Security Camera in the Hall

[luvsJack]

Hmmmm...yeah I don't know that I agree with the bold. When certain disciplinary actions are taken or put in motion it can end up in front of the school board..if there is a question regarding what occured or a parent arguing the punishment or that their child "did it". So while the responsibility isn't immediate (it starts with teachers/Principals) they do end up involved in things like Johnny getting into a fight or if there is an incident that involves a lot of students. Even things like drugs on campus (such as "it was noted Susie was the last person in the hallway before the drugs were found"), fights, bullying, questions regarding teacher actions...etc could all be relevant to the board and be verified or disputed based on camera footage from a hallway.

For the most part the school board does not get involved in the discipline of a student. They make the polices and the procedures, its up to the teacher, principal and superintendent to carry out those polices.

IF a discipline issue did go to the school board (when and if it has gone first to the teacher, the principal and the superintendent), then and only then would they need to view footage of the incident. NOT on a day to day basis.

 

[sam_gordon]

Those of you that are debating with others about "why there is a problem".

Why do you think the school board needs this kind of access?

I don't know that the school board NEEDS to see the cameras. BUT, maybe that school district HAS come up with a valid reason for them to see it. OR, maybe the OP got bad information and the school board DOESN'T have access.

I just don't see the big reason to limit access to the cameras. Go ahead and show them to the world. My only caveat would be making sure the "world" can't pan/tilt/zoom the cameras. Please note, I'm not saying we should do this, but if my kids school did it, I wouldn't be up in arms about it.

Again, our kids and us are videotaped while we go about our normal day to day activities in public. Is there a particular reason why a school hallway needs to remain private (not saying the hallways should be opened up to people, just referring to the cameras)?

 

[MM27]

The town where I live, and my sister teaches, installed cameras in both the middle school and high school a couple of years ago. They have them in the hallways, stairwells, gym, cafeteria, library and every classroom. The principals have access to them whenever they want. They can pull up any camera in the school at any time on their computer screen. They also record and keep the footage for the school year.

I am a teacher as well and the only time I think it would be weird is when I am at school when no students are there. I should be able to sit and work in my classroom on my prep or after school without someone able to watch me. Can't even pick your nose in peace anymore

 

[Aliceacc]

I am a teacher as well and the only time I think it would be weird is when I am at school when no students are there. I should be able to sit and work in my classroom on my prep or after school without someone able to watch me. Can't even pick your nose in peace anymore

Then again, the flip side is that, even when you're in the building alone, there's a chance that someone might be aware if you need help-- if you suffered some sort of medical crisis or there were intruders with intent to do you harm.

On a similar note, there's the chance that those cameras could prevent a school shooting by enabling someone to notice what was going on before the shooter had the chance to hurt innocent people.

 

[scrapquitler]

I teach high school. On Tuesday, a new security camera was installed at the end of the hall. They are all over the place, but I also know that these are able to be remote accessed from home by certain teachers and administrators. However, yesterday one of my students whose father was until recently on the school board told me that school board members also can access these remotely. That, I thought, was odd. We've never been advised as to the purpose of these.

How would you feel?

It sounds sort of like a webcam.

I bet that students might think twice about how they behave in the hall if they thought their parents might see it on the webcam!

 

[OceanAnnie]

It sounds sort of like a webcam.

I bet that students might think twice about how they behave in the hall if they thought their parents might see it on the webcam!

It does.

Did something precipitate the need for these cameras?

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Then again, the flip side is that, even when you're in the building alone, there's a chance that someone might be aware if you need help-- if you suffered some sort of medical crisis or there were intruders with intent to do you harm.

On a similar note, there's the chance that those cameras could prevent a school shooting by enabling someone to notice what was going on before the shooter had the chance to hurt innocent people.

Maybe you should install a web cam in your bedroom just in case you suffered some sort of medical crisis or there were intruders?

 

[Art 1]

Maybe you should install a web cam in your bedroom just in case you suffered some sort of medical crisis or there were intruders?

Some folks have done that. It could be a good idea, especially with a very sick or elderly person.

 

[shortbun]

When I was a school bus driver, I had seven cameras running on my bus and on the outside all the time. Some of the bus drivers felt watched; I felt protected. If you are doing your job the right way, those cameras are there to protect you from any accusation that you are not. The students know the cameras are there too. I always found it interesting that children never stopped to think that their behavior was being recorded. I did have one elementary principal pull my cameras several times to show a group of parents how their children behaved on the bus. After the third time, all the children were much more peaceful and well behaved. I think their parents finally figured out who was telling the truth. I often wondered what those children faced at home that made them remember to come quietly to the bus. Relax and know that the films will back you up. OR-quit smoking in the hall, lol!

 

[JimShockz]

I don't know that the school board NEEDS to see the cameras. BUT, maybe that school district HAS come up with a valid reason for them to see it. OR, maybe the OP got bad information and the school board DOESN'T have access.

I just don't see the big reason to limit access to the cameras. Go ahead and show them to the world. My only caveat would be making sure the "world" can't pan/tilt/zoom the cameras. Please note, I'm not saying we should do this, but if my kids school did it, I wouldn't be up in arms about it.

Anything to help protect the welfare of our children is a welcomed idea,there are just to many bad things happening these days.

-JH

 

[Aliceacc]

Maybe you should install a web cam in your bedroom just in case you suffered some sort of medical crisis or there were intruders?

That was unnecessarily rude.

I've been alone in school buildings... they can be spooky places. When I was coaching debate, I had to return the van keys at the end of the tournament. Six or seven oclock on a Saturday night in the dead of winter is DARK. It would have been reassuring to know that there was a security camera in place at those times.