Two policies on the right to privacy for students, teachers and other staffers in Haddonfield schools were again tabled at the board of education meeting on Dec. 6 after a previous introduction on first reading.
If approved, the policies would be updated to prohibit audio or video recording of school staff members or students by other students or employees as they perform their jobs unless there is prior written approval, or if such recording is stipulated in an IEP or 504 plan. The exception would be prior approval for a school-sponsored activity.
At the Dec. 6 meeting, board members noted that the policies had been cleared by lawyers and don’t infringe on New Jersey’s one-party consent law. That measure allows recording if the person doing so or being recorded is made aware of the action.
Parents and residents argued both for and against the recording policies during the meeting’s public comment portion. Some argued that students and teachers should be recorded in classrooms and parents should have access, or that such a recording should exist in case there is indoctrination or malpractice happening.
Others argued the opposite, that students should be taught what boundaries are appropriate – recording without consent, for instance – and such monitoring could change how safe students feel in their classrooms. One suggestion was to allow certain recordings, but only with the intent to help students learn, such as using a recording as an additional resource.
Board of education members also saw the policies from a different perspective.
“It’s obviously not specifically about protecting teachers per se,” said member Meg Hollingworth. “We’re talking about creating and maintaining what we all work incredibly hard to do, which is to have a safe, secure environment, where kids can be kids and kids can raise their hands and ask questions – even a stupid question – and be able to know that that moment, where they ask something stupid or get the question wrong, is not going to go viral.”
Outgoing board member Heather Paoli outlined the nuance of the issue and looked at ways that video recording without permission could lead to situations where individuals may be intentionally antagonistic or someone could manipulate the video.
“That to me is absolutely punishable, but to me it doesn’t necessarily mean that the video needs to be prevented in the first place,” Paoli explained. “Because that would be the same as if someone posted something inappropriate on social media or wrote signs. We’re not taking away pens and papers because somebody could write a nasty note about someone else.”
The board unanimously agreed to table the issue to allow for more discussion.
In other news:
- The board and a student representative discussed the delays in bathroom renovations that have negatively impacted students who don’t know which bathrooms are ready for use.
- Paoli and another outgoing board member, Lynn Hoag, were thanked for their service.
The next board of education meeting will be on Thursday, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m.
