Tape Recording. Is it legal?

[xcriteria]

These pages are relevant to the topic...

http://www.pbs.org/teachers/learning.now...py_ma.html

In California, it looks like it's a misdemeanor for anyone except for a student to record in a classroom -- for students it's just (possibly) against the rules:
"The language adopted into law takes the position that any use of these recording devices that don’t receive explicit permission of both the teacher and the principal are inherently disruptive of the teaching process. Students who thus use a recording device without official blessing could find themselves suspended."

There may be more issues involved in distributing a recording on a public web site.

Basically laws vary by state, and a lot of teachers/schools might have a problem with it, but in general recording doesn't seem to be illegal.

[smithmt]

You know, I wouldn't have a prob. w/ it if a kid asked me. I think I would be upset if I wasn't told first... mainly because it could be edited and twisted digitally to say something else, which IS illegal. But, like I said, I would let a student who asked ahead of time tape... heck, I record my lessons sometimes on a video tape so I can assess the lesson later. But, I get permission from the parents of the students before I use that tape outside my personal betterment. If I use it for evidence i my portfolio, then I make sure those kids who don't have permission to be taped get moved out of the camera's view (you never know who is in the federal witness relocation program huh?) Because if I didn't then it WOULD be illegal.

[thewake]

What if a teacher is verbally abusing a student when nobody else is around?
Don't you have a right to tape for evidence?

[drica_chan]

In private high schools, it's more likely that you could get in honest trouble for tape recording, because what's approriate is controlled more by the board and less by the state. In public school, I'd say just check your local laws on privacy. Google, like others said.

In college it's differant. I've actually heard that some (many) professors recommend tape recording, especially if most of their final is based on lecture. You're encouraged to have a laptop in class to type notes. I'm thinking whatever teacher said that was just being snitty, but then I suppose depending on the area it's possible.

[random_name]

last year our regular form tutor left, and we got somone called mr wilson. he was a complete twat and made several girls cry all at once on more than one occasion. but his downfall was that he performed a rap for us. he ahd used to work at a youth prison thing (i dont know the proper name atm) and he used rapping to get through to them about drugs and rape and such. so this rap hinted that he was on drugs (illegal one's) drunk drove, raped people and commited assault. now i completely hated this man, and was scared of going to school because of him, so we all got together (me and 2 other girls who felt like i did) and decided to get him to do the rap and tape record it. so we got him to perform it for us near the middle of the year, and i hid the tape recorder under the desk, after telling other form members to be utterly quiet and not move too loudly, and i got a perfect recording or said rap. we then presented this to our head of year. he wasn't sacked, on grounds that if we can think this plan up we can alter a tape, but he was so quit that we did as we pleased after that. it was comedy gold. i think the rap is on you tube, it is an old man, white with greying hair. if you care to find it it mmay be under 'mr wilson's rap' or something similar.

[The Desert Fox]

Hey, the government puts cams in the bathrooms, (or at least they do at my school) so why would a student with a tape recorder be illegal?
Also, those reporters like, stalk celebrities with huge cameras and shit, and that's legal.

[anonomous]

i've questioned my teacher and she said-' it is stated in the school policy (my school only...at least i think so) that students cannot record teachers' voice unless given permission

[HeartofShadows]

anonomous Wrote:i've questioned my teacher and she said-' it is stated in the school policy (my school only...at least i think so) that students cannot record teachers' voice unless given permission

Don't take a teacher's word for it, you would have to look it up or have her show it to you because we all know teachers can lie.