CCTV in schools?

Davekoolhill

What do ya's think about this.

http://www.newstalk.ie/2011/news/are-cctv-cameras-in-schools-a-help-or-a-hindrance/

CCTV in schools? Do anybody know if many schools in ireland have these? I know there are some secondary schools that have them installed but where do you draw the line?

Kosseegan

Draw the line on the blackboard. Schools are always complaining about not having enough money and looking for voluntary contributions. Their state support should be cut off if they are found messing with CCTV.

later12

Has this not long been the case? I was in three different secondary schools 1998 - 2004, all had CCTV in corridoors, canteen, exam halls,, outdoor recreation areas and materials workshops as far as I can recall.

I would only see a problem if the CCTV were in changing facilities or somewhere like that tbh.

Morag

Most secondary schools have them on the outside, to prevent vandalism and bullying.

dsmythy

Outside of security schools shouldn't need them. Waste of money to have the whole place covered in them.

Morag

Depends on what you consider a waste of money, they are a deterrent to vandalism and more often then not the vandals are the students and there is the matter of insurance when injury occurs on the premises. 1 student deliberately tripping up another can result in a claim of thousands esp if dental work needs to be done.

kollegeknight

Our school has cctv in public areas and two classrooms. Prior to this our computer room was broken into twice.

The CCTV cameras have been used in catching serious and expensive vandalism by students on more than one occasion.

It also helped in proving a serious bullying case.

It is clearly in our school policy that we have them; it is clearly explained to parents before their student enrolls.

They were paid for by fundraising, bag packing and the likes and have easily paid for themselves at this stage.

thebman

The real problem with CCTV in Irish schools which was present when I was in secondary school in our canteen is that the footage it is kept within the school.

In Irish schools, it seems what happens in Irish schools, stays in Irish schools and damn those parents for believing their kids over us.

Now while I am aware parents are less than sane at times when it comes to their kids, I think if an incident occurs, much like a rugby game, when nobody can agree on a series of events, it would be nice to be able to bring in an independent mediator to review the footage and make a call.

I'd have them in every classroom TBH. Disobedient kids could be disciplined without parents being able to honestly claim that the person judging just has it in for their little angel because the person wouldn't be working with them on a day to day basis and teachers would have safety in the classroom from students that might behave violently.

It seems like a win/win if you regulate it so that parents and teachers don't have access to the footage. If a parent/teacher makes a complaint then the footage can be examined of any incidents reported. never happen of course because of unions and privacy reasons I imagine.

henryporter

I worked on a school where CCTV was installed in the toilet rooms. The cameras were fixed view and pointed towards the washbasins only in order to prevent recurrent vandalism to the point where the toilets had to be completely refurbished.

Within a week of the school reopening a child was injured due to horse play in the toilets - without the video evidence the school would have been liable for the injury.