Students Recorded Teachers in Schools Illegally

The superintendent of is warning parents of consequences after two separate incidents in which students used recording devices in the schools.

Superintendent Dr. William Cameron said two students used recording devices in a manner he described as illegal under Massachusetts law.

Cameron addressed the incidents in his report at Monday night's School Committee meeting. He did not disclose the names of the schools in which incidents occurred out of concern for the students' privacy, he said.

"I wanted to make sure people didn't think this is a minor matter," Cameron said on Tuesday. "This is very serious."

Recording someone without their knowledge is a felony under Massachusetts General Laws, with a penalty of up to five years in prison, he said.

Cameron said he became aware of the incidents "by discovery of the fact at school."

Although Cameron would not discuss the incidents in detail, School Committee members at Monday's meeting said teachers had been recorded.

"I've been shocked [by] what I've heard in the past week," committee member Kevin Carr said. "We need to make sure teachers feel safe and not victimized in their own classroom."

There is no evidence the recordings were published or made public in any way, Cameron said.

"It's the fact of the recording that bothers me," he said.

Many students have recording devices on their cellphones, including video cameras.

Cameron said the fact that many students have cellphones at school is a problem that can be very distracting.

"It's almost impossible to control the technologies [students have]," Cameron said. "There's constant messaging going on, even though it's not permitted."

Student use of cellphones and other technology is "part of the culture," Cameron said.

"We have to count on parents' help in exercising judgment about what they allow their kids to do," he added.

Cameron would not discuss whether the students were disciplined.