Should Public Schools Install Video Surveillance Cameras?

1889 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Prevention of school shootings

"Smile, you're on Candid Camera." This was the catch phrase for the television show Candid Camera. The show filmed unsuspecting people in embarrassing and hilarious positions while their reactions are recorded on a hidden camera. Surveillance cameras are video cameras or close circuit TV (CCTV), which is used for the purpose of observing an area. There are several major concerns on school campuses. The two main concerns on school campuses are safety and security. With school violence on a steady rise, schools are force to resort to many safety and security measures including metal detectors, security guards, and surveillance cameras. Besides academics, protecting the students at school is a top priority to many parents, school administrators and teachers. Incidents of violence are gangs’ activities, drug deals, theft, assaults, and defacement of school property. These occurrences are taking place in some form in every school campuses. To aide in the defense of school violence, many schools are installing or adding video surveillance cameras. This leads to the topic question: Should Public Schools install Video Surveillance Cameras? Public Schools should install Video Surveillance Cameras. With over 14th years experience as a school teacher, I can attest to how video surveillance cameras have made a positive impact in school safety and security. With the passing of the School Safety Enhancements Act on 17 September 2008, $50 million was allocated to purchase video surveillance equipment for schools. Finley states “currently, more than 75% of all new schools in the United States are being equipped with video surveillance systems.” The intent of this research paper will illustrate the pros and cons of surveillance camer...

... middle of paper ...

...ages and disadvantages of surveillance cameras, surveillance cameras plays a very important role on school campuses. I strongly advocate the installations surveillance cameras on school grounds. Surveillance cameras on schools campuses have been very successful. It is my opinion, there is no other option but to have surveillance cameras installed. By having these surveillance cameras student safety would be ensured, school vandalism would decrease, and the number of students cutting class would be lowered. Surveillance cameras would also serve as a deterrent from violent behavior by students. Although there are definite advantages to using surveillance cameras, we need to balance the need for safety and security with respect for the individual’s privacy and freedom. Surely, when a student is caught on camera, we can say "Smile, you're on Candid Camera."

Show More
Related

  • Teachers Should NOT Carry Guns

    1794 Words  | 4 Pages

    On December 12, 2012, Sandy Hook Elementary School was invaded by an unstable, armed man. Earlier that year the principal of the school, Dawn Hochsprung, implemented a new security system that required all visitors to buzzed into the school by visual identification. Many schools have also put in similar security systems to have school doors locked at all times during the school day, helping insure students’ safety. For Sandy Hook this minor security system would not be enough. When the gunman arrived to the school, he shot his way through the front do...

    Read More

  • Essay On Body Cameras

    927 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... problems in the community. Mateescu, Rosenblat, and Boyd state this concern perfectly by bringing up, “embarrassing dashcam video footage of the arrests or traffic stops of naked women, athletes, and celebrities are sometimes disseminated online, and the same privacy concerns exist about the potential for body-camera footage to be consumed as public entertainment”. The relevant data collected from the study will be used to determine if the null hypothesis of “body-cameras have no effect on a subjects willingness to communicate with the police” is true or if the hypothesis of “the use of body-worn cameras reduce the likelihood that an individual would be willing to communicate with police”. This will be done by giving the individual questions numerical data points and calculating them in order to determine the relevant information in association with the hypothesis.

    Read More

  • Aftermath Of School Shooting: Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School

    697 Words  | 2 Pages

    When dealing with kids in public school, school violence is a very serious problem to deal with. I will be holding a meeting which will address upcoming plans for the tragic in on dear school. I will also be pointing out six steps on how we can improve on school security so we can our students and staff members in the awake of Sandy Hook. I will be also be addressing how we can respond and also give tip to parents on how to help their child cope. ...

