The short answer would be: yes, your child can wear a hidden camera to school. But it’s never as simple as that since there are multiple caveats to this particular issue.
It’s not always legal, as different states have different laws and regulations. Then, there are many different hidden cameras and it’s not always easy to choose the right one for your particular situation. Some of you might be wondering whether a spy camera for kids is even necessary.
Well, we’re answering all of those questions for you - just sit back and read on.
Is a Body Camera for Kids Necessary?
We live under the notion that our young ones are as safe as they should be in daycare facilities and/or schools, and that’s the way it should be, but sadly, that’s not always the case. Educator misconduct and bullying are still very prevalent in educational institutions and in most instances it’s very hard to get concrete evidence of it happening unless you utilize a body camera for kids.
Teachers “Disciplining” Students
It’s important to note that we’re not trying to discredit this noblest of professions, but rather shed some light on the outliers. As in any other line of work, some will abuse their authority and potentially cause harm to others.
Teachers are no exception and in this case, the potentially harmed ones are our kids. Studies have shown that 70% of accused personnel that went to trial for misconduct towards students have resulted in “findings of guilt”. So, keeping an eye on what’s going on in the classroom (literally, but within legal boundaries) is rather important.
Bullying
Every one in five students have reported being bullied at some point, which amounts to 20% of all students. The key point here is that those are the students that do report bullying; most of it goes unnoticed or unreported. This is due to the fact that the children who speak up, most of the time end up:
- being subject of malicious rumors;
- excluded from social activities on purpose;
- being made fun of;
- physically hurt.
These statistics pose a dangerous precedent and it’s no wonder that some children simply don’t speak up about such issues.
The Situation Is Even Worse With Special Needs Students
Children with disabilities are even more likely to fall victim to abuse or bullying in educational institutions. The consequences of such actions are grim and have a long-lasting impact. Sometimes there’s no other recourse for parents other than to directly obtain evidence via a spy camera for kids, as this story has shown.
Is a Hidden Camera for Kids Legal?
As with all hidden cameras, the use of a body camera for kids is perfectly legal in all areas where a reasonable expectation of privacy (REP) is not presumed and it’s legal for you to monitor your child as long as it’s in line with the aforementioned clause.
The classroom is generally not subject to REP, as proven in this case, but it can be frowned upon if it’s done without just reason. Areas such as locker rooms, changing rooms, toilets, or other such rooms on school premises are not to be monitored, as there is a justified expectation of privacy therein.
The laws and regulations on this matter vary from state to state and can differ even further since certain schools have their separate codes of conduct that might prohibit the use of hidden cameras. As a general rule, make sure you have all the information regarding school rules and make sure to head over to our guide on laws and regulations to get all the details.
Another important point is that any footage obtained without consent or in areas where REP is presumed is inadmissible in a court of law and may incriminate the person recording. We strongly advise you to resort to hidden cameras only to resolve any qualms that you might have; e.g. to make sure that your child is subject to bullying or harassment. In the case that this is indeed happening, consult the local and/or school authorities and proceed accordingly.
The Best Hidden Camera for Your Child to Wear
If you’re looking for a spy camera for kids, there are many options out there on the market and sometimes it can be hard to discern which ones are the best. Below we compiled some of our bestselling products that will surely fit the purpose of your child wearing them to school or a daycare facility.
HD Spy Pen Plus
Concealed in a pen, this body camera for kids records video in 1260x960 @ 30FPS resolution, with a rechargeable battery and 8GB of built-in memory. It will fit perfectly among your child’s school supplies and it’s very simple to operate. It has only one button to start and stop recording, while also being able to take pictures of up to 2 megapixels. The product is so reputable that we had to write a whole guide especially for it, detailing all its specifics and other potential uses.
iPhone Case Hidden Camera
Another great option is the iPhone Case Hidden Camera. The built-in camera inside an iPhone case records 1080p HD video and is motion-activated. It also has a longer battery life and memory of up to 32 GB.
It should be the go-to device for taping malicious behavior that might occur in school due to its high memory capacity while being equally unobtrusive.
Micro Pocket Camera
The Micro Pocket Camera is our budget option, should you have doubts about investing in a more expensive device. If you want to confirm your kid’s claims about a certain disagreeable event, this device will surely do its job.
Although, you won’t have the great video quality that our previous two devices offer since the camera records in 640x480 px resolution. That doesn’t mean that the event or the persons in the footage will be indistinguishable, but rather that you might not catch all the details as crisply as you would otherwise. It also doesn’t have the “camouflage” of other wearable cameras in our collection but will do just fine “peeking” out of a pocket or being left among some other school supplies.
Other Devices to Help Ensure Your Child’s Safety
Video recording via a hidden camera for your child to wear may be a bit excessive in certain instances. If it’s in breach of certain schools’ code of conduct or against certain state laws, you could always opt for alternative “elite spyware”, such as audio surveillance devices. The voice-activated recorder pen or the USB flash drive audio recorder are our most handy ones in this category. These devices can prove to be useful in catching verbal harassment on tape, especially in states with one-party consent policies. For more details on legal issues, head over to the aforementioned legal guide.
There Are Daycare Facilities With Surveillance
Another step you might want to take before opting to purchase a hidden camera for your child to wear is asking to view existing footage in the institution. Many facilities provide daycare with video monitoring, i.e. their surveillance system, and should you have any suspicions, they ought to be willing to comply with your request.
Don’t Hesitate to Reach Out
If you have any doubts about whether our products will fit your particular situation, you can always reach us by email or phone. We make a point out of helping all our customers to make an informed purchase.
