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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the school will psychologically damage the children by normalising ‘being watched’

48 replies

Monkeypuzzletreat · 14/12/2021 02:21

My 5 yr old dd proudly came home with a certificate for speaking Welsh today, which is lovely as she’s been working so hard at it. I asked her who was it that heard her to give her the cert? She said “well, there are microphones everywhere and Mr *** (the head teacher) is always listening” Shock
I’ve already spoken to the teacher as they told the class that the head teacher is watching them all the time via cctv and so “they better behave”. Several kids (including mine didn’t want to go in after that for a while).
AIBU to be horrified by this kind of lazy (not to mention damaging) way of discipline?
Also, bloody hell, they’ve spent half their lives in a pandemic- surely this will just add to their anxiety/ paranoia?? They’re only 5!
Or am I overreacting?
Also, can anyone point me in the direction on any research/ articles on the psychology of this at all? I mean, surely this is normalising constantly being watched and conditioning a generation to accept it.

OP posts:
Rno3gfr · 14/12/2021 02:37

This is really creepy and bang out of order. I’m a fluent Welsh speaker and I went to a Welsh speaking school when I was young. It was common to give out rewards for children over-heard speaking Welsh and to dismiss English in school to combat the long term affects of the Welsh Not (I’m mid 20s now). My child is about to go to a Welsh school and if I knew about this then I’d be hitting the roof. It violates so many aspects of privacy and free speech that we are entitled to in the U.K. Are you sure this is actually happening or have some individual teachers gone rouge? Either way, the school needs addressing.

RainbowCrayons · 14/12/2021 02:40

That's horrifying if true and that the children have been told even if it isn't. And I would be surprised there are microphones everywhere if this is state school, more likely the teachers pretend there are (like the'elf cam' for elf on the shelf) because that would be a huge waste of money to big every classroom. Ive never taught in a school with microphones and although many have CCTV this is more for going over later if there are any concerns raised. I don't know any Head who sat and watched it at all times either.

I remember as a child being told 'teachers have a 2nd pair of eyes in the back of their heads' and I really hope this is just the more modern, technical equivalent otherwise I feel very sorry for children exposed to 2 years of anxiety about covid and then going to a school that sounds like it belongs in '1984'.

RainbowCrayons · 14/12/2021 02:43

It made me think of this... en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon

Original poster
Monkeypuzzletreat · 14/12/2021 02:47

Oh no, no!! Sorry- Its not true- there IS cctv, but I’ve been assured that its just outside.

No, I’m questioning the psychology of the teachers telling them that they’re being constantly watched and listened to everywhere, as the 5 yr olds they totally believe they are.

I’ve told my dd that its not true, but then the teachers keep regularly reinforcing the lies and threat of it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Monkeypuzzletreat · 14/12/2021 02:51

[quote RainbowCrayons]It made me think of this... en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon[/quote]
Yes- absolutely! Its the constant worry/ threat of being watched that is supposed to keep you in check.

Thanks for posting that!

OP posts:
Chachasha · 14/12/2021 03:11

I agree with you and I also think the Human Rights Commission would be very interested in this.

HaaaaaveyoumetTed · 14/12/2021 06:55

Yes I think it's awful. I personally think it'd bad enough when in December authority figures use Father Christmas as a lazy discipline method saying he's watching and you'll be on the naughty list ( and we 'do' Santa with our kids) but to do it as a standard behaviour management with the head teacher as the omniscient power is awful.

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 14/12/2021 06:58

I’d be worried about this. Wales is becoming totalitarian though. In lots of ways.

Motheroftigers · 14/12/2021 07:00

Well Elf on a shelf spends a couple of weeks each year spying on your kids and no one cares about that...

Motheroftigers · 14/12/2021 07:02

And santa ' he sees you when your sleeping and knows when your awake - so be good for goodness sake...Saaaaaaanta clause is coming to Town'

Grin
HaaaaaveyoumetTed · 14/12/2021 07:07

@Motheroftigers

Well Elf on a shelf spends a couple of weeks each year spying on your kids and no one cares about that...
I do. I think it's hideous, same with Santa as I said in my post.
DinosApple · 14/12/2021 07:09

They should be able to keep discipline without saying the head is always watching and listening (see also Elf, Father Christmas, police officers etc). The head probably wouldn't like it either tbf.

Scarydinosaurs · 14/12/2021 07:11

I think that’s awful. And if you need kids to feel watched to behave rather than doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do - well, you’re losing.

You’re encouraging misbehaviour to happen in more hidden (and consequently more dangerous) places.

Fendidntdrake · 14/12/2021 07:13

It's lazy discipline.

Damnloginpopup · 14/12/2021 07:16

@Chachasha

I agree with you and I also think the Human Rights Commission would be very interested in this.
I dare you. I double dare you.

Today is a better day for begining with such craziness Grin

I remember being watched all the time by God, Santa and my mum's spies and I have to admit that I'm now a quivering wreck that cringes at the sound of eyeballs moving...

Damnloginpopup · 14/12/2021 07:18

Not to mention Beadle bring about.

LolaSmiles · 14/12/2021 07:19

Telling children they're always being watched is creepy and concerning whether it's a teacher saying the head is always watching cctv/listening in or those weird elf on the shelf things or santa cameras and other Christmas creepiness.

I've got no issues with teachers telling students that the headteacher expects good behaviour and that Mr/Mrs/Miss Smith wouldn't be happy with (insert behaviour here), but the spy microphones story is too far.

NellNorth · 14/12/2021 07:21

I think it’s really damaging. My schooling was Catholic, and the idea that God could see every thing that I did or thought was powerful and invasive. It’s the same with the idea that dead relatives could see you, feel proud of you, be disappointed- I clearly remember it fucking with my brain. Not good!

MyCatIsAFuckwit · 14/12/2021 07:33

I work in a school and have children in (different high and and primary. I have never heard of cameras/microphones in class, though I am in England.
Cameras are the norm in the yard or car park. More so for the protection of the children from folk that shouldn't be on site.

Mumoftwoinprimary · 14/12/2021 07:42

When my brother (now age 40) was in reception the class bear used to sit on a shelf and “watch if everyone is being good”.

saoirse31 · 14/12/2021 07:50

Truthfully tho you seem far more traumatised than your dd. You could tell her that it's something some teachers say and not true ... Not sure anyone's being damaged .... How many millions of kids r told Santa s watching in the months up to christmas? I'd say that has zero real time or long term effects too.

Porcupineintherough · 14/12/2021 07:53

I seem to remember being told that God sees everything that you do. How do Christians cope?

Peas252 · 14/12/2021 08:05

It sounds like a licensable activity under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Does the headteacher have a current SIA cctv operators license?

Lalliella · 14/12/2021 08:09

Teachers should be able to discipline kids without resorting to lying.

KrisAkabusi · 14/12/2021 08:10

@Peas252

It sounds like a licensable activity under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Does the headteacher have a current SIA cctv operators license?
He doesn't, because it's not true! It's clearly just something the teacher has said.
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