    Read More

  • Sandy Hook Shooting Vs School Shootings

    1392 Words  | 3 Pages

    Crime in the 21st century has evolved from what it was in the past. One major crime that has been occurring more and more are public school shootings. A school shooting is an incident in which gun violence occurs at a school. School shootings have occurred since the early 1760’s but lately there have been an abundant amount of them happening. This crime not only puts people’s lives in danger, but it also takes a toll on the people that went through it. There have been more than 40 plus shootings throughout America, which will continue to increase, alone from the time span of 2000 to 2014 (present.) Now schools throughout the country are going over what they are going to do in a crisis situation. Recently there has been many school shootings which have raised awareness. Schools are frequently modifying and improving the things that they do to make things safer. It is a crime that has been take...

    Read More

  • Surveillance Cameras Research Paper

    803 Words  | 2 Pages

    Security cameras have become very widespread. These cameras are harmful to one’s safety and privacy. Security and surveillance cameras are both invasions of privacy

    Read More

  • Surveillance Cameras In Law Enforcement

    1472 Words  | 3 Pages

    Surveillance cameras have helped hundreds of law enforcement agencies solve thousands of crimes throughout the nation. They have become so helpful that most law enforcement agencies are planning on setting them up on street corners, buildings, publication parks, and on their own officers. There are many cities across the nation that have began to use surveillance cameras. Setting up cameras is a pivotal technique to solving and preventing crimes. Although, it is often argued that having law enforcement surveillance cameras set up throughout the nations communities is an invasion of privacy, citizens should sacrifice a little bit of privacy in return for their safety and protection of civil rights against criminals and police officers.

    Read More

  • Dress Codes In Schools Essay

    610 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is estimated by the National School Board Association that approximately 135,000 guns are brought to the 85,000 public schools in America each day. Furthermore, there are some schools that require belt lines to be visible so that guns cannot be concealed under student’s clothing. This has led to a decline in violence in adolescents and fewer fights within the school (Fresno). Additionally, requiring school uniforms can help pinpoint intruders in the school who could be there to harm the students, teachers, or staff; or to vandalize to building

    Read More

  • Sexual assaults

    878 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...surround the issue of lifetime GPS monitoring of sexual offenders. The criminal justice system has to address that question, but until then police and the school could increase security to try to prevent an attack. If an attack should take place the GPS monitor on the sexual offender could be what solves that case.

    Read More

  • School Shootings Should Be Armed Officers

    1127 Words  | 3 Pages

    Which can be having armed officers walk though halls, making sure the school is safe from any harm that could potentially happen.

    Read More

  • School Shootings: The Consequences Of School Violence

    1603 Words  | 4 Pages

    School violence has become a very popular issue nowadays. From tragic school shootings to unexpected stabbings, each school’s safety is being placed in jeopardy. From Columbine High School shooting in 1999, to Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in 2012 and the recent stabbing in April, school violence has not decreased. It is time to do something now, if further action is not taken these issues will continue. Before school violence becomes too common to students and intruders, restrictions and plans must be implemented now.

    Read More

  • School Safety

    966 Words  | 2 Pages

    In recent years, tragedies have been visited upon schools across the country. From Kentucky to Oregon to Colorado, the notion of schools as safe havens has been shattered by the sound of gunfire. These acts are not limited to any geographic regions or family backgrounds, nor do they have a single catalyst. Those who have committed such heinous acts have done so for different reasons, at different times, in different schools. But these acts of school violence have at least one thing in common- they have spurred all of us to take a look at what can be done to better protect children and teachers at school. Protecting our children is not simply a matter of public policy. It is a matter of strengthening basic values, of teaching children right from wrong, of instilling in them respect for others. We each have a responsibility to work to end youth violence and to keep schools safe for children and for those who teach them. Youth violence in many schools has reached universal proportions. It is not only happening in our high schools, it has also made its way into our elementary and middle schools. Everyone seems to have a different perspective on why there is such a problem with school safety. Some say it is the parents’ fault, some say it is the media, and others blame the schools. Yet, the question still remains. What can be done to make schools safer for the children and staff? One thing we need to do is learn to listen to our children and observe their behavior. According ...

    Read More

  • Should Public Schools Require Uniforms?

