Debate on CVHS camera policy for distance learning
During distance learning, the CVHS policy on cameras has been a point of contention between students and teachers.
The policy states that cameras have to be on during class. This doesn’t sit well with students for a variety of reasons.
“I think it should be the individual’s decision because of the privacy of the person while they are in their own home,” said CVHS senior Tobias Taylor.
This debate started in August when structured distance learning started in the beginning of the school year. Most students agree with Taylor’s perspective and want cameras off, while most teachers would like cameras to be on.
Senior Dylan DeCosta-Bass also wants cameras off, saying, “I would like it off because I am extremely self-conscious about how the camera makes me look.”
Government teacher Mark Mladinich, who requires cameras to be on, wants to provide a sense of community within the online class. “Being able to see other students are present and in the same situation as everyone else provides a little of this sense of community,” he said.
Not all teachers require cameras to be on though. Steve Wilkinson, math and guitar teacher, does not require cameras to be on in his guitar class. Regarding the relaxation of the camera policy in his class, Wilkinson said, “I’ve noticed that guitar students tend to work at their own pace and like to focus on the skills they decide they need… it’s difficult to play guitars together as a class with distance learning.”
Cameras only became a source of debate this year, as during the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year, distance learning was less organized and more asynchronous.
This conversation between teachers and students will continue as long as some form of distance learning is in place, whether that is fully distanced or a hybrid model.
Having my camera on is distracting and stressful for me. It feels like a mirror is being held up to my face for four hours a day online. I understand that teaching to a bunch of black squares is hard but I find it distracting when I can see myself in the top left corner.
I agree that having the camera on provides a sense of community amongst students but every students situation is diffrent. Students can have technical difficulties, and it can make students more uncomfortable. I just don’t agree with it being mandatory.
I get why teachers want us to have our cameras on, but I don’t think that teachers should have cameras as requirements to earn points. Even though having cameras on helps with keeping students engaged, having cameras on is something that makes a lot of people uncomfortable.
I think students should be given the choice to turn their cameras on if they want. It can be a sense of privacy or even have to do with their wifi situation.
I agree with the camera policy that the Guitar teacher is taking. Not only do cameras being off allow the student to focus more, but some students do not have cameras as they may have built their computer without one.
I understand where teachers are coming from, but they need to understand that kids want privacy in their own homes. Also, wifi connection can be terrible for some people. With their cameras off it can help their computer work better.