Surveillance in schools - Cameras in bathrooms
qtegirl
Posts: 321
Yesterday my daughter told me the story of a friend to was sent to in-school-suspension for 14 days because she was caught writing on the bathroom walls.
How was she caught? They have closed-circuit cameras in the school bathrooms. An officer monitors the cameras during the day. The school showed this girl the footage of the incident. She was inside the bathroom stall when this happen and basically related to my daughter that you can see the first stall perfectly, and also the second and third stalls.
This is junior high, by the way.
Is it legal to have cameras in bathrooms at school? My husband is calling the school right now to confirm that there are in fact cameras there. But even if it's legal... is it right?
Edit: I forgot to say to say that we're in TX.
How was she caught? They have closed-circuit cameras in the school bathrooms. An officer monitors the cameras during the day. The school showed this girl the footage of the incident. She was inside the bathroom stall when this happen and basically related to my daughter that you can see the first stall perfectly, and also the second and third stalls.
This is junior high, by the way.
Is it legal to have cameras in bathrooms at school? My husband is calling the school right now to confirm that there are in fact cameras there. But even if it's legal... is it right?
Edit: I forgot to say to say that we're in TX.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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ebay isn't evil people are
The South is Much Obliged
They prolly would say for safety reasons but what about for safety of children if they had a undocumented sexual predator working for them...
This is from a school in NY:
"The Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to promote and foster school safety and to help create a safe and effective learning environment. After having carefully considered and balanced the rights of privacy with the District's duty to promote discipline, health, welfare and safety of staff and students, as well as that of the general public who has occasion to use school facilities, the Board supports the use of surveillance cameras in its schools, its buses and/or on school grounds. District surveillance cameras will be used in areas deemed appropriate by the Superintendent of Schools, but will not be used in locations where appropriate confidential or private activities/functions are routinely carried out (e.g., bathrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms). Audio recordings shall not be utilized by the School District officials for surveillance purposes; such prohibition does not preclude the use of audio recordings by law enforcement officials in accordance with their official duties and/or as otherwise authorized by law.
Any video recording used for surveillance purposes in school buildings, school buses and/or on school property, shall be the sole property of the District. All video recordings will be secured to avoid tampering and ensure confidentiality in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Release of such videos will be made only as permissible pursuant to applicable law.
Appropriate signage will be posted at entrances to the school campus and/or at major entrances into school buildings notifying students, staff and the general public of the District's use of the surveillance cameras. Students and staff will receive additional notification, as appropriate, regarding the use of surveillance cameras in the schools, school buses and/or on school grounds. Such notification may include, but is not limited to, publication in the District calendar, employee handbook, and student handbook.
The Superintendent of Schools or the Superintendent's designee is directed to develop appropriate regulations to implement this Policy."
I'm pretty sure you relinquish just about all rights at public school.
"Sometimes I think I'd be better off dead. No, wait, not me, you." -Deep Toughts, Jack Handy
don't know if it's legal, but it sure isnt' right. That to me sounds like a law suit waiting to happen.
How so? I would agree if you said private schools, but not public. In fact, when I went to a private high school, we actually had to sign a contract in the beginning of the year giving up certain rights. The only specific detail that I remember is that we could not, under any circumstance, sue the school.
Going to public school your right to free speech is gone. That's a big one. Basically the precedent is the safety of students and uninterruption to the learning process are held above individual students' rights (let's not go into the quality of American public education). I was going to say something about private school but I'm not familiar with the internal workings. Sounds like you had roughly the same experience.
"Sometimes I think I'd be better off dead. No, wait, not me, you." -Deep Toughts, Jack Handy
Free speech being gone paves the way for all rights going? In just about every job, a level of free speech is gone... I can't come into work wearing whatever I want, or saying anything that I please. My employer has the right to discipline or terminate me just the same as a school would.
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
wrong. your employer is a private entity. a public school is not.
ebay isn't evil people are
The South is Much Obliged
What kind of free speech are you losing? Yes you can't walk up and down the halls yelling at people to go fuck themselves without causing trouble, but at the same time you can't really do the same thing in your average city hall either.
In many places it's to the point that you can't wear clothing with any insignia or writing. Areas with gang problems restrict colors that can be worn, as well as types of clothing (bandanas, etc.). I read an article maybe a couple months ago about a school district that doesn't allow clothing with political messages.
Further, the right to assemble is almost completely restricted. At the college I went to you can't protest without a permit and university approval. (Though in general I'm speaking of primary education).
I mean I understand where it comes from and the intent of the administrators. My original point was that these parents/students are probably SOL. As long as the school can show that there is a potential risk or threat (not hard in today's times) they'll be able to do whatever they want.
I can't tell if the responses to my post are resentful or just curious. Did I write something offensive? Is Canadian public school a lot different?
Edit: Yes, BRY, taking away freedom of speech is a path to taking other rights. If it's gone, how can you voice disapproval to future change?
"Sometimes I think I'd be better off dead. No, wait, not me, you." -Deep Toughts, Jack Handy
A lot of friends of mine work for the State of New York and they have even more restrictions as far as dress code, etc.
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
Perhaps the school board is just trying to raise funds for new text books and computers by selling this footage to specialty sites on the net?
.........You did say Texas right?
I mean, I remember in school going to the bathroom and quick changing my shirt or things like that. There's a certain expectation of privacy.
I don't know if my daughter was aware of the cameras until this happened. If they had warned the students.... maybe... but obviously they didn't.
The only thought that goes through my head is some pervert policeman of security officer sitting in an office watching the girls in the bathroom and getting himself off.
It's disgusting.
Yeah if they are in the stalls or the girls in the stalls are visible I don't see how they could get away with this legally.
No... that's called 'Prison'... not Public School.
Hail, Hail!!!
We called the school and the vice-principal denied that there were any cameras inside the bathrooms. She said there were cameras in the hallway and at the bathroom doors.
So, obviously someone is lying...