School as Control

Posted on | August 6, 2009 | 28 Comments

…the great mistake we educationists make is to suppose that schools are about education. It is not so, schools are about control.

So wrote RF Mackenzie in his book The Unbowed Head.

Recent reports of schools installing CCTV cameras in classrooms demonstrate the truth of Mackenzie’s judgement. Any headteacher who approves the installation of cameras for so-called ’security’ reasons (whether or not they try to pretend they are there to be used for staff training purposes – one or two cheap USB cameras attached to a computer, when needed, would suffice for that) relinquish, in my opinion, all right to have their school seen as primarily a place of learning.

Technorati Tags: rf mackenzie, control, school, cctv

Category: ethics, learning, safety, schooling, security, trust

Comments

28 Responses to “School as Control”

David Phillips
August 6th, 2009 @ 12:18 pm

So use the cameras for the right reasons. I am having them put in my classroom by my own choice so I can steam all my lessons live on the net.

I also find your comment above to be really rather naive. If you work in a tough school with kids who are hard to control then as a head you have a responsibility to maintain your equipment and your budget. If cameras enable you to do so then I would install them. The idea that you therefore give up the right to call your institution a “place of learning” is simply unfounded.
John Connell
August 6th, 2009 @ 2:16 pm

Having taught for 16 years out of the 27 I was involved in formal education, and not all in ‘easy’ schools by any means, I’m happy to have my ‘naivety’ tested against anyone out there.

You seem to contradict yourself – either you are using them ‘for the right reasons’ ie streaming your lessons, or you’re using them as a means of control. Is it one or the other, or is it both, and are they both ‘right’ reasons? And you do not need an expensive CCTV installation to stream or record lessons.

CCTV in schools grounds, possibly even in corridors, is one thing – CCTV in the classroom becomes an issue of trust, of community and of the underlying role we see for the school. Cameras in the classroom – for the ‘wrong’ reasons – pushes a school closer to being a correctional facility or a detention centre than a place of learning, and breaks the bond of trust between teacher and learner.

Naive or otherwise, we ignore that at our peril.
Christopher Boyd
August 6th, 2009 @ 2:46 pm

Now that’s a depressing thing to read: schools as the new Panopticon… Foucault would have a field day!
John Connell
August 6th, 2009 @ 2:49 pm

Not a bad analogy, Christopher!

But just imagine a Panopticon with a play-back facility……..
Krysia
August 6th, 2009 @ 5:50 pm

Hi John,

Personally I’d love to have a fully operational CCTV system. Several cameras aimed at different areas, excellent microphones, the lot.

Although only for a day. It would be absolutely fascinating to watch back. Cringifying but fascinating. What do I sound like? What are the pupils actually doing? Where do I spend my time in my lessons? etc etc etc

I think I would love a pupil-cam, to see an entire lesson from a pupils perspective!

Slightly off topic, but I’m all for a “One day only CCTV Spectacular”!
David Phillips
August 6th, 2009 @ 6:15 pm

With all due respect I think you are going over the top with…

“Cameras in the classroom – for the ‘wrong’ reasons – pushes a school closer to being a correctional facility or a detention centre than a place of learning, and breaks the bond of trust between teacher and learner.”

I am an HoD, I principally want cameras in my classroom to protect the facilites that we have and ultimately use my budget for progress and not repairs. The fact that we are hoping to live webstream is a bonus. I don’t know if back in your day vandalism was a problem but it is all too much an issue in today’s ICT classroom. As is hacking and cameras are a deterrent against this. I simply don’t buy into the idea that the bond between a teacher and learner can be broken by having a camera in place. The bond is created by a teacher who does their utmost to inspire and engage a kid and takes an interest in their welfare. No camera is going to break that, the real problem is that “the bond” just simply does not exist in the majority of ICT classrooms as so many non specialists teach drivel to them. It’s no wonder they don’t find the classrooms inspirational and turn to petty damage than doing something constructive with the kit they have.

