This morning, I brought a camera with me to my kid's kindergarten class, so I could take pics of him.?

Question

I have many, many scrapbooks of him that I made, from since he was a baby until now. And since school is part of my child's life, of course I include pics of him at school, in his scrapbooks. I've always done this! But this morning, his kindergarten school wouldn't let me! (this is a new school, since he's now in kindergarten) I got kind of upset, because, this is the same school that signed up with a t.v. show for them to film inside the classroom! So it's just stupid that parents can't take pictures, but a camera crew can invade the classroom! I'd like to know the opinions of other parents. Would you get upset, like I did?

It's not about waivers. Because they'd allow me pictures, but only if they take the pictures themselves, and just give me back my camera when school's out! I didn't give them my camera, because It's my scrapbook, my child, and I'm the one who knows what kind of shots I want to take! And! If I give them my camera, who knows they'll nose through my other pictures that are in my camera? I wouldn't want that!

i WENT BACK TO THE SCHOOL THIS A.M. AND ASKED FOR A THOROUGH EXPLANATION. THE COMPLETE EXPLANATION IS, THEY DON'T ALLOW PARENTS TO TAKE PICTURES BECAUSE THE SCHOOL EQUIPMENT IN THE SURROUNDINGS AND THE BACKGROUND WOULD SHOW UP TO, AND THEY DON'T WANT PICTURES OF THE SCHOOL EQUIPMENT IN PEOPLES' POSSESSION, BECAUSE OF COMPETITION, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THE LOGIC IS SIMILAR TO NOT BEING ALLOWED TO TAKE PICS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, OR IN A MUSEUM. IT'S HYSTERICAL! HA HA HA! ANYWAY, THEY ASSURED ME THAT AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THEY WILL BE GIVING US A C.D. FULL OF PICS OF MY CHILD INCLUDING HIS SCHOOLWORDK. TURNS OUT, THE TEACHER TAKES PICS OF THE CHILDREN EVERY DAY, FOR THE INDIVIDUAL C.D.'S THEY'LL GIVE OUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR. I'M STILL PUZZLED. I'LL HAVE ANOTHER TALK WITH THE TEACHER TOMORROW. SHE SAYS SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHY THE POLICY IS LIKE THAT, EITHER.

Answer 1

Wow... never heard of this. I have worked in preschools in CA (where you can sue for anything! lol) for 14 years, and while there is sometimes a privacy issue (certain parents don't want their child photographed or pictures used in marketing, etc), I have never witnessed a school who would not allow a parent to take pictures of their OWN child! I'd take my complaint to the principal. If they can allow a TV show to take photos, there is NO reason why you can't take pictures of your own child! I can see them saying something like, "We have families who prefer anonymity, so please only photograph your own child" or something like that, but I don't see a problem with taking pics of your own little one! What do they have to hide? Are you taking pics with stuff in the background that no one should see?! Make an appointment to talk to the principal... I bet you're not the only parent who is upset about this. If that doesn't work, go to the next level up until you get results. School is a special place and time in a child's life, and as a fellow scrapbooker, I feel that you should stand up for your rights as a parent- and a camera-happy one! We went to the management at our local mall because of a similar issue. They were saying that if we wanted our children to have pictures with Santa, that we had to buy them... couldn't take them with your own camera. What a rip-off! The cheapest package was like $20... not something we had available at Christmas time for pics with Santa, when we have always used our own camera. We went to the mall manager and made a stink- it's discrimination against people who can't afford to purchase those pics of a special memory with Santa (that every parent has taken their kids to mall Santas for generations- knowing that you could pics for FREE!) The manager had to come out with us and tell the person dressed like Santa's helper to allow us to take pics with our camera- and all the other people who wanted to. Victories are small sometimes, but stand up for what you believe. We got very cute pics of our kids with Santa because we refused to bend to ridiculous rules. Good luck!

Answer 2

I teach in public school and we cannot take pictures of hte children to PUBLISH or use for commercial purposes (like a newspaper coming to school to photograph the children) without signed waivers from the parents. I have never been told by my school district that parents cannot take pictures of thier child on the 1st day of school.

I am wondering if the lovely legal counsel (that school distircts have to keep on retainer every year because of all kinds of lawsuits) came up with this legal policy. It sounds like one of those blanket policies that prevents a school district from being sued. It's all about keeping schools from being sued. You would not beliieve the amount of money school districts budget for legal counseling. It's ridiculous.

If you have a problem with the policy, unfortunatley the school's hands are tied. They must follow what the School Board has decided. Go to the next School Board meeting and let your unhappiness be known. The only way to change things is to let them know parents aren't happy. They may not change the policy, but at least you can demand an explanation as to why they decided on it in the first place. You are at least entitled to that.

Answer 3

They're that worried about a parent of a child taking photographs? Better be sure they put up block walls around the playgrounds, you know, telephoto lenses can take photos of the kids from long range. And don't forget to cover the school bus windows, and shroud the kids who walk. Oh my gosh, cancel field trips to places where people with cameras might be, too! Sorry, I can't help it... that's too funny.

I'd start looking around for a new school that has rational, hysteria-free privacy policies. My kid is worth money to the school, either tuition money or tax money. If it were my child, I'd find a school that offers real, logical security, and reasonable freedom, and therefore deserves that money.

Answer 4

It would partially upset me . The camera crew thing would bother me. Also, where I live one has to get consent from all the parents in case their child is in a picture (accidentally). Permission needs to occur to own a picture of their child (weird world this is turning into hey?). Pictures could disturb things. Why not get a couple shots before class or on an out-trip (if parents are able to join)?

Answer 5

Their rules don't make alot of sense but I guess if you consider that if every parent did this, you would have a classroom of parents taking pictures of their kids and nothing being done.

Its hard enough for some kids to separate from their folks at the age of 5, and its imperative that the teacher become the authority during school time.

I guess if this is their rule you have no choice to follow it or put your child in another school.

Answer 6

I don't blame you for being upset...could it be a privacy issue with the other kids in his class? What I mean is, I used to work in day care and when the kids were enrolled, parents would have to sign a wavier releasing liability and allowing their child to be photographed. Maybe they did that previously for the camera crew but feared that your pics would contain other kids besides your son without parents granting permission. Just a thought.

Answer 7

i understand your point. it's more of a privacy issue. the school doesn't know what you are going to do with the children. they have no way to monitor to assure that your photos only include your son...and there are some sicko's out there. i know that you are upset, but if you think of it like some perv got a pic of your child and was obsessing over it, it would be very bad. i do understand! have a party with all the kids at your house and take some pics there!!

Answer 8

It is not rude. When my wife and I were married, we specified "adult reception" in our invitations. Our reason was the same as your mother's -- we've seen too many wedding receptions where children are running around unsupervised, making messes, breaking things, and often getting hurt because they were rough-housing or simply not being careful. Extending an "adults only" invitation gives everyone the choice to come without the kids or simply not attend. If families with children get offended, that's THEIR problem.

Answer 9

i was asked to paint little kids faces at a school once and i had been taking pictures of the end results for my own use. A teacher came up to me and asked me to please stop doing that, because there are cases where children are hiding from their violent fathers or other family members. You never know where a picture can end up. Maybe thats one of the reasons.

Answer 10

I wouldn't be upset Id be pissed off! They did that to my cousins son on his first day of kindergarten my cousin wasn't even allowed in the classroom!!! and there is no film crew there all I know is Ill be mad as hell if they do that to me when my 2 boys start kindergarten.