Issues Relating to Security Cameras in Schools
Perhaps one of the most hotly debated topics in the
security camera world is that of the ethics of placing security cameras in
schools to monitor behavior. As is often the case with public security
camera use, people on both sides of the debate are passionate about whether
or not it is ethical to trade privacy for safety, especially in an area as
sacred as school grounds. While the debate may never end, there are a
variety of pros and cons to placing security cameras in our public schools,
and both sides have legitimate points.
Pros of Cameras
·
Shows Commitment to Safety – One of the
reasons schools have become such dangerous places is because schools are
often considerably lacking in good safety procedures. There is a high cost
to monitoring public schools by professional security staff, and with school
budgets at all time lows, hiring more security personnel may not be
possible. Cameras are a great way to be at all places at once, so
that students, teachers, family and other individuals know that the school
is being monitored despite few security officers.
·
Deters Student Misbehavior – When
students know that their actions are being watched, they are more likely to
stay well behaved. It will be difficult for students to roam halls without
getting caught, deface property, or bully other students without video
evidence of their behavior.
·
Cover Hidden Areas – Most schools have
some hidden areas that act as a hotbed for misbehavior, or can act as a
gateway into the school by unauthorized individuals. These areas can be
easily monitored without requiring a security officer to be present.
Cons of Cameras
·
Privacy Concerns – While security
cameras may be useful for catching illegal behaviors (drug use, violence,
etc.), it is not necessarily fair to students for all of their behaviors to
be monitored at all times. Less important school policies, like not chewing
gum, holding hands, or going to the bathroom without a hall pass will be
monitored at all times, despite these policies being irrelevant to the
safety of the students. In addition, children are entitled to the same
privacy rights as adults, and security monitoring in businesses and other
public areas often is met with similar outrage.
·
Encourages More Dangerous Avoidance –
When the school is monitored, those that still want to break the rules will
be encouraged to do so in a more dangerous area off school grounds. This in
turn will bring its own inherent dangers, since there will be no one to
monitor their safety when they are off school property.
·
May Cause Rebellion – Youth are
notorious for disobeying rules that seem unfair to them. 24 hour monitoring
via security cameras may push these kids towards finding ways to break these
rules more publicly and in higher numbers.
There is no right answer in the debate about
security cameras in schools. As with most cameras in public places, there is
always the risk of abuse, as well as the lack of privacy. Yet as public
schools become more dangerous places, monitoring them with cameras is more
cost effective for cash starved schools than hiring more security officers.
Whatever the outcome, it is likely that neither of these two sides will ever
become in full agreement.
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