Sure I agree that in classrooms that don’t have expensive kit to purchase and maintain then cameras are not needed. However a few webcams and some OS software to protect the 15k needed to kit out an ICT suite at my place is money bloody well spent.
John Connell
August 6th, 2009 @ 6:17 pm

Why not do it, Krysia, but with a bunch of simple web-cams or digital camcorders and a few laptops – I bet it would be just as effective.

David, above, says: “…I am having them put in my classroom by my own choice…” – he doesn’t mention if all of his pupils have also agreed to this openly and without pressure of any kind. Or whether any who disagree have the option to stay away from his (their!) classroom.

I think you could sell it to your pupils on the basis you describe – a ‘one day, let’s see what we really look and sound like’ experiment. Not so sure they’d approve full time, as David is proposing, without knowing the full extent of purposes to which their images/footage will be put.
Christopher Boyd
August 6th, 2009 @ 6:20 pm

In my experience pupils are never asked about such things, never mind asked “without pressure of any kind”.

In fact, now that I think about it from a practical legal perspective (rather than a socio-legal one) I wonder about the human rights issues involved.
Andy Wallis
August 6th, 2009 @ 6:23 pm

CCTV does not reduce crime, it just relocates it to a different area. If this is introduced into classrooms it will just relocate misbehaviours.

The UK is already saturated with surveillance, we do not need to accentuate this culture of fear in any way.

As Christopher mentions, Foucault would be having a field day with this!
John Connell
August 6th, 2009 @ 6:37 pm

Christopher/Andy,

What aspects of Foucault should I look at to understand your agreement that this issue would have been of interest to him? I’m intrigued enough to follow it up.
John Connell
August 6th, 2009 @ 6:47 pm

David,

The specifics of your argument might have been helpful the first time you commented. Given those specifics, you have an arguable case – possibly. There’s still the question of whether your pupils like the idea, and whether they have any say in the matter. I think they should – it’s their classroom too.

However, I would be interested to hear your views on the general issue and the ethics of all kinds of classrooms being kitted out with expensive CCTV kit, presumably as a straightforward form of surveillance on everything that goes on in those classrooms. Given that our kids are growing up in a society in which such surveillance seems to be a fact of life elsewhere, I’d prefer a school that gave them the confidence and the knowledge required to be able to argue cogently against such a society – much better than one that buckles under and becomes part of that surveillance society.

As for ‘back in my day’ – thanks for making me smile. I’m off now for a snooze in my bath chair…….
Christopher Boyd
August 6th, 2009 @ 6:52 pm

Foucault, in his book ‘Discipline and Punish: the Birth of the Prison’, discusses the Panopticon. He sees it as both symbol and example of the biopolitical society in which control is exercised over and throughout life.

I find that Foucault-as-historian leaves something to be desired, but as a social and legal theorist he is marvellous.
John Connell
August 6th, 2009 @ 6:54 pm

Thanks, Christopher – I will follow that up.
David Phillips
August 6th, 2009 @ 6:55 pm

“he doesn’t mention if all of his pupils have also agreed to this openly and without pressure of any kind. Or whether any who disagree have the option to stay away from his (their!) classroom.”

- no the kids do not get a choice, it’s called leadership and it is my classroom not theirs. The protection of the investment is far more imporant than whether or not some kid feels that his human rights are being invaded.

“Not so sure they’d approve full time, as David is proposing, without knowing the full extent of purposes to which their images/footage will be put.”

- come on, the footage is stored on our servers and is used to catch kids breaking stuff or hacking, are you seriously trying to imply that it would be used for anything else?

“In fact, now that I think about it from a practical legal perspective (rather than a socio-legal one) I wonder about the human rights issues involved.”

- Erm blown out of all proportion, there is no HR issue

“CCTV does not reduce crime, it just relocates it to a different area. If this is introduced into classrooms it will just relocate misbehaviours.”

