Parents Sue School over Hidden Cameras in Locker Rooms

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CPA

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
30,322
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Actually, it's a no win situation for the school, because the first time something does happen and there is no deterance (ie, guards, metal detectors, video monitoring), parents are going to start complaining that the school is not doing enough to safeguard their children.
 

AlienCraft

Lifer
Nov 23, 2002
10,539
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Originally posted by: Flatline
My high school (in a quiet small town of less than 15000 people) had metal detectors at the doors, random locker searches, random book-bag searches, etc. Funny thing is, there were never any big problems there until AFTER they started doing all that crap.
Guess it goes to show that if you treat people like criminals they will begin to act like criminals.
STOP TALKING SENSE!

 
Jan 31, 2002
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Originally posted by: Kntx
Did anyone who goes / went to high school in Canada have any things like have been mentioned in this thread in their schools??? e.g. cameras, security guards, metal detectors, etc.

And what's with not being able to leave during the day??? That's weird. What did / do you do during spare periods? Stay in the school?

All of the above. We could leave during the day though.

- M4H
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
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The joys of the UK.
We have external cameras, which are mostly for protecting the school in case anyone tries to steal things, and in the canteen in case kids try and steal things (though they don't work ;))
We pretty much never have fights, or any serious trouble.

We have lessons all periods though until we get into the 6th form (after the end of compulsory education) then we have free periods and we can go home during them if we want.

Not being allowed mobiles makes some sense. We're not allowed them because they can get damaged/lost/stolen sometimes and the school doesn't want to take responsibility. They can also be a problem during lessons. If you were a teacher, would you want the kids phones going off while you're trying to teach?
As for no hats, well, when you're indoors, why do you need a hat anyway?

We have no police officer/metal detector/locker searches, unless something has been reported.

You have security cameras at most work places, and you go to school to work (learn), so is it really that different.
It's not always keeping an eye on kids (well, in the toilet it is) but the school doesn't disappear at night, there's a time when someone could come along and try to rob it for whatever stuff it might have, and you'd want cameras around to at least record what happened and possibly help identify whoever it might have been.

The US seems really paranoid, although maybe there's a good reason. Depends on culture I suppose.
 

lowtech1

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2000
4,644
1
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Originally posted by: Kntx
Did anyone who goes / went to high school in Canada have any things like have been mentioned in this thread in their schools??? e.g. cameras, security guards, metal detectors, etc.

And what's with not being able to leave during the day??? That's weird. What did / do you do during spare periods? Stay in the school?
I have gone through high school here (canada) in the mid 80s and there weren't any similar to what you have, and it is still the same today. Anther plus is that my old high school have 4 soccer fields, and a swiming pool.

 

DT4K

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2002
6,944
3
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The school should definitely be sued.
And the people who ordered the installation, did the installation, or looked at the pictures should be prosecuted for child abuse and child pornography and go to prison for many many years. The people involved are pedophiles and should be punished severely.
 

Ime

Diamond Member
May 3, 2001
3,661
0
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Originally posted by: Stratum9
Funny how there's an ad for the x10 camera right next to that article! :)

I think the ad for the class action lawsuit is better!
 

yukichigai

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2003
6,404
0
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Originally posted by: Lonyo
Not being allowed mobiles makes some sense. We're not allowed them because they can get damaged/lost/stolen sometimes and the school doesn't want to take responsibility. They can also be a problem during lessons. If you were a teacher, would you want the kids phones going off while you're trying to teach?
In today's world a cell phone is usually a parent's best way to keep in touch with their kids if they need to. Our school provided a free telephone to call parents if you asked at the office, but there was always a line of 7+ people waiting to use it every break. Allowing cell phones in school -- as long as they aren't used during classtime -- makes things easier. Potential during class use is a non-issue since in most schools a teacher can give you In School Suspension if they so desire. If they get driven up the wall enough and the kid doesn't comply with requests to turn it off during class hours it's a great deterrant.

