for that student or group of students could be detrimental. And with hackers expertise being able to hack into cameras and then release video onto the web would violate a number of laws. It would not lead to safety and security within the classroom and would possibly have the opposite result (Rogers, 2021).
https://nypost.com/2021/07/09/the-last-thing-kids-need-is-cameras-in-their-classrooms/

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In an article in National Review another perspective is of the safety of the students that would be compromised with the placement of cameras in the classrooms. Allowing the videos to be seen by the public could release names, hobbies, and personal information for child predators or parents in protective custody or relying on court documents to keep their children safe would be for nothing. While teachers do need to be held to a higher standard in character, if a parent is concerned with what is being taught then there are other avenues to pursue that would keep children safe (Abel, 2021).
https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/07/cameras-in-classrooms-not-so-fast/

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The 4th amendment to the Constitution protects people from unreasonable searches and
seizures from the government. (U.S. Const. Amend. XIV) This has given many schools the
opportunity to allow cameras in hallways, auditoriums, cafeterias, parking lots and even
classrooms because there is no inherent right to privacy in those places.
*A search and seizure can only be conducted with proper suspicion
*For a search and seizure of one’s property there must be a warrant stating what they are
looking for and a specific location
*A camera can be used to get probable cause but can not be located in locker rooms or
bathrooms where an inherent right to privacy exists.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/fourth_amendment

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Senate Bill 507 from the 84th legislative session in 2015 created the Texas Education Code (TEC) §29.022 which requires video surveillance to promote the safety of students receiving special education services and those primarily in self contained classrooms.
*17-18 school year bill went into effect

*parents can request that a camera be placed into the classroom
*an educator does not need to get permission from parents before videotaping a student as long as it pertains to education
*the camera can not cover areas where students may be changing
*before a camera is placed in a special education classroom the parents will be notified in writing and if a parent does not approve of the cameras then the district will have 30 days to hold off on the installation of the cameras.
*cameras can only be used in rooms where a student in regular attendance spends at least 50% of their time.
*recordings can not be viewed by just anyone.
https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/education-code/educ-sect-29-022.html

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In Rideau v. Keller ISD was a lawsuit brought by a family against a school district for the
repeated injury to their severely disabled student. This lawsuit helped pave the way for what
would become known as Senate Bill 507 which requires the use of video surveillance in special
education classrooms.
*parents of a severely disabled student sued the district for abuse of their student
*other employees admitted that the teacher in the classroom has repeatedly dropped the 14 yr
old student when transferring him in and out of his wheelchair causing significant injuries
*the courts ruled in favor of the parents stating that the teacher had not followed the Americans
with Disabilities Act
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-5th-circuit/1731154.html

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According to the Texas Education Code "consent is required before an employee of the district can make a videotape of a child unless it is used for purposes of safety or purposes related to the promotion under Section 29.002 (TEA §26.009)
*employees can not videotape a student that is not in a special ed self contained classroom unless it is for the purpose of safety
*purposes of safety and security are exceptions to the rule
*they can not be placed in areas where the assumption of privacy exists.

https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/education-code/educ-sect-26-009.html

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Dallas ISD became the first school district in Texas to require the installation of video surveillance cameras to be placed in self contained classrooms where a student, who is in regular attendance, and that spends more than 50% of their school day(Code 29.022). The cameras must be placed so that the entire classroom is visible on camera and can also allow auditory recordings from the entire classroom. The only exception to this would be if there is a changing area where students are changing or using the bathroom.
https://www.dallasisd.org/site/default.aspx

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According to the National Educational Association under Principle 1: Commitment to Students #4 states "teachers shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning or to health and safety" (NEA, 2020).
If all teachers were to follow this code of ethics then all classrooms would be set up and managed in a way that would lead to a safe and productive learning environment and eliminate the need for cameras.
https://www.nea.org/resource-library/code-ethics-educators

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An article from Education Next is a great source for teachers as it highlights both sides of the cameras in classroom debate. Discussing things like more money to districts if they allow students to join classes via online, possibility of evaluating teachers through cameras, to a Post Covid world, this article discusses all sides (Petrili).
https://www.educationnext.org/post-covid-case-classroom-cameras-pandemic-ends-keep-teachers-cameras-on/

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While there are currently only laws allowing cameras into special education classrooms I believe it is only a matter of time, especially after Covid, before cameras in classrooms becomes a norm. Whether we agree with the idea or not there are some things that teachers can do to better prepare themselves and protect themselves, as seen with police body cams.
1. Put distance between you and an upset student
2. Be mindful of class setup and camera angles
3. Follow district or school scope and sequence
4. When calling out behavior, use student name(be as specific as possible)
5. Be engaged and actively monitoring at all times
6. Be professional at all time and situations (what and how you say things, dress/appearance)
7. Be consistent
8. Join.a teacher organization that provides legal advice and representation
9. Know your rights (educate yourself)
10. Build relationships with parents, students, faculty and admin.