Tag Archives: Parents

Dawg Bones

IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO PUT A BODY CAMERA ON THE PRINCIPAL? “PRINCIPALCAM”?

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Dear Dawg,

We are instituting a pilot program on one campus this year, whereby the principal and assistants will be required to wear body cameras at all times. We have had too many complaints of inappropriate conduct.  99% of the time our staff has done nothing wrong. So we think this new tech tool will help protect our staff from accusations of wrongdoing. Plus, when someone has done something wrong, we will have the evidence we need.   A local technology store is underwriting the costs on this. So it looked like a good deal. 

But the problem is human error. You see, they are supposed to turn the dadgum thing off at certain times. Like when they go to the bathroom.

We had our administrators wearing the cameras, just to get used to them, on our first days back as we prepare for the new year.  Sure enough, Principal Notsosmart forgot to turn it off when he went to the john.  And someone (we suspect the assistant principal) somehow got hold of the recording and posted it on YouTube.

It’s not very visually interesting.  An incredibly close-up look at tile grout.  And we hear the splashing of liquids, along with the voices of the principal and someone else, telling bad bathroom jokes.  There is at least one loud bodily noise as well.  It’s not racist or sexist or politically incorrect in the least. It’s just stupid and embarrassing.  --WADDYATHINK?

DEAR WADDYATHINK:

We think you should wait on Iowa.  The Burlington Community School District in Iowa is reportedly outfitting its principals and assistants with body cameras for the upcoming school year. So it might be a good idea to let them be the test case with this new technology.

Here in Texas we have a legal issue to consider, as well as the likelihood of more embarrassing moments.  Remember that we have a law that limits the authority of school officials to video or audio record students.  Section 26.009 of the Education Code requires school officials to obtain written parent consent before making, or authorizing the making of, a video or audio recording of a student. There are some exceptions to that general rule. Among other exceptions, you can have cameras for purposes of safety in “common areas of the school or on school buses.” But if the principal is wearing the camera at all times, you are likely to move beyond those common areas.  Besides, you already have the authority to put up a camera in the hallways, cafeteria and other “common areas.”

That new law that requires cameras in some of our special education classrooms is not in effect for this school year. It goes into effect with the start of the 2016-17 school year.  So the current law restricts the use of video and audio recording, and we suspect that a body camera would seriously increase the risk of a violation of the current law.

So why not let the Hawkeye State take the lead on this.  Best of luck to you and Principal Notsosmart.

DAWG BONE: PRINCIPALCAM: AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS NOT YET COME.

 

 

Dawg Bones

WE ARE THINKING OF ADOPTING A PARENTS’ CODE OF CONDUCT. IS THAT A GOOD IDEA?

There is some logic to developing a written statement setting out expected conduct for parents in dealing with teachers, administrators and other school staff.  We already have written expectations for everybody else in the school community.  Kids are subject to the Student Code of Conduct.  All school employees must comply with the district’s policies.  Educators have a Code of Ethics, and board members usually adopt one for themselves. But many districts have nothing laying out what is expected of parents.

Chapter 26 of the Texas Education Code is entitled “Parental Rights and Responsibilities.”  But we have studied it carefully and have yet to find the “responsibilities” part.

So there is a vacuum here that could be filled with some locally developed statement of general expectations.  However, we would urge you not to call this a “code of conduct.”  That term generally comes from a higher level of authority imposing a set of rules that it will enforce, usually through negative consequences.  You can’t put mom in the DAEP.  You can’t make dad go to Saturday school.  Nor can you punish a student on account of inappropriate behavior by the parent.  So if you did something like this, you would have to understand that it is just an aspirational document—a set of goals.

Moreover, to have legitimacy, a statement of parental expectations ought to come directly from the parents.  Why not form a committee of parents and charge them with coming up with a set of general principles and expectations that the district can endorse?

We came across one set of parental expectations that was developed by a private school. It starts with the basics: “I will have my child in school on time every day with the necessary school supplies and appropriate dress.”

But then it got personal:  “I will show respect for the teacher and any other adult in authority in front of my child at all times, regardless of what I may think of their actions or say to them in private.”

“I will set a good example for my child through my own speech and behavior.”

“I will stop rumors.  I will go through the proper channels when I have a problem.”

“I will never lie to… the principal, or teachers to protect my child from the consequences of his/her behavior.”

Just imagine what might happen if everyone adhered to those promises.

DAWG BONE: PARENTS ARE THE CHILD’S FIRST TEACHERS.  WHAT DO YOU EXPECT OF THEM?