Big Brother is Watching: Are cameras inside the classrooms a good idea?

Eating dinner with family or taking a nice walk in the park are things we take for granted each day because we have our heads down and eyes glued to the many technology devices we have. We are living in a digital age where daily use of cameras, cell phones, iPad and other devices are so common that it has become a “norm”. But how much technology is too much? Especially when it effects the college classrooms.

I don’t feel comfortable being taught under surveillance. The classroom should be a place where you or students should be free to express, question and learn amongst their classmates and professors. During one of my journalism classes at Roosevelt University, my professor discovered a black device lingering over his shoulder which turned out to be a camera. After discovering the device my professor contacted the University officials to see why they were placed inside the labs and if they can be removed. It appeared that they were placed inside the labs for safety and security purposes but when did the University notify their students and faculty?

I understand that in this day, cameras and technology has taken control over our society. We can not escape the eye of the camera but a heads up from the University would have been greatly appreciated. I never thought that the classroom would be a place that I would have to limit my opinions, questions or ideas due to the fear of being watched or heard through surveillance. As journalism students we share our opinions and values to our peers and professors. Being able to express ourselves inside the classroom is already hard enough and having a camera inside with audio and video would make it even harder for students. I understand the reasoning behind the use of cameras inside the classroom but there are other alternatives to secure safety on campus. After multiple discussions with my professor and classmates about this topic we have discovered that the University granted our wishes to remove the camera.

Now, I believe my fellow journalism classmates will feel more comfortable to have freedom of speech and express themselves more inside the privacy of our classrooms….. 

• camera
• classroom
• college
• roosevelt
• technology
• watching