My Son hid a camera in the classroom. He recorded his teacher verbally abusing them. He gets expelled?

Question

He edited the video and placed it on youtube. Is it fair for him as a High school Senior to get expelled? Help. What can I do?

Answer 1

First I would hire an attorney, then I would go to my local news station with the video in hand, then I would let your attorney take care of the rest, if you can't afford an attorney then let the news channel handle it. I think the Board of education would find that video interesting also. I could become very creative with that video. :)

Answer 2

His teacher should not be verbally abusing him; however, in most places it is against the law to video tape (picture & sound together) people without their knowledge. That is, you can go to the park and video tape your kids playing soft ball and people walking by your camera can't say anything, but hiding a camera at a place of employment (for example) without putting some sort of sign up saying "you may be recorded" is usually illegal. Your son probably didn't know what to do in this situation and didn't realize it would get him into trouble. And putting it onto YouTube is troublesome as well, especially since he edited it. The editing calls the accuracy of the portrayal of the teacher into question and depending on how he did it could be considered slanderous (or is it libel? I forget). He's lucky to get away with an expulsion. Besides, if the teacher was that bad he's better off at another school anyway.

Answer 3

If the teacher was verbally abusing them then it should have been recorded. But why did he edit it and put it on youtube? That was wrong. It should have only been used to prove what the teacher was doing. He should not have been expelled for recording it but editing it and putting it on youtube, yes, I think he should have been expelled for that. It makes me wonder when you say he edited it. Why did he edit it? Maybe, the video is not what really happened if it has been edited.

Answer 4

I think you should talk with the principal. Firstly you can't just hide cameras wherever you want and videotape people, and secondly if he wanted to have something done about it, he should have showed the principal rather than putting it on youtube. Plus he edited it... who knows what's true and what isn't, from the school's point of view. I'm not surprised the principal is upset, since it clearly looks like he was trying to embarrass/bring down the school rather than actually solve the problem.

However, that doesn't take away from the fact that if there really is a problem, you should talk to the principal and then the board, to get it resolved.

Answer 5

I wish you would have put a link to the video. If the teacher is really verbally abusive, then I would go to the school board. This could basically be a whistle blower situation. He probably would have been better off going to you first and not putting it on Youtube at all. Schools don't like bad advertising. The school board can also tell you what options are available to your son to finish school.

Answer 6

He EDITED the video and placed it on youtube. If he was concerned about his teacher's abuse he would not have edited the video and placed it on youtube. It sounds like he was out to get this teacher and got caught. If he had a problem and wanted to prove abuse he would have shown his parents and then it would have been shown to the principal. By editing the video no one can say what really happened. By posting it on youtube shows vindictiveness towards his teacher, not finding justice from an abusive teacher. He was rightfully expelled.

Answer 7

He should have taken the video to some authority first, rather than post it on youtube. If he is serious about changing the actions of his teachers anyway. If he is not, then just, trying to make them look foolish is great revenge but not exactly a documented complaint. Hard to respond to something without having it be an official complaint. He probably violated some privacy right by recording the people without their consent.
Can you post the link to the video?

Answer 8

Call your congresscritter.

That sort of thing is what they are there for, you aren't going to get anywhere with the school administration or board of education. Roll out the big guns and have the congressional office make a phone call.

Might want to give the local newspaper and radio/TV stations a heads up as well. Publicity seems to work pretty well most of the time when someone makes a stupid decision.

Answer 9

Maybe it was abuse and probably it wasn't. If the teacher was actually saying really horrible things, get her fired. I don't know why he was expelled for that, but you can't just put up cameras where ever you want.

Answer 10

So he engaged in "teacher baiting", sounds like a wonderful kid. I think he got off easy, he was trying to destroy someone's life and take away their livelihood, just for the fun and glory of the latest childish fad. You don't want to know what I would do to someone who tried to destroy me.

By the way, do a search on "teacher baiting" if you don't believe that this isn't a serious crime against educators.

Answer 11

I dont understand...why have you ever asked this query three times with over 25 solutions already? Are you doing a survey?? i'm extreme. Or waiting for the nicely suited answer?? All attorneys do a unfastened consultation. i could ask one.