Teacher using phone in class

[devilinthedetail]

I've been told by another Mum that her DD says the teacher uses her phone while in class. I'm pretty gobsmacked to hear this and not quite sure what to do with this information. I kind of assumed that this would be a big no-no for teachers.

Obviously I have only heard this 2nd hand and it has come from a 6yr old but if it is true, what should I do, if anything?

seeker!

The document I was talking about was an acceptable use policy. It must just be our LA. I really do think it's wise not to put yourself in the situation where accusations could be made. That's not being paranoid, it's common sense (and a requirement in my LA).

Common sense ...
I'm assuming that teachers in your LEA don't have access to any of the assessment and tracking programmes currently available that run on iphones used by many schools nationally yellowdandelion

One example -

FingerTips is now even better than before.
? It will still make your life easier.
? It will still save you 5 hours a week.
? It still uses a mobile phone to collect evidence, and you can still see at a glance what evidence you have collected and report to parents and teachers BUT?
www.focus-education.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66&Itemid=41

No you assume correctly Mrz. My LA are tight arses. However if you read back I have been posting in favour of teachers using phones in school, but not to put your self at risk professionally by taking pictures of children on your mobile phones. I am assuming that your assessment and tracking programmes dont involve you needing to have pictures of other peoples children on your personal mobile phone?

Sorry x posts.

I have to say I am surprised at that, and no, my LA wouldn't allow use to take pictures of children on our personal phones!

We do have iPads that belong to the school and stay in school. We are considering getting some iPods. This way there are no child protection issues. That link looks great, but nowhere does it mention personal phones!

Unfortunately cp issues do occasionally happen with teachers (seen the news this week) and protecting children has to be our priority, as well as protecting ourselves from allegations. I am really not a paranoid person, this is common sense.

The software runs on mobile phones ... now how many schools can afford to buy every member of staff a mobile phone to sit in school ... so yes some schools run it on staff's personal phones
but do you really think insisting staff only use the school iPads/phones for this will stop anyone so inclined from "bluetoothing" it to their own mobile?

So why risk it?

I have mine on silent in my bag, along with my other personal belongings such as keys and purse. I may check time on it when I forget my watch. I glance between lessons to check messages. We are a large school, I am miles from the office and I know from experience that messages take a while to find me. I am a grown up, and can be trusted to have my phone and use it appropriately.

I wrote out school mobile technologies AUP and I'm pretty sure the phrase unused was staff are not to use personal mobile devices during contact time with pupils

We have invested in IPods to allow staff to use the apps that people mention and also ensured that every classroom has a set of cameras.
I can understand why people are using their own equipment, but please be aware that you are putting yourself at risk by doing so.

Why do anything yellowdandelion, there are so many imagined risks out there far better we lock our children in boxes

Our school requires teachers to leave their moblies in their bags - and never ever use them in the classroom - because we DID have a very nasty man work as a teacher in our primary school - he did take photos of the kids on his phone, he did take photos and watch children "discreetly" whilst they were changing for PE, and he did destroy his phone and attempt to destroy his home hard drive when he was discovered trying to sell the pictures online.

He went to prison and will never work with children again.... in court he said that having his phone with him was a temptation, that he had "looked" for years, but being able to have his phone moved him up a level (into buying and selling images - the ones he bought were much more deprived than the ones he sold!) - so no I don't think having a phone out in class is a good thing....

So if you were the parent of the 15 year old in the news last week, or a parent of one of the children abused by a teacher in a school not too far from where I live and found that the school had approved the teachers keeping photos of these children on their personal phones, you would see this as an 'imagined risk'?

Your argument does nothing to support the fact that, as born2bemild says above, we are grown ups and responsible. Having pictures of other peoples children on your phone is irresponsible and plain stupid.

I am all for new technology. I have said that I use my smartphone appropriately. I an see why it happens but it shouldn't.

Our primary actually use iPods for Registration!

Mrz. I suppose there's no need for CP training or CRB checks if it's all an imagined risk.

Hmmm - even OFSTED and LEA advisors/inspectors were not concerned by my use of a personal camera. Infact some of the photos were given huge praise.
Me not using my own personal camera and video in school would be a real shame for pupils, parents and school alike. Several parents in my new class came and said how pleased they were that they'd get lots of pictures of their children this year as I was with their children. They loved the photos on the CD they were able to buy last year after the Olympics week.

School camera = poor quality, blurred or out of focus, grainy, dark pictures that cannot be enlarged and look rubbish for displays
My camera - clear, bright, focused shots, capable of being enlarged to A3 size that parents love to see

School video camera - grainy, poor sound quality, runs out of batteries in less than 15/20 minutes of use
My video camera (well, actually DDs) - HD quality video, high quality clear sound, can be used for double the length of time and is rechargeable with the mains can be played on a smartboard in large size

Currently making a school video using video clips, pictures and sound recordings of the children for a parent's evening coming up - wonder which would look the most professional and for the 20 minute video (which means taking about at least an hours worth of videos clips)

Oh - and the fact that I have to have the images on my personal laptop during the time. I have no school time to do it. I have no school computer. The software on the ICT rooms software is not capable of doing what I need it to do.

Isn't that a bit like not letting your child play outdoors because there is a monster around every corner (and obviously a paedophile in every classroom).

Do we avoid the possible usefulness of technology because a very small number of people may use it for evil intent

yellowdandelion - the issue with the 15y had nothing to do with the use of a camera or phone in a classroom. It was to do with the inappropriate relationship between the teacher and child.

Cannot comment on the other case as don't know it. But surely if it involved photos then the same could happen using a school camera?

I have been through far more intensive security checks than a CRB.

Yes but whilst you cannot avoid going outside, it is possible to successfully work without using personal technology in the classroom. We manage it just fine.

aJumpedUpPantryBoy - surely a better policy is to ensure that staff are never allowed to take any form of image if they are in a 1:1 situation with a child, not in view of others?

When I do video records where we need quiet I still have at least 2 or 3 children at a time and leave the blinds open on the quieter rooms which we use, for example.

I actually rarely use my camera on my phone but sometimes it is the only camera available. My personal SLR camera however I do have - but then it is pretty large so could never be used discreetly.

I didn't say I agreed with the school AUP but in order to protect myself I ensure I abide by it.

Surely the best policy would be for the school to ensure that staff were provided with the necessary equipment.

Having been involved in drafting LEA Sample AUPs and working closely with the police/child protection I would be very wary of using my own camera/phone.
Not because I see danger round every corner but because I do not want to inadvertently put myself in a compromising position.

Going back to the issue raised in the OP if the teacher concerned is using the phone during torching time for personal calls/texts that is inappropriate.

Teaching time, not torching time - obviously I never use my own personal torch in school

As I pointed out earlier yellowdandelion someone who is really determined to take photographs can quite easily transfer them from a school camera to a laptop ...I'm assuming you use SD cards and flashdrives etc.

I don't take my mobile phone into the classroom. I do take it on external visits in case of emergencies. I have used it for photographs on a few rare occasions but like Hulababy I do use my personal camera but keep a separate SD card