House Bill 3216, a new bill in South Carolina’s legislative session, is raising concerns among educators and administrators.
The bill, introduced by Republican Rep. Mike Burns, mandates that all classroom lessons be recorded across the state.
The goal, according to Burns, is to prevent rogue teachers from presenting lessons on controversial topics without parental knowledge, particularly regarding sexual ideology and gender topics.
Critics, including legal experts like Jay Bender, argue the bill is impractical and raises issues of student privacy, with some concerned that parents would not want their children recorded while in class.
The bill’s potential financial burden is another significant concern. Educators argue that schools would incur extra costs to purchase or update video recording equipment, although Burns contends that many schools already have the necessary technology in place.
In addition to the financial and privacy concerns, the bill proposes legal consequences for teachers who may teach out-of-bounds lessons.
Burns suggests that penalties could be directed toward the school system rather than individual teachers, although details are still under discussion.
Legal experts remain skeptical that the bill will pass, with one suggesting that it has little chance of advancing through the legislative process.
