Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/515703
the prior consent of the teacher and the principal of the school given to promote an educational purpose disrupts and impairs the teaching process and discipline in the elementary and sec- ondary schools, and such use is prohibited. Any person, other than a pupil, who willfully violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor." A magazine for administrators, District Admin- istration, actually cautions school leaders against placing cameras in classrooms. It suggests they only be placed in common areas like stairwells or school yards, and not in areas where staff and students expect privacy, including classrooms, work rooms or break rooms. Teachers aren't smiling for the cameras Russell, a seventh-grade teacher, says the cameras are "creepy." Knowing she is being recorded makes her nervous and affects everything she does. "There is always a possibility that someone is watching me, and in the back of my mind, before interacting with students, I would always wonder how it will look for the camera. It results in a lack of spontaneity, because I wonder if something might be misconstrued." Colleen Ballew, a teacher there for 19 years, says the cameras make her feel self-conscious. She does a lot of hand-gesturing and has tried to cut back on that in case someone is viewing her. "I wonder about certain things looking inap- p r o p r i a t e ," s h e s ay s . " L a s t ye a r a c h i l d l o s t a grandparent and went to pieces, so I hugged her. And all I could think was, 'What are they going to think about that?' Thoughts like that shouldn't cross my mind when comforting a grieving child." Theresa Moore, a former teacher at the school who now teaches in Susanville, says it was particu- larly stressful as a brand-new teacher to know she was being recorded. "I was extremely hard on myself by demanding perfection," she recalls. "The knowledge of an extra set of eyes through that piece of technology only added to my own criticism of myself as an educator." "It's unconscionable and an abomination," says Bill Martens, State Council representative for Lassen County and husband of Freda Russell. "It says to staff, 'You're not a professional and we need to watch you.' It makes my skin crawl." The cameras also had a negative impact on students, says Janean Embree, a teacher who left the school to work elsewhere. Her students would try to hide at times if they didn't want to be watched. "My students asked, 'What's going on? Why are they watching us?' And I said to them, 'Well, technically, they're watching me.'" Two teachers who have retired from the school say they would like to return as substitutes, but don't want to work in such a hostile environment. "It would make me crazy," says Diana Keller, a retiree for three years. "I personally feel the cameras are highly insulting and show a lack of respect for teachers." Superintendent not camera-shy Viewed through the lens of Superintendent/Principal Roy Casey, it's a different story. He denies that teachers left due to being recorded, and claims that it was never mentioned during an exit interview. Two former teachers say they were never given exit interviews; one says Casey typed up her letter of resignation before she could do it. "Cameras are here to protect teachers," asserts Casey, who says footage is erased automatically every 30 days and there's no audio capability. "Cameras aren't here to evaluate teachers, they are here to support them." How would he feel about hav- ing a camera in his own office? He does have one, and says he's fine with it. But that's prob- ably because nobody is watching the watcher. C a s e y s ays h e i s n ' t wo r r i e d about high teacher turnover or whether it is violating the rights of teachers, classified employees or students. Russell worries that students suffer the most when experienced employees become unhappy and leave. Just after being visited by the California Educator, Russell accepted another job offer, to teach a GED class at the local men's prison. She finds it ironic that she isn't being recorded while teaching this high-risk population. "I am very proud of my 31 years spent teaching at Johnstonville, and I have no regrets," she says. "This policy is idiotic, and we all know it." Janean Embree was one of several Johnstonville teachers who left to teach elsewhere. Advocacy Education policy 36 www.cta.org Colleen Ballew Roy Casey