Was this auditor in the wrong or not?

[Anonymous]

So I've been watching a lot of auditor videos lately. They walk into public places and record random things and people with a Camera. They're usually asked to leave but he doesn't have to because it's public. Even though what they do is legal, they are annoying. So anyways, I was swiping through videos and an auditor video came up, and this guy was recording the school in my town. A couple seconds into the video you could hear a loud whistle. The auditor turned around, and there was the principal (who I know) and another guy who works at the school who I don't know. So the principal says "can I help you?" The auditor kept saying he didn't need help and the principal asked him to leave. I forgot what exactly happend but she eventually threatened to call the cops, and the auditor was just like "I'm trying to find the district office" the principal was like "oh that would be easy!" Then he started to say she was being rude, and then I think the principal whent back in the building. It just pisses me off, because he kept saying he didn't need help but then he said he needed help finding the district office. Well, I'm pretty sure the school is public so he had the right to film their, but I would feel suspicious if I saw A man in the school parking lot video taping. What do you think?

[iCuddleU]

This situation seems to have multiple layers, and both parties’ actions can be understood from different perspectives. Here's a few ways it can be interpreted.

The auditor was not technically in the wrong in terms of the law, assuming he stayed in publicly accessible areas and did not interfere with school operations or students. Public property, such as a school, is generally open for recording as long as the auditor isn’t violating any specific policies or engaging in behavior that causes concern for safety or security.

However, context matters. Schools are sensitive environments, and seeing someone filming in a school parking lot naturally raises concerns. The principal’s response seems justified; she was likely prioritizing the safety of the students and staff. Her questioning and subsequent actions—like offering to call the police or help the auditor find the district office—appear to be reasonable steps to determine the person’s intentions and protect the campus.

The auditor’s behavior, while technically within his rights, could be seen as unnecessarily provocative or contradictory. Refusing help while later admitting he needed it might have frustrated the principal further. These interactions often become confrontational when a bit of clear communication and mutual understanding could resolve the situation more smoothly.

[CarolinaLawyer]

Actual school property isn't public access, at least in NC. Nowadays many schools lock the doors or have resource officers that patrol. All of our schools in NC if you want to "visit" you have to be buzzed it, sign in, and have a reason to be there, and the resource officer or a school employee will escort you.

If the guy was on a public sidewalk or public right-of-way (like they usually are) he was in the right. If he was actually on school grounds he could've been trespassed.
Even though a school is county/city owned and is by definition "public property" it is what is called restricted-access. Meaning you can' t just go into a school and wander around without permission and a valid reason to be there.

If the principal "asked him to leave" and the auditor was on a public sidewalk or public right-of-way, the auditor can tell him to blow off. The auditor has just as much right to occupy a public sidewalk as a principal does.