Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                        Robyn Morrow             Chris Elliott                        Mark Suarez
                                               John Arterbury       Caitlin Cuppernull

Rants, not recorders, should stay out of class 

A student at Kearny High School in New Jersey recorded his teacher telling students that if they did not accept Jesus as their savior they belonged in hell. The teacher also made statements denouncing evolution, global warming and the big bang theory, claimed that dinosaurs were on Noah's arc and stated that only Christians belonged in heaven. Matthew LaClair brought the taped recordings of his history teacher's comments to school officials, the New York Times reported.

Members of the school board reacted by passing a ban on recorders in class without the teacher's permission because students complained about their voices being broadcast on the Internet. The board will also require teachers in Kearny School District to attend mandatory discussions on the separation of church and state, The New York Times reported.

The ban on recorders is unfair to students who want nothing more than a way to clarify a class discussion. While this may not have been LaClair's motive for recording his teacher, what he did was noble and he should be met with support. 

At UH most professors allow students to record their lessons, but there are some who do not. It may be argued that recorders allow students to slack off or sleep through lectures, however, the majority use the recordings for study and review.

There is no legitimate reason to not allow students to record lectures. 

Whether they are doing so to catch a teacher saying things they clearly shouldn't, to clear up a quick-paced lecture, or even to sleep in class, they should be allowed that right -- especially in college, where they are paying for their education. Instead of banning recorders the school board should ban the broadcast and distribution of the recordings; or perhaps better enforce the ban on teachers spreading their personal biases.