Schools and Photography

[livin4lax09]

Drawing?
Like sketching unflattering caricatures in the margins of the notes?
Hardly disrupting, doesn't need assistance to distract the teacher.
Also doesn't get published on the internet I suspect.
Doesn't seem to be in the same class (pardon the pun)

the idea I got from the article is that the main problem was that the pictures were posted on facebook. Reading it over, it seems that this was not the only problem, as you mentioned, because of the distraction, but it also doesnt seem like it was much of a distraction, as she was just talking to students. I have to wonder if they would face the same problem if there hadnt been a distraction, they just took the photo. Or, if there would be the same problem if it hadnt ended up on facebook. The problem I saw was the image of someone going on a public website. And in THAT case, it shouldnt matter whether it's a drawing or a photograph. but it probably would have, I can't see anyone punishing someone over drawing. This is the problem I see in our world today...Photographers are now being under suspicion for taking photos in cities, but an artist can sit outside drawing a building (which could be achieving the same thing for terrorism) and not even be questioned.


I don't see a problem with students having cell-phones in the classroom as long as they are respectful enough to not use them during class and they are on silent. I personally turn my phone on silent every time I walk into a classroom, and only take it out of my pocket to check the time. But I know a lot of students who text during class, and I just find that disrespectful. I guess it just comes down to maturity, which most of the population (especially nowadays, with these young'ns who are obsessed with texting) don't have, because they fail to realize how disrespectful they are being.

[Medley]

I guess it just comes down to maturity, which most of the population (especially nowadays, with these young'ns who are obsessed with texting) don't have, because they fail to realize how disrespectful they are being.

And that's a big part of the problem, Brent. A policy of "no cell phones in the classroom, unless you are respectful" has holes big enough to drive a semi through- legally speaking.
So the policies tend to the extremes- no phones at all, or fair for everyone.

So I understand the positon of the UW law prof. There was nothing illegal in the student's actions. So the question becomes "did the student violate school policy?". If so, then the discipline is justified. However, if the answer is "yes", then the next request from the student's lawyer should reasonably be, "OK, show me the policy that states his actions weren't allowed."

I'm guessing that the school has no such policy. I think that if it did, the superintendant would be quoting it chapter and verse.

So if I were a betting man, I'd wager that the school loses the suit, but creates a clearly defined policy regarding cameras in the classroom as a result.

- Joe U.