As for no hats, well, when you're indoors, why do you need a hat anyway?
The problem I have with this is that it stifles personal expression somewhat. A hat is an article of clothing just like a shirt or pants, and it can be part of what you wear. I can understand not allowing "racy" T-shirts and such but I doubt many highschoolers get offended when someone wears a hat indoors. Anyway, nowadays this usually just covers baseball caps but I imagine if this was about 20 years ago or so a lot of girls would be pissed.

The US seems really paranoid, although maybe there's a good reason. Depends on culture I suppose.
Right to bear arms, Department of Homeland Security, no car rentals for anybody under 25... yeah, I'd say we're way paranoid.

 
Jun 18, 2000
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Originally posted by: yukichigai
Right to bear arms, Department of Homeland Security, no car rentals for anybody under 25... yeah, I'd say we're way paranoid.
I don't think that last one is a law. Rent-A-Wreck rents to people 18 and over. Hertz, National, Budget, etc all rent to people over 21 at a higher rate (because of insurance, one would assume).
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
Originally posted by: Lonyo
The joys of the UK.
We have external cameras, which are mostly for protecting the school in case anyone tries to steal things, and in the canteen in case kids try and steal things (though they don't work ;))
We pretty much never have fights, or any serious trouble.

We have lessons all periods though until we get into the 6th form (after the end of compulsory education) then we have free periods and we can go home during them if we want.

Not being allowed mobiles makes some sense. We're not allowed them because they can get damaged/lost/stolen sometimes and the school doesn't want to take responsibility. They can also be a problem during lessons. If you were a teacher, would you want the kids phones going off while you're trying to teach?
As for no hats, well, when you're indoors, why do you need a hat anyway?

We have no police officer/metal detector/locker searches, unless something has been reported.






Do you go to Hogwarts?
 

ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
31,516
167
106
Originally posted by: notfred
Gotta keep an eye on those dangerous middle-schoolers, they might try to steal gym towels.

Shools in this country aren't schools anymore, they're 8 hour a day prisons.
Makes perfect sense to me. Have you ever tried to deal with the "typical" middle schooler, they're little monsters that do need to be treated like criminals.
 

yukichigai

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2003
6,404
0
76
Originally posted by: KnightBreed
Originally posted by: yukichigai
Right to bear arms, Department of Homeland Security, no car rentals for anybody under 25... yeah, I'd say we're way paranoid.
I don't think that last one is a law. Rent-A-Wreck rents to people 18 and over. Hertz, National, Budget, etc all rent to people over 21 at a higher rate (because of insurance, one would assume).

Not universal, but it's damn hard to get a car if you're under 25, nigh unto impossible if you're under 21. In Texas it's illegal to rent a car to anyone under 25.
 

Dudd

Platinum Member
Aug 3, 2001
2,865
0
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Thank god I never went to public schools. No guards, no random locker searches, no cameras, and we could freely move around the neighborhood without a car when you had a free period. Some places are just way too paranoid.
 

moonshinemadness

Platinum Member
Jan 28, 2003
2,254
1
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Originally posted by: ViRGE
Originally posted by: notfred
Gotta keep an eye on those dangerous middle-schoolers, they might try to steal gym towels.

Shools in this country aren't schools anymore, they're 8 hour a day prisons.
Makes perfect sense to me. Have you ever tried to deal with the "typical" middle schooler, they're little monsters that do need to be treated like criminals.

I Resent That.....
 

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
0
I goto a Canadian High School in a small suburban town...things are pretty tame..

We have 2 cameras per computer room (there's 3), 3 camera watching the parking lot, and a couple more in the hallways. I just finished up my schoolyear and I didn't see a single police officer come to the school. There wasn't a single fight on the school grounds all year.

I can walk off school grounds anytime I want, there's no one around watching the doors, the edges of the school grounds, etc. Not even a fence. Of course if I'm skipping class I'll just get a study hall the next day.

You can wear hats in the hallway, but not in most classes. Some teachers will let you, however. Cell phones aren't really 'allowed' (nor disallowed) but nothing stops you if you don't use it stupidly (I.E. in class). Teachers won't take it if your making a call in the lounge at noon. No smoking on school grounds, so everyone goes across the street in plain sight of the school.

They took out our lockers in the locker rooms (go figure) because people were hiding drugs in them (just marijuana). If they put in cameras people would of simply smashed them by now...