I don’t give a monkeys about the relocation of misbehaviour, I just don’t want kids trashing the kit in my room that I then have to pay out for to replace.
David Phillips
August 6th, 2009 @ 7:02 pm

Hmm my last post got hit by the spam filter? Am I being censored because I don’t tow the party line on your blog?

Look we will just have to agree to disagree. I don’t see that having a few *inexpensive* webcams in my class to protect the kit is the issue that you guys are making it out to be. There is no human rights issue, it’s not about mass surveillance, it’s not big brother, no-one is sitting monitoring it continuously. If someone breaks something we can work out who did by watching the footage back, if someone hacks then we can do like wise. If they do break something then they can have the bill and I can get on with equipping the 95% of kids who want to use my facilities for good with new kit.
Kim pericles
August 7th, 2009 @ 10:10 am

Following on from Krysia’s train of thought, we are encouraging all teachers in our school to video themselves for reflective feedback on their teaching.

It’s really interesting (and yes very cringe worthy too) to hear what you say, how you say it, what the kids are doing etc…. but great for self-reflection.

It definitely would be just as interesting to video the whole class for whole class self-reflection too!

Sorry – off the topic of your post John, but had to share
KimP
John Connell
August 7th, 2009 @ 10:50 am

Good to hear from you, Kim – and you’re not off-topic at all. Utilizing video technology for genuine teaching and learning, or professional development, purposes is a long, long way from the thoughtless and ethically-challenged uses which so many schools in the UK are proposing for CCTV.

How are things with you?
John Connell
August 7th, 2009 @ 10:59 am

Hi David,

Just noticed that the spam filter grabbed your comments, including the earlier ones, for some reason. I’ve reinstated all of them and will look out for the same happening again. I don’t censor, especially when a good argument is under way

You’ve made your position very clear, if a little belligerently – but that’s your right. But maybe your kids have rights too.

Investment and equipment are very important, of course – no one should argue with that – but to say:

“….the protection of the investment is far more imporant than whether or not some kid feels that his human rights are being invaded…”

is, at the very least, questionable, and one that should give any reflective teacher pause for thought.
Krysia
August 7th, 2009 @ 11:14 am

Hi David,

Just to clarify a point. Are you intending or hoping to stream the footage live to the web? Or is it just going to be stored in the school server.

If footage is going to the web, then the pupils must have a say so in this matter.
Andy Wallis
August 7th, 2009 @ 12:18 pm

David

Re: “I don’t give a monkeys about the relocation of misbehaviour”

Are you serious?

Re:”no the kids do not get a choice, it’s called leadership and it is my classroom not theirs”

I think you’ll find that it is the LA’s classroom and not yours. If you are serious with your leadership comment, then I’m sorry but it comes as no surprise to me that you feel that there is a need for CCTV in your classroom. It is my belief that there should be an environment of mutual respect and trust in the classroom. To have surveillance equipment in this environment will only create a lack of trust. Kids should be given a choice and should be given the opportunity to question the use of surveillance, and also question you in ‘your’ classroom. I would much rather pupils were to question the use of CCTV than just be idle bystanders.

Ok, enough ranting!
Andy McLaughlin
August 7th, 2009 @ 12:27 pm

” The bond is created by a teacher who does their utmost to inspire and engage a kid and takes an interest in their welfare. No camera is going to break that, the real problem is that “the bond” just simply does not exist in the majority of ICT classrooms as so many non specialists teach drivel to them. It’s no wonder they don’t find the classrooms inspirational and turn to petty damage than doing something constructive with the kit they have.”

– odd then that YOU want [need] cameras in “YOUR classroom”, isn’t it?!
Joe Wilson
August 7th, 2009 @ 12:27 pm

Working in the States on one occasion I was flumoxed to see a school Janitor pilloried on TV for not operating the metal detectors properly and allowing a 14year old into the school with a gun – he shot and wounded a fellow pupil in the sports changing room.
There was no debate on gun culture – or why schools needed metal detectors and CCTV. The fault in the system was the Jannie.

At fault are intitutions who decide they need to go down this route to “protect” their community – who treat learners and staff as inmates.

