Taping Your Child's Teacher?

I have to agree with just about everyone else. Kids don't know that how that teacher was talking to them is wrong. Even if they did, it's highly possible that they'd feel guilty "telling on" the teacher. (What's to say the teacher didn't threaten them in the past?) As a parent, I want to know what's going on with my child at all times. Our educational system is fundamentally flawed by the fact that it pays very little to our educators. Therefore, the people who SHOULD be teaching aren't. "You get what you pay for." I wouldn't hesitate to do this if I suspected something was wrong. I wouldn't hesitate to do it just to be SURE nothing was wrong. All too often, parents put their faith and trust in the school system and I don't believe we can anymore.

I have volunteered in preschools, elementary schools, and in special day classes! At my daughter's headstart preschool, the teachers all know that there is a video camera taping the whole class, teachers, parents, children and whoever comes and goes out the door! I think it is a good thing, as it makes people act more responsibly, knowing that they are being watched! it may seem like big brother and big sister, but believe me, even well intentioned teachers can and do make mistakes that can hurt our children, even if only emotionally bruised. In the elementary school, the word got out that students who were sent to the office and suspended students were going to get sent home, and guess what? None of the students acted up that day! It is good to protect the students and the teachers too! Some students get into physical altercations everyday, and others unjustly accuse the teachers of behavior that did not occur! So I think it is good to have a closed circuit camera in the schools. It is even better to have a parent coop, so the parents will actually know what happens on a daily basis. I am not sure if that mom was overstepping her boundaries. I am thinking that she did not, since the results proved that something was wrong!

You know this is a touchy subject. I think that the parent had every right to tape the school day. I think it may have been better to first sit in on the class a few times to observe, then tape the kids. Teachers can pretend they love to teach, but if you observe enough times, you can see some aspects that dont get hid enough. This child was obviously having problems at school, the parent didnt know why, so she tried to find out. Normally its the opposite. Normally kids have problems at home, and bring them to school. It is sad that a preschooler developed behavior issues due to school. Teachers only get observed by the principal once a semester or so, especially if they have been teaching longer than 5 years. Were there any repercussions on the teacher?

It is quite unfortunate to say the least, but whether or not we agree or disagree with the teacher being recorded saying those horrible things, it is still an illegal act to record someone without their prior knowledge of the fact. The woman will not be able to use the tape to get the teacher fired, sue her, get her into any kind of legal trouble whatsoever as the teacher could then turn around and counter sue the woman for taping her without her knowledge and get the whole thing thrown out. The school cannot fire her over the tape now either because if the teacher is smart she can get a lawyer to state that she was unaware of being recorded, despite the awful things that she said. I think that, yes, as a mother I probably would have been suspicious and done something along those lines as well. I don't see that the mother did anything wrong so to say but it was still illegal of her. The most unfortunate part of the whole thing is that the mother will not be able to do anything about it. I do not think that teacher belongs in any school as no child should have to put up with that kind of verbal abuse. Especially from what is supposed to be a respected authority figure. How terrible. That woman should be ashamed of herself for speaking to those children that way. If you cannot handle the frustrations of being around children then you should find another profession because those children should not have to suffer her incapabilities of handling herself in a professional matter. This enrages me that a teacher would speak to children in such a manner. I think that the mother could go about this a different way. Any parent has the right to drop by their child's class room and supervise the activities that are going on and make sure that things are as they should be. Perhaps her or another parent, school faculty, anyone should pop in unannounced and see what they discover that way. In that situation they COULD come up with something to get rid of the the teacher. I know if I was that child's mother I would certainly pull my child out of there and find somewhere else for him/her. That's just my opinion though.

I think its a good thing taping the teacher. I wouldnt want someone treating my child like that at all. And if the teacher was a good teacher he/she would have no worries if someone just happened to tape him/her. Its a good thing I think, now the kids can go to school and maybe learn something. After all that is what they are going there for.

