Call for teachers to wear body cameras as attack numbers spike

Battered and broken Queensland teachers are calling for a trial of body-worn cameras, as incidents of physical aggression against them continue to rise in classrooms.

Battered and broken Queensland teachers are calling for a trial of body-worn cameras, as incidents of physical aggression spike in classrooms.

Teachers have taken to popular social media forums to widely discuss a trial, which has already been done in the UK, with some saying video evidence of “the zoos in some schools” would help parents understand what’s happening in classrooms and prompt action from education leaders.

The calls come after The Courier-Mail revealed yesterday that 20,368 students were excluded, short suspended or long suspended for physical aggression at schools across the state – a five year high.

Recent posts on a teachers’ Facebook forum discussing security or body-worn cameras in the classroom garnered dozens of responses.

“Society doesn’t understand the trauma inflicted on the innocent kids and teachers from the violence in some classes in some areas,” one teacher wrote on a post.

“As a teacher aide, I would happily wear a body cam to support teachers,” another said.

“Totally willing for a trial,” a further comment read.

However, there were concerns around the idea.

“That’s a legal minefield if you were doing it without the consent of your school admin,” one teacher’s response said.

Teacher Olivia is considering abandoning teaching after less than four years. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Teacher Olivia – who gave permission for only her first name to be used and did not want her school publicly identified – required treatment for shoulder and back injuries after a seven-year-old student grabbed onto her and threw themselves to the ground, taking her down with them.

“I definitely think this is a very reactionary idea, but we’re also getting to the point now where there’s not enough teachers and we need to do something big now to save our field,” she said.

“There is still such a huge disconnect between what some people think about the teaching profession and what is actually happening.

“What is happening inside schools is connected to what is happening outside schools – for example youth crime and domestic violence. If we deal with behaviour better in schools, I think there might be a decrease in this kind of behaviour outside schools.”

Teachers’ Professional Association of Queensland president Scott Stanford said he had “no problems with the idea at all”.

“Teachers would have to get parental consent, which will be hard,” he said.

“But as long as the cameras are not in a bathroom or toilet, there shouldn’t be any child protection issue at all.”

Teachers’ Professional Association of Queensland president Scott Stanford said he had “no problems with the idea at all”. Picture: istock

He said there was at least one independent school he knew of that had put CCTV into classrooms as a “security precaution”.

“Some staff took it as saying that they didn’t think staff were doing their jobs, but the majority saw it for what it was actually about,” he said.

Queensland Association of State School Principals Association president Pat Murphy said principals would be “reluctant” to put in place body-worn or CCTV cameras in the classroom.

“This [camera] idea seems to be a very reactive measure, rather than addressing the source of the problem,” he said.

“It’s about how we regulate that student’s behaviour and move them away to help them to calm down and adjust their behaviour.”

While Queensland Secondary Principals’ Association acting president Kirsten Ferdinands said the focus should be on schools having enough resources to manage students’ needs.

“The workforce in our schools should be more than just teachers, it’s about also having those support staff to meet the needs of the troublesome youth in our schools,” she said.

“The [current] use of cameras [in the classroom] is about professional development and to highlight good examples of classroom teaching and how to best engage students in learning.”

Queensland Teachers’ Union president Cresta Richardson said the Department of Education has “intensive procedures” around consent for recording in schools.

“Through consultation and agreement, teachers and school leaders may choose to have classroom observations recorded for capability development,” she said.

The Sunday Mail submitted questions to the Department of Education about body worn and CCTV cameras in the classroom but no response was received over two days.

Queensland government procedure says: “An employee’s decision to record, use or disclose a state school student’s personal information without valid consent may breach the confidentiality provisions in the Education Act”.

“A decision to disclose personal information by a public service employee in breach of the Education Act may amount to misconduct in the Public Service Act and corrupt conduct in the Crime and Corruption Act.”