QR codes used to record microaggressions in schools

QR codes have been placed in classrooms at Britain's oldest drama school as students are urged to report teachers' "microaggressions."

 

Lamda (London Academy for Music and Dramatic Art) has introduced a system for anonymous reporting of perceived discrimination after consulting with its student body of trainee actors, directors and technicians.

 

The academy, based in Hammersmith, West London, allows students to report their tutors using QR codes placed around the school. The use of smart phones enables the processing of "Microaggressions" on official complaint forms. This allows them to anonymously describe problems they have "experienced" or "witnessed" at the 160-year-old drama school, which has Benedict Cumberbatch as its president.

 

The form for these incidents instructs students to recount incidents of microaggressions "in as much detail as possible", and to suggest what they "would like done in response" to the perceived aggression(s). The complaint form informs students that the incident will be logged, and will also be tracked to see whether "patterns are emerging" in behaviour at the school. 

 

Lamda documents instruct tutors to use "preferred methods of communication, preferred pronouns, and name" when interacting with their students.

 

Microaggressions are considered as acts of subtle and possibly unintentional discrimination that may range from making assumptions about a person based on race, to the use of incorrect gender pronouns. They typically include things like asking "where are you from?" of someone from a minority ethnic background. Or using the wrong gender pronoun for someone who is transgender or non-binary.

 

Lamda has said that the QR codes were used as part of a trial to test a system of anonymous reporting for microaggressions, and have now been taken down. The school plans to roll out a new reporting system for the 2022-23 academic year, and has not confirmed whether the QR codes will be reintroduced - it is understood that details of the new system are yet to be finalised, but reporting procedures remain in place in the interim.  

 

"We have a number of ways for our students to give feedback and report any concerns they have. We have previously trialled QR codes to facilitate this" a spokesman for the school said. "Following a review, we will be introducing an updated approach in the autumn term."

 

Critics have raised concerns about a potential "culture of denunciation", branding policing these incidents utilising QR codes as "totalitarian surveillance", and raised concerns from members of the Free Speech Union - which has legally represented academics whose speech has been policed or silenced. 

 

Legal counsel for the union, Byrn Harris, said the group is wary of a growing trend of higher education institutions allowing "sousveillance", which equates to surveillance being conducted by members within the group being monitored. 

 

"This can include procedures that facilitate students telling tales on one another – even by encouraging the disclosure of private social media messages – as well as the sort of 'sousveillance' reported at Lamda" he said. 

 

"Sousveillance is particularly insidious, as it makes teaching staff beholden at any given moment to the most hyper-sensitive (or vexatious) student in the seminar room. It openly cultivates a culture of fear-induced blandness. It is overwhelmingly obvious to most people that surveillance not only will result in dull and unambitious teaching, but also carries deeply unpleasant reminiscences of totalitarian practice."

 

 

Barnsley Crime Solicitors