The KC CALL

KCK School Board Does An About Face On Cameras In The Classroom

By Eric L. Wesson Sr. Managing Editor THE CALL

After parents threatened to leave and teachers threatened to quit their jobs the Kansas City, Kansas School Board decided to pull the plug on a plan that would have placed video cameras in the classrooms.

The decision comes after push back in regard to the district’s proposal in which about 80 percent of the teachers said they would leave if the $6 million plan was implemented.

Quite a few teachers and parents pushed back against the idea almost as soon as the idea became public. In a survey given to 1,480 staff members in last November, 86 percent of respondents said they were against having cameras in the classroom for “security/surveillance purposes”.

About 89 percent said they were against having cameras in the classroom for “academic purposes”.

Some teachers even mentioned they would consider quitting if cameras were allowed inside their classrooms.

NEA officials in the past have expressed concern over teacher and student privacy, along with the impact kids being recorded will have on their confidence in participating in class.

“A lot of people said that this would be the point where they would have to leave, they don’t feel like they are being valued as professionals, they don’t feel that their voices are being heard. Teachers will work for a little lesser pay if we feel that we are a valued active stakeholder in our district,” Dom DeRosa, the President of NEA for KCK, said.

The District’s superintendent said the $6 million move would have helped elevate the learning experience, assist in livestreaming and provide other benefits.

“This is about academics and providing equitable highly qualified teachers for all of our students and not about surveillance or invading anyone’s privacy,” Dr. Anna Stubblefield, Superintendent of KCKPS, said.

Parents that contacted THE CALL were divided.

“I don’t want the administration spying on my child all day like they are in lock-down in prison,” a parent said.

Another parent had an opposite view.

“It may be eye opening for some parents to see exactly how their children act in class. Some of us may have had a glimpse of how our children behave when our children were home all year during COVID. Imagine being able to see it during the school year. Plus, I like the idea of them being able to stream information during the school year. I supported the idea,” the parent stated.

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2023-01-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://kccallnews.pressreader.com/article/281539410090664

Kansas City CALL Newspaper Inc