Thread: Cameras In The Classroom!!!

We've got'em.

This year our benevolent dictator, also known as the boss, installed cameras in every classroom and in the library and in the teacher's office. We could be watched at every second of every day.

While this did annoy me to no end, I saw any attempt to reverse this action as futile, seeing that the boss had went to the great expense of putting them in during summer vacation. No amount of squawking was going to change that fact.

I really don't care if he watches me teach. It's more the principle of the thing. Instead of raising a ruckus, I went for the passive aggressive approach at getting back at the man.

For the first week, at the end of each class, I instructed my students to turn and face the cameras and put the back of their hands up in the air towards the lens. I showed them exactly what I meant by joining them with my hand out stretched for all who was video taping to see. Then I told them to say loudly and clearly, "Read between the lines." Like good M6s, they did as instructed.

Some smiled, but mostly confused looks spread over the faces of the students, who hadn't a clue as to what that meant.

On the second day, a few of them asked what it meant. I said it was for me to know and for them to find out.

They did. Now they want to do it everyday...

Funny thing, after eight weeks of school, I rarely see the little red camera light on these days. I guess the boss got tired of his new toy. For me, the cameras just gave me another opportunity at cultural development.

^ Aren't M6's great? I loved mine; every one.

Originally Posted by panhunger

put they back of their hands up in the air towards the lens.

I don't understand this bit. I'm trying to visualize the pose. "The back of their hands towards the lens" ?? Like a reverse German salute to Hitler? (i.e .. the palms of their hands are towards their face) Like someone beseeching the Gods in the sky" ???

Maybe you made typos .. please explain.

It's much better when you get it without help...like those pictures within pictures, however, there's no wisdom in this epiphany.

The management could make a pretty good case that the cameras were to allow parents to observe their children without interrupting the class.

Very common in Korea, by the way.

I had them for two years plus. NBD.

Kids didn't like them at the Nazi school.

Good. Little swines.

Originally Posted by panhunger

It's much better when you get it without help...like those pictures within pictures, however, there's no wisdom in this epiphany.

OK .. be a stubborn tosser and dont explain. I just wanted a clear mental pic of what the students were actually doing in front of the lens. No big deal, however I tend to think "It's much better" to paint an accurate mental picture and express one's self as clearly as possible. I'd love to be a student in your class. "Excuse me Teacher Pan, what do you mean?" .. "I'm sorry mate, it's much better you find out for yourself. What do you think I am? A teacher or something? .. I'm off to to pub"

There's a new invention called a "digital camera" .. great for the "descriptive story telling challenged". It also helps to weed out bullshit stories overly embellished with the use of poetic license.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by stfranalum

reading between the lines means you see only one finger...

Thankyou very much stfranalum. All is clear now. I've just never heard "The Finger" described as "Read between the lines" I've led a sheltered life!

I just couldn't translate ..

"they back of their hands up in the air"

into that. Maybe "the back of their hands in the air with the middle finger extended" would have been "much better".

See Panhunger .. easy isn't it? One simple sentence from stfranalum and all is clear. Now I"M off to the pub!

Seriously though .. isn't it a bit infantile and childish (not to mention downright irresponsible) using students to show such disrespect to the head of the school? Why not just march into his/her's office and confront him/her youself with your feelings on the matter?

Originally Posted by panhunger

seeing that the boss had went

This must be American English.

Originally Posted by WilliamBlake

This must be American English.

Reduced to nick-picking my grammar, eh?