Teacher taking pictures of student to document behavior

[Anonymous]

Is it permissible for a teacher to take a picture of a student, without parental permission and in front of the rest of the class, as a way to document behavior?

[Anonymous]

Probably yes, depending on what she does with it, but I'd be pissed as she should not be. There are much better ways to deal with it vs. shamming.

[Anonymous]

For a teacher to resort to trying to get 'proof' of behavior, especially in a student with documented SN, there must be someone doubting it. Is it you?

I'd feel pretty bad if my child's behavior was causing the teacher so much distress that they're resorting to this, and I'd see it as a sign that this particular setting isn't the best place for my child and that maybe they need more specialized placement.

[Anonymous]

Documenting a child’s SN should not be done in a way that could be humiliating to a child in front of their peers. I would contact the teacher and principal immediately.

[Anonymous]

What's the behavior being documented?

If the child is sitting under a table refusing to come out, that's already pretty obvious to all his classmates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the behavior being documented?

If the child is sitting under a table refusing to come out, that's already pretty obvious to all his classmates.

That wouldn’t count as documentation. No one is going to be okay with deposing six year olds when OP decides to sue because she doesn’t like the IEP team’s findings.

Middle and high schools have security teams that can deal with this situation AND serve as corroboration. ES don’t.

Unless the teacher is saying loudly “Larlo, if you don’t get up this instant, I’m taking your photo!”, the other kids probably don’t notice. Teachers take classroom photos for a variety of purposes. My DC teachers have IPads and send photos of work in progress, even pencil grip issues.

Lastly, OP, if your son is not embarrassed by his behavior, why is he humiliated by someone taking a photo of it?

[Anonymous]

Our teacher did this when my son started exhibiting bizarre behaviors in K and she wanted us to see him in action. He was not doing the behavior at home so video was helpful. I also take video of some of his behaviors to show to his specialists. Video clarifies in a way words can’t. Unless the video was being used to shame the kid, I’m not bothered by this at all. Not sure why everyone assumed the ops teacher was doing this in a nefarious way instead of a supporting way.

[Anonymous]

I think that as long as the pictures are shared with the parents along with a reasonable explanation of what is occuring , it could be fine.

[Anonymous]

I think that permission has to be given to photograph children and the photos have to be shared with the parents who have to approve distribution.


(We got into this when a program sent out a photo of my DD in a bathing suit as part of a fundraising mailing to a large organization without our permission).

[Anonymous]

Not without permission.

We already had a discussion about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our teacher did this when my son started exhibiting bizarre behaviors in K and she wanted us to see him in action. He was not doing the behavior at home so video was helpful. I also take video of some of his behaviors to show to his specialists. Video clarifies in a way words can’t. Unless the video was being used to shame the kid, I’m not bothered by this at all. Not sure why everyone assumed the ops teacher was doing this in a nefarious way instead of a supporting way.

OP said the parents did not give permission. Huge difference

[Anonymous]

OP has said this is done "in front of the rest of the class" and "without parental permission." I can't imagine a situation where "in front of the class" + acting out behaviors + camera = ok for the teacher to do w/o permission. I can't envision a scenario -- again, in front of the class -- where the child feels comfortable with this happening to them. Would you want this happening to you at a moment of upset/crying? Imagine your worst moments documented in front of a crowd...

OP -- how did you learn of this situation? What did your child tell you about it? Or did the teacher inform you?

[Anonymous]

OP, one question. Do you want to know what is going on with your child or not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our teacher did this when my son started exhibiting bizarre behaviors in K and she wanted us to see him in action. He was not doing the behavior at home so video was helpful. I also take video of some of his behaviors to show to his specialists. Video clarifies in a way words can’t. Unless the video was being used to shame the kid, I’m not bothered by this at all. Not sure why everyone assumed the ops teacher was doing this in a nefarious way instead of a supporting way.

OP said the parents did not give permission. Huge difference

NP. My kids' teachers have done this on occasion and I have not given explicit permission for them to do so. I signed the photography waiver at the beginning of the year, not sure if that covers this or not. I, too, have no problem with staff doing this, as the PP noted, that it conveys much better than words what's going on. I've shared with them video of my kids. I've also had teachers share video with me of one of my kids having a great moment - one special ed teacher recorded him reading his first words independently.

[Anonymous]

That is not even the issue. Of course OP wants to know what's up with her child. That doesn't mean she needs to accept any type of treatment of her child that yields the knowledge of what's going on. A picture doesn't tell you what's going on in any case... what are the behavioral antecedents? A photo doesn't tell you that. It just shows you a child in meltdown. It humiliates the child. It singles him out.