Cameras in classrooms too much: Nelson

[Gumleaf]

12:20 AEST Sun Apr 27 2008


A proposal to put digital cameras in classrooms to help decide which teachers deserve a pay rise is going too far, federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson says.

School principals will put the idea to the federal government, which is spending $400,000 on finding the most effective way to reward good teachers, Fairfax newspaper said.

The innovation, based on a model used in the United States, would be used to judge how teachers improve student learning by showing how they work with families, the community and other teachers.

Dr Nelson said other initiatives to monitor teachers' performance would be more practical.

"I think there's a very strong argument for having school inspectors.

"I think we need peer review, teachers examining the teaching performance of their own colleagues, I think parents and students also need to be a part of the feedback as far as assessing teacher performance is concerned.

"But to have some sort of big brother digital camera is, in my opinion, going far too far."

[Zephyr]

Having cameras in the classroom is effed up.
Who are they to judge the performance of the teacher based on footage?
If the students are understanding the material, getting a decent grade and there arn't any problems with the student-teacher relationship, then I think that the teacher is doing just fine.

[Mzor203]

I, for one, actually believe that this would be a good idea. Maybe not using it as the one thing they judge teachers on, they could also look at samples of the homework, etc. that they give students, look at grades, understanding, have inspectors, etc. But using cameras would also prevent teachers from doing anything downright bad to students, as well as make them do the best they could since they would know they're being watched.

[Gumleaf]

it has its advantages and disadvantages for both the students and teacher. but i would think on the whole it would be a bad idea.

[Mzor203]

I am confused as to the disadvantages that it would cause to anyone. It wouldn't hurt anybody, really.

[Bobby]

I don't think it's right. But that's me.

[Gavin]

I dont think its right aswell, what next, cameras in the school toilets peering over you

[Maverick]

I believe that it would be a bad idea. Who acts themselves when you're knowingly in front of the camera? Teachers would instead be focused less on teaching, but making a good impression to the camera because every move of you was being recorded. Who can be comfortable with that?

Teachers don't need to be babysat. Let them teach and let the test results and grades speak for themselves. Every teacher has their own unique style and that shouldn't be judged, but only the results.

[Hyper]

I believe that it would be a bad idea. Who acts themselves when you're knowingly in front of the camera? Teachers would instead be focused less on teaching, but making a good impression to the camera because every move of you was being recorded. Who can be comfortable with that?

Teachers don't need to be babysat. Let them teach and let the test results and grades speak for themselves. Every teacher has their own unique style and that shouldn't be judged, but only the results.

I agree with that, I don't know how it works in the US but in here the grades get fucked up for statistics and people who shouldn't teach at all are teaching

The main things that determine a good teacher is his/her ability to make the subject understood and keep order within the class, there is too less teachers who can keep order.. Same with those who can truely explain & make their subject understood