Can my teacher photograph me during class?

My teacher uses his iPhone to take pictures of my classmates when they have their heads down. He gives No warning and doesn't let us know when He's doing it. I live in California and was just wondering if this is legal? Can I see the actual law saying it isn't?

Yes, its legal.

You can inform the principal, as it may violate internal school rules or procedures, but from a law standpoint, it is entirely legal. When you are in a classroom setting (or anywhere else where you are visible to other people) you have no legal expectation of privacy, which means you can be legally photographed by anyone.

The general rule is that unless there's a law prohibiting something then it is permissable.

It depends on what he's doing with the pictures. CA public schools send out an "opt out" release form to parents at the beginning of every school year. If your parents didn't sign that then your photo can be taken and used for various school projects, on the school district website, etc. But your teacher can't make money from your image, i.e. Secretly selling pictures to print ad sites and stuff like that.

It's legal.

And do you ask others if you can take their picture, with your iPhone, without their consent? This is legal and nothing wrong.

If you are in public then yes anyone can pretty much do whatever they want.

There's no privacy invasion from taking a photograph. There can be if the photograph is distributed (e.g., internet posting). There definitely is if it is distributed for money.

It is legal. The teacher ought to send the photos to your parents so that they can make sure you get to bed earlier.