Lucrative contracts for all the kit, bandwidth and servers for the IT industry – bur if we turn it around the learners way – a schoolnet TV service taking learning out into the community ?? a broadcast facility rather than narrow cast big brother control.
Through the the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange
We’d do much better but that’s and outmoded clause
Andy McLaughlin
August 7th, 2009 @ 12:46 pm

And can someone call the Hague re:

David:
“The protection of the investment is far more imporant than whether or not some kid feels that his human rights are being invaded.”
Dan Nstone
August 7th, 2009 @ 3:20 pm

Every school I’ve worked in has CCTV – not in the classrooms but around the school and site – it’s great for catching thieves, vandals and people who set off fire alarms. I think it’s the norm in many schools and many buildings in the UK.
I wouldn’t feel comfortable having it in my classroom and understand why people are so sensitive about it but I also don’t buy the children’s human rights argument. Yes children do have rights, I am a big believer in letting them learn from mistakes and a big fan of the writings of Janusz Korcak… but why is CCTV monitoring a computer room different from the filtering, monitoring and tracking software that most schools (and many businesses) use to keep track of how pupils (and maybe staff) use PCs or the internet. CCTV is if anything more ethical as it’s visible – software monitoring what websites access is often not.
dave t
August 7th, 2009 @ 4:36 pm

The big problem is that David P appears to work at a Girls School in Kent and that makes me even more wary about live streaming lessons to the web! And the way he brushes aside what would undoubtedly be concerns by parents…..

I have a webcam installed for use on GLOW for GLOW meetings and GLOW chat etc as will most of our staff over the next couple of years.

However, there is a difference twixt a webcam and the odd capture of a lesson for reflection or assessment purposes and having CCTV on covering the whole room. I know of NO school in Moray where we have CCTV in the ICT suites or any other classrooms – they are all external ones – so we rely on the teacher using the place to ensure the kids don’t vandalise things and in fact we don’t have that much – it’s usually the mouse balls that suffer. (But we’ve got optical mice for the new term!)

I shudder at the thought of CCTV in classrooms – where next – the staffroom? Toilets to stop vandalism? Meeting rooms during parent/teacher evenings? Where do you stop with this? And given the way the government has gone mad about CCTV ….a slippery slope that we need to stay well away from methinks!
Christopher Boyd
August 8th, 2009 @ 10:40 am

“no the kids do not get a choice, it’s called leadership and it is my classroom not theirs.”
-
Actually, no – it is theirs; any educational system in which the pupils have no ownership of the learning process is one which is not only broken but perverse and dangerous. The equipment does not belong to the pupils, nor the floor or walls, but the essence of the classroom does.

“The protection of the investment is far more imporant than whether or not some kid feels that his human rights are being invaded.”
-
And whether their human rights are being invaded is more important than the protection of equipment, both ethically and legally – trust me on that (says the lawyer).

“blown out of all proportion, there is no HR issue”
-
Even the police, with suspected criminals, need to work within an HR framework and can’t willy-nilly record people; are teachers now to be made policemen? If so, you’re making criminals of children.
Anne-Marie
August 9th, 2009 @ 5:37 pm

This maybe slightly of topic but I agree with Krysia and Kim. When a teacher is being observed by another teacher or even the headteacher the classroom dynamics change. I would have loved and hated with equal measure to have had a camera in my classroom even just for a day to see how I was getting on with teaching. More over it might have shown what the behaviour in my class was like when I wasn’t being observed in person.

Hope this makes sense.
anne-marie
Adrian Chiles is Satan’s Slave and Other Tales – Scottish Roundup
August 19th, 2009 @ 9:53 pm

[...] John Connell has some wise words on the subject of CCTV in the classroom. I don’t know if the modern child is a better behaved beastie than those of my generation but I can’t help but think that the presence of CCTV in the classrooms of my youth would have encouraged obscene gestures and showboating on a grand scale. Quite how that would ‘assist teacher training’ is beyond me. [...]