It is a bit hard on the situation. Normally I wouldnt approve of anyone taping things like this especially without permission. But then again, if you listen to the recording, then you can see that there is a problem, a serious one at that, which wouldnt be identified without this recording. The way the teacher was saying bad things to the kids, when they are still in the tender age of 4 yo, it will cause problems to their way of thinking, and it will affect they way they grew up. Since I am not the mother of Megan Mijares, then I cant say whether this lady is wrong or right, but one thing that I can say, I wouldnt want any teacher like this to teach my children. Teachers are supposed to teach the kids, not to shout or saying nasty things like that to their pupils. And again, any mother would do whatever they think is right to protect their children right?

I think it is the mother's job to do whatever possible to protect her child. If that means taping the teacher so be it. If we don't protect our children, who will?

I think the mother did the right thing. If the mother had got permission from the school, the teacher may well have found out and acted nice for a day, ruining the point of the "operation" ;-)

I have often thought about sending a digital recorder with my 11 year old son, especially on the school bus. About a year ago, he had trouble with a bus driver. Every time we'd call the school, they'd act like it was nothing and not even discipline the bus driver (he was picking on certain kids and cussing at them). Thank goodness now we live in another part of the school district have my kids have a different bus driver.

i believe as a parent you have the right to know at all times what is going on with your child , however you gain the information.now you know if you had sat on in that class the teacher would never acted that way because she knew she was being watched , but there have been times when i ahve stood outside a classroom and heard things that were not right and i always reported it right off.Sometimes it is the only way to bring out the truth.

Oh. that seems so similar to my thoughts. I once thought that if everything was recorded at my child's nursery, then I would know how they treat kids. It was just a thought. I never did it. Thoughts like this comes when mothers feel that if their child is safe or not. This is very natural. But, thinking and actual doing is very different. The mother just wants to protect her child. So, even though it is not right to do so, I understand your feelings as a mother. Take care.

In this particular situation I think it was necessary for the parents to take matters in thier own hands after the girl was suspended 4 times for behavior problems and never has shown such problems at home. I mean look at the end result- the parents worst fears were realized- it was the teacher- not the student. This type of situation is sad- it means that attention to detail is lost when hiring our childrens teachers these days.

I say kudos go to the mom for thinking of putting in the recorder into her daughters backpack, in an effort to find out what was going on behind closed doors. 4 yr old children do not know to tell about adults in such leadership positions giving them a hard time and talking down to them. They are taught to listen to their teachers, and to do what their teachers tell them, etc. Obviously, these children were also believing what they were told. I do hope that the teacher is removed from that classroom and is severely reprimanded for such disgusting behaviour. We put the upmost trust into teachers, and hand to them our most precious treasures, our children. And that teacher is obviously unworthy of such an honour.

i think it is a sad commentary on where the world is going now that it would come to having to "bug" your child's backpack to be sure she is getting the best care and education at her school. parents have to rely on the teachers in their schools to help in forming the kind of adult their children become. especially at such a young age, where kids really become what we think of them. if you tell a child they are stupid, they believe they are-and why wouldn't they? we're the adults. i guess it just the "nanny-cam" gone in another direction.

I don't agree with taping anyone without their knowledge but on the other hand if you suspect something bad going on why would you tell them you are going to tape them? I have thought about opening my own daycare recently. I have also decided that if I do I will have cameras on and hooked to the internet so the parents can check in at any time and watch. This is for every ones peace of mind; including mine as I would not want anyone to even think I could be the reason for their childs change in behavior. Now adays you just never know what can happen. Something weird could be going on at home and they look to the daycare to be the scape goat. That senario happens too. It isn't always the nanny or childcare giver that is the bad guy even though I realize it is many times. Do you remember the story of the New York Daycare worker going to jail for molesting a child. Wasn't true! So this goes both ways. I think cameras are the best way to protect everyone! I have nothing to hide so I am happy to offer the cameras as a way for parents to observe their children through out the day. What do you all think about this?