Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rookieglobetrotter]

I am the 1st foreigner to teach in my current PS elementary school. Recently, there was an almost incident with a random non-faculty adjosshi walking into our school. There haven't been any incidents with any of the staff to my knowledge. Since then the usually lax Principal has gotten all strict/paranoid and our school locks all but one door, hall monitors, etc. But he's done even more and put what looks like motion detectors w/ red light, I am guessing vid cameras in all the classrooms and of course at all entrances and exits.

Now I've heard of these in hagwons, but is this normal to have cctv in PS classroom? Also is this a good thing or bad thing? Just wondering if they are going to be streaming all my classes live on the internet or at the local adjumma kimchi party. School atmosphere like just changed overnight and I don't know much about technology, thanks.

[shostahoosier]

my school put the little motion sensors with lights on the ceilings in each classroom.

We lie to the students and tell them they're CCTV cameras so that the kids wont act too crazy when there are no adults present.

I would imagine it would take some work for your school to set up a cctv system and even more to stream it. Do you think your classes are interesting enough for people to sit around and watch them though lol?

[Kaypea]

I'm gonna say it's not a terrible thing, although I don't know if they need to be in classrooms. It makes more sense to have them by the entrances and in the hallways. The only reason why they should be there is as added security against those perverts who are going into the schools. I don't think they're necessary when there's a teacher in the class to protect the students, UNLESS if the school board's getting serious about eliminating corporal punishment.

[jrwhite82]

Before becoming a teacher I used to design and sell CCTV systems and alarm systems. I sold a few CCTV systems with "covert" cameras. It sounds like to me that this is just a motion sensor. There is probably no camera attached/inside it. If it is a camera it will have a small pinhole somewhere on the front of the device.

Easiest way to figure it out is look for the pinhole. Also is there only low voltage wiring running to it? If there is low voltage AND coax/RJ45 (internet cable), then you have yourself a camera.

Another way to check is to look for a video screen in the utility/network closet or principal's office. Any CCTV system that large for a school will have a video screen somewhere for playback and review. Unless it is networked, then your principal would probably be running it on his desktop.

Even if it is a camera, don't sweat it. You shouldn't be doing anything illegal anyway. And if you are worried about him watching your performance he will probably get bored with it after a few weeks. That and it probably doesn't have audio connected. Most security DVR's only have 1 or 2 inputs for audio. And the audio takes up a ton of space.

[Seoulio]

i say put them in every classroom

the good teachers will have nothing to hide, and the bad teachers might actually work if they know they could be watched.

That and lest face it we are in charage of kids, its documentation of thier comings and goings, you are not likely to have false allegations or anything if they are in there and you can verify if you are teling the truth or not.

I know that I am gonna get comments about "big brother" and right to privacy etc.

This is safety, and I am willing to relax some of my freedoms if I knew that I could be safe, and so could my children

[AsiaESLbound]

"Eyeborgs," are coming to a ledge or ceiling near you.

[kiwipenny]

Maybe they aren't cameras.. but they may put cameras in the school later if need be...

Usually they don't have cameras in PS...but....

There have been so many problems recently with accidents and child abuse cases near and in schools that it would seem right to have more security...

Yesterday's news mentioned about an 11yr old girl in my school neighbourhood getting abused in her house by a stranger... so my school is now enquiring about prices for security cameras and such.

It would make me feel safer too~
No harm~

[rookieglobetrotter]

ok thanks everyone for the posts so I can understand a little more about school Big Brother.

Now maybe the admins can see that they should let me actually teach instead of being a human tape recorder. On the flip side, since my CTs dont let me teach much, this could be video proof about how little some NETs are used in the classroom :/

jrwhite you seem to know a lot about the cctvs stuff. I'm done teaching for the week, but I'll take more of a look next class. It seems to look like a normal white motion sensor, but kind of bulb like with a white cover. I don't see any hole or anything, so maybe its like a spy camera and the cover is transparent? I don't know why they would just put a motion sensor in the classroom because during class there will be a lot of motion! All I know is school bought like 50 of em placed everywhere. Also its just annoying that when you step into certain areas of the classroom a red light keeps on blinking like Hal 9000!