"Watching Versus Watching Out": Ethical Surveillance in Schools

• In Event: 47.095 - MTCC Roundtable Session 19
  In Roundtable Session: 47.095-10 - Examining Power: Discipline, Displacement, and Deficit Discourses

Abstract

In this paper I draw on existing surveillance theory to dichotomize surveillance into “watching” (unethical school surveillance) and “watching out” (ethical school surveillance) and analyze the distinguishing features of the two concepts. Finally, I posit two principles as necessary features of ethical school surveillance: 1) student’s best interests-- a sincere and core concern for student present and future well-being and thriving and 2) relationality-- a two-stranded principle demanding that those watching out for children have pre-established caring relationships with them as well as share some relatedness along salient identity lines.

Author

• Garry Mitchell