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Two British schools test body cameras in the classroom to lessen disruption in class.
The technology, which is already being used in several US schools, is in the initial stages of implementation in the United Kingdom. To avoid conflict with the testing, the names of the two British schools are being kept under wraps.
Unlike the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, the body cameras are attached to the teachers’ clothing and are only activated during the recording of a classroom incident. Students are also informed when the cameras are on. Recordings are then saved in a cloud system, a type of software that secures data.
Similar to body cameras used in the police force, the body cameras in the classroom are meant to deter disruptive behavior. The footage can also be shown to the student’s parents, as evidence of misconduct, or directly to the student, as a tool for self-reflection. If successful in deterring misbehavior, the device can help increase instruction time for teachers as less time is spent on enforcing order in the classroom.
Nevertheless, some teachers expressed reservations over the use of the technology in the classroom. One head teacher asserted that the idea of requiring teachers to wear body cameras would feel uncomfortable. Teacher and behavior specialist Tom Bennett raised that while the body cameras may be suitable in schools experiencing frequent violence, using this kind of technology could make students be seen as suspects rather than learners. To improve the situation in the school setting, Bennett suggests investing in staff training instead. One of the initiatives he suggested is to start training teachers in handling low-level distractions.