Iowa Republicans introduce bill requiring cameras in public school classrooms

[RandySF]

Iowa Republican lawmakers introduced a bill this week that would require cameras to be installed in all public school classrooms.

The purpose of the cameras would be to allow parents and guardians to view their children’s classes via livestream.

Republican state Rep. Norlin Mommsen sponsored the bill which could force schools to set up cameras in all K-12 classrooms, with the exception of physical education and special needs classes, according to the bill.

Teachers and other school staff who fail to keep their cameras in working condition or obstruct the view could be fined up to 5 percent of their weekly salary for each infraction, the bill adds.

Mommsen told The Center Square, an offshoot of the Franklin News Foundation, the main purpose of the bill is to boost parent involvement in their children’s education.

“I think we need to showcase the great work our teachers do,” Rep. Mommsen told the outlet during a phone interview this week.

“Similar to a body camera on a policeman, a camera takes away the ‘he said, she said’ or ‘he said, he said,’ type of argument and lets them know ‘hey, we are doing a good job.’ It takes that argument away.”



https://thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment/education/592921-iowa-introduces-bill-requiring-cameras-in-public-school

[Scrivener7]

1. If I were a teacher, I'd be looking for a different job.

[TheBlackAdder]

6. That's what they want, to force out older teachers and install QAnon wackos.

[Scrivener7]

23. The average QAnon wacko wouldn't last till lunchtime.

[xocetaceans]

2. Perhaps requiring legislators to wear body cameras that are always on would be good.... n/t

[Mr.Bill]

7. I would settle for

breathalyzer and drug testing.

[DBoon]

3. I have an idea! Let's install cameras in Iowa lawmakers' offices

and allow the public to view them by livestream, to boost citizen involvement in the law making process and showcase the great job the lawmakers are doing

How could they possibly object to this?

[Frustratedlady]

18. That was my first thought, as well. What's good for the goose...

I have 3 teachers in the family and they are not happy. Between Reynolds and her handling of the virus, plus the changes that the legislature is making regarding education, they are counting the days to retirement.

I hate to see this as they all love teaching...just not to politics of it.

[TheBlackAdder]

4. They'll put up a skeezer paywall to help fund Iowa. Next dress code requiring girls to wear skirts.

.



but am I far off?

.

[Sogo]

5. My Iowa,

once one of the top states in the nation for education. But alas, it seems there's been too much hog confinement air breathed throughout the state for that good record to continue....

[madaboutharry]

8. There are so many problems with this stupidity.

First of all, it violates the privacy of children and makes them vulnerable to predators. It is creepy to think some depraved person, and it could be another parent, is watching these kids on a computer.
Second, the real purpose is to monitor teachers to make sure they teach the white supremacist version of history, never talk about anything that offends retrograde white people, and that they don’t teach real science.

These psycho republicans are out of control.

[Sogo]

11. Add to that they want to make sure teachers

aren't making some child "uncomfortable" by teaching something that would go against their religious beliefs....

Or promoting any of the other things that are in those books that need to be burned.

[tblue37]

17. There's also the cost. Schools have very tight budgets.

[masmdu]

9. I can see how it may help with discipline problems

in the classroom. If a child knows that their parent is watching or even maybe watching they are likely to behave differently/better. Decreasing behavioral problems then allows for more effective teaching to the benefit of everyone in the classroom.

[Hekate]

10. Big Brother is Watching You. Big Brother cares about you, kiddies. We leave you with teachers...

…all day, but deep down inside, we know Teachers are the Spawn of the Devil.



Okay that’s it. This country is definitely going to Hell.

[PTWB]

12. Iowa has become Alabama but colder.

The right wing takeover of the state is in full effect.

[Lithos]

13. Violates FERPA - which is a federal law

Stupid Republicans - Privacy *IS* for kids...

[albacore]

14. Their kids wouldn't want it.... the parents, either...

They say shit and do shit that might get them in trouble with their fundie parents.... or the law.
Suzie Creamcheese swears like my Drill Instructor.
Billy Bob is a sneaky little shit.
Mom and dad don't want those cameras, believe me.

[chillfactor]

15. See exodus of hundreds of teachers.

As a teacher for 30 years behind me, I would walk.

[dwayneb]

28. Exactly what the Fascist Right wants

They are working hard to get their propaganda forced into every classroom. If they can intimidate the good teachers to step away from the profession they will fill the void with whacks who will teach the Fascist Friendly curriculum.

Don't get me wrong I don't blame you but it's a lot like our State and Federal representatives. Who in their right mind would want to go into politics here in 2022?

[keithbvadu2]

16. And any school/classroom that receives taxpayer money... religious, voucher, charter, home schooling

And any school/classroom that receives taxpayer money... religious, voucher, charter, home schooling.

[demtenjeep]

19. yes please-little johnny and suzie's teacher would like you to see the REAL them

in action!

[dalton99a]

20. Iowa Republican threatens teacher with arrest for speaking her mind

https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2017/02/14/1633383/-Iowa-Republican-threatens-teacher-with-arrest-for-speaking

[Deuxcents]

21. I'd like to know if the people in Iowa agree w/ this

[elias7]

22. I'd favor cameras in their houses, where unrecognized abuse is more likely to occur

[DFW]

24. These crazy Republicans should remember what happened with their communist role models

The East Germans set up methods to monitor every move and word of as many of their citizens as they possibly could--and drowned in the information they had collected. They never had enough secret police to monitor and all the information they had collected.

[MissMillie]

25. I imagine the money for this is coming from the book fund

Since their banning all the books

[Vinca]

26. How long before the right starts moaning about not being able to find teachers?

I wouldn't want to be a teacher if I had a pack of crazies watching my every move making sure I didn't utter the name Martin Luther King or something.

[dwayneb]

27. Lawsuits in the making

Beyond the obvious goal of ensuring that a Fascist Friendly curriculum is being taught, these videos will be used by parents to sue about everything under the sun.

It's an incredibly stupid idea.