Cameras in classrooms, invading privacy or surveillance?

My school is over the top big on survalence. I already think theres no privacy because of cameras. There are cameras in every hall way and out the exits. I think its okay to have cameras around exits but anywhere else should be considered invading students and even staffs privacy. There are rumors that soon my school will have cameras in classrooms and I believe that isn't right. I believe its invading the privacy of students. Yes, there are occasionally bad kids around who steal from lockers here and trade illegal substances. But to control people stealing from lockers we could have combination locks on our lockers. But our school doesnt. I believe that if cameras are put into my school they are invading my personal privacy. Being watched 24/7 is just like being stuck in a prison just with other cell mates (students). Our school is turning into a prison in my opionion and if it doesnt stop I am transferring because all of my old schools didnt even have cameras. What is your opinion on the matter?

Cameras can be invasive, and I think they are overused in our society. But one place that I have no problem using them is in schools. You are minors, and do not have the same expectation of privacy as say, an adult's workplace. Your lockers and bags can be searched. The cameras are not there to spy on you, they are there for your safety. I son's high school has them, and I glad of it.

When you are a parent, you will be happy to have your kid's schools being watched by cameras, to keep them out of trouble, and to keep them safe and secure.

ever since those massacres (im pretty blunt on these kinda subjects) safety has been considered over privacy...really if your doing nothing bad there isnt anything to worry about...and its not like your being watched 24/7 but rather its recorded and then deleted...its always for safety...

I have no real opinion because I do things in the open and I really have nothing to hide

Dear theakins,
Those who have nothing to hide, hide nothing. If you are not doing anything inappropriate then you have nothing to worry about. If a student isn't picked on because of a camera then it has done it's job.
Sue...good luck

that sucks did you tell anyone how you feel about the topic? you