Survellence In The Class: Should parents monitor the classroom?

Chandigarh, October 10, 2024: The Department of Education and CALEM, Panjab University(PU), Chandigarh today organised a special lecture on “Surveillance in The Class: Should Parents Monitor the Classroom?” at PU. 

Prof. Sachidananda Mohanty, Sri Aurobindo Chair, Panjab University, delivered the lecture in the presence of Prof. Kuldip Puri who chaired the session. Prof. Kuldip Puri honoured the speaker by presenting a bouquet and Prof. Satvinderpal welcomed the speaker and Prof. Puri through extended introduction. 

Prof. Mohanty addressed the issue of surveillance, recognizing its benefits for student safety but questioning its impact on students' freedom to learn and socialise. He reflected on the Gurukul system and Western boarding schools, where trust between parents and teachers minimised interference. However, he noted that today's teachers face pressure under parental surveillance, often being asked to do more while receiving lower salaries and lower social status. This surveillance, driven by parents' desire to be involved in teaching, can strip students of their freedom and trust in teachers. He mentioned that Indian schools are less concerned with what should be taught, where memorization is emphasized over conceptual learning. This, he argued, leads to parental concern and over-monitoring, ultimately diminishing student autonomy. 

Prof. Mohanty said that the research studies show that there is a disadvantage of surveillance though the assumptions are that it is helpful. He stressed the point that “no men or women would want to be under surveillance”, it is a violation of privacy. He shared his worries that surveillance is good in terms of safety but it creates pressure that students can succeed in starting semesters but deteriorate their mental health. Prof. Mohanty advocated for dialogue between parents and teachers as an alternative to surveillance, both before and after classes. 

During the Q&A session, serious discussions were raised about the role of parental surveillance. Prof. Satvinderpal emphasised the purpose of education, and Prof. Kuldip Puri concluded by suggesting that "surveillance" should be replaced by "observation and supervision," as the former term is more fitting for crime-related contexts. He also stressed the need to restore trust between teachers and parents. 

Prof. Latika Sharma, Prof. Nandita Singh, Prof. Kuldeep Singh, Prof. Amritpal, the principal, and the staff of Ankur Public School were present and actively participated in the session.