Surveillance in school: Invasive technology, junk science

Surveillance in school: Invasive technology, junk science

Author: Ethical Schools July 5, 2023 Duration: 31:00

We speak with Albert Fox Cahn and Sarah Roth of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, or S.T.O.P., about the increasing use of surveillance technology to track students. Claiming their technology can predict who will be a threat to themselves or the school, companies market programs that report to school officials on students’ keystrokes, words, and behaviors. School officials can provide it to law enforcement or parents.

Overview

00:00-00:41 Intros
00:41-02:27 Who is surveilling K-12 students and why?
02:27-05:49 Who is collecting the data, where it goes, how it impacts students?
05:49-08:03 Implications of students self-identifying as queer in Florida and elsewhere
08:03-10:08 How are risk factors determined?
10:08-12:37 Surveillance technology and School Resource Officers (SROs)
12:37-14:18 Are parents aware of their students’ surveillance?
14:18-16:28 Legal challenges
16:28-18:26 Using FOIA/FOIL to get information about surveillance
18:26-21:16 Facial recognition
21:16-21:40 Gaggle as enhancement to SRO in Minneapolis
21:40-23:51 Biases
23:51-24:45 Federal promotion of surveillance
24:45-27:39 Adoption of technology in classrooms and for measuring “productivity”
27:39- Outro

Transcript

Click here to see the full transcription of this episode. 

References

Surveillance Technology Oversight Project S.T.O.P. website

Soundtrack by Poddington Be...


Conversations about education often focus on test scores and curriculum, but there’s a deeper layer that truly shapes a student’s experience. Ethical Schools digs into that layer, exploring what it means to build a learning community grounded in integrity and care. Each week, hosts Amy and Jon sit down with educators and innovators who are actively reimagining schools. You’ll hear specific, grounded discussions about the practical work of creating environments where every student feels safe and respected. The dialogue frequently addresses how to support young people dealing with trauma, moving beyond theory to share actionable strategies that teachers are using right now. More than just problem-solving, this podcast highlights how to empower students themselves to become advocates and changemakers in their own communities. It’s a series that connects philosophy with daily practice, looking at the social and cultural structures within schools through a lens of ethics. For anyone invested in the future of education-whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or simply a concerned community member-this podcast offers a thoughtful and necessary perspective on the foundational values that make education meaningful.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 240

Ethical Schools
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