    2340 Words  | 5 Pages

    When I was a child attending elementary school all of my friends loved the way I dressed, but there was also other children that attended school with me that seemed inferior to me simply because of how I dressed. Usually the children that praised the way I dress always wore nice clothes themselves, while the others who didn’t dress ad nice would try to pick fights or make fun of children that did dress nice. Later on in my life as I approached high school the tables turned; the teenagers who dressed nice became the ones who picked on other students in school because of the low quality clothes certain students wore in school, this would result in student violence. My stance on student uniforms is that I believe every public school in the U.S should utilize school uniform policy because it reduces school violence, provides better security, increases performance, and also reduces stress on families.

    Read More

  • Law Enforcement Cameras an Invasion of Privacy

    1067 Words  | 3 Pages

    The past decade has seen a proliferation of law enforcement security cameras in public areas, with central London having more cameras than any other city. In cities like New York, Los Angeles, and central London, cameras can be found at almost every intersection. Terrorist attacks have been a major basis for this significant increase in law enforcement security cameras; however, privacy advocates, along with many of the public, feel that it’s an invasion of privacy. People are concerned that all this video surveillance, which is continuously expanding, has created a “Big Brother” society, where people are constantly watched. This creates paranoia and unease for people that just want to go about living there private lives, without feeling that their every move is being watched. The increased presence of surveillance cameras is almost compared to George Orwell’s novel from 1984, where he imagined a future in which people would be monitored and controlled by the government. One question that needs to be asked is: does the benefits of law enforcement security cameras outweigh the negative sides to it? Although the invasion of privacy is a serious argument against law enforcement cameras; nevertheless, it should be seen as a valuable tool to help fight crime. As long as surveillance cameras are in public places and not in people's homes, privacy advocates should not be concerned.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Security Cameras

    1594 Words  | 4 Pages

    However security cameras has its limitations, mainly if an offense was recorded on camera in terrible weather conditions or at nighttime it would be hard to see, also if the camera did not seize all of a crime as if it was not being monitored. After monitoring, officers can direct the camera, if not; it pans across an area (Chianis August 2014). Besides, security cameras shield against home robbery, and destruction. It’s very hard to get away with taking something that doesn’t belong to you if there are security cameras recording you. Security cameras safeguards people individual belongings. Also security cameras stop criminal behavior. Criminals will not want to commit a crime. The security cameras catch nearly everything on record. So, the criminal a lot of the time will get caught. Security cameras will record the criminal beforehand, or throughout the course of action (October 2009). If people are not aware of the crime until after the crime has been committed, the security camera that is recording will provide a portion of information throughout the officer’s analysis. Security cameras have been known to prevent many crimes. Most people believe that we ought to not have security cameras in shared places. The on again and off again argument that security cameras don’t provide people with the privacy necessary. You have to question, why go out in the community if you desire so much privacy? You might as well stay home behind closed doors. Security cameras are intended to keep people and their belongings secure, cameras are not put in places to hound you. In some places there isn't a logical belief of confidentiality, the profit of security cameras usually overshadow the detriments (August 2004). The most apparent advantage is that criminals that commit harsh crimes can be recognized and placed behind bars. Some other

    Read More

  • Schools Must Install Security Cameras in Classrooms

    1769 Words  | 4 Pages

    Do teachers change when an administrator evaluates them? Do parents worry too much about their kids being in school? Have many students around the world been falsely accused of something they didn’t do? All of these problems can be eliminated with one little piece of technology hanging from the ceiling. That little piece of technology is a surveillance camera which can be placed almost anywhere. Many schools are determining whether or not to install security cameras in classrooms. Those who have, have seen dramatic changes in teachers, students, and even parents. Cameras have many helpful factors. For instance, cameras can be used to train future teachers, broadcast to students at home, and deal with bullying. Having cameras in a classroom environment are beneficial for students, teachers, parents, and schools because they hold teachers accountable, help students improve their behavior, and evaluate teacher and student interactions.

    Read More

More about Should Public Schools Install Video Surveillance Cameras?

Open Document