I believe cameras in the school would be a great thing. Not only for general behavioral problems that exist in most schools but for more severe problems that do raise their heads such as rape and physical abuse by students or teachers and administrators. Perhaps it can also be used to evaluate teachers and their programs. Although I have always been in favor of prayer in school, I do not want teachers pushing their politics on my child. They should teach what they are there to teach along with any other approved criteria and that is all. Cameras would help sort that out and would alleviate most questions concerning lawsuits against teachers concerning their behavior abuse.

PS: It could also help in identifying vandals and burglars after hours.

Cameras would have been useless stopping the activities of my friends and I in high school. Any kid with at least functional intelligance will find ways around the measures.
It takes away any sense of trust in the children and will breed resentment and hostility.
The first time a kid gets their butt stomped and it wasn't stopped early enough the litigation will be endless and expensive.
It is a bad idea.

Cameras have a history is other settings of preventing crime. It may not stop someone from getting “their butt stomped” but it clearly will make it easier to identify the ‘stompers”.

As has been detailed above the need for cameras is a symptom of the mediocrity of school management in the past several decades and the reluctance to quickly expel those students involved in drugs and violence.

Schools have a responsibility to teach and should not be required to baby-sit kids who could care less about getting an education and parents who refuse to take significant responsibility for the behavior of their children.


I cannot imagine a child that wants to get an education free of violence and intimidation “resenting” the protection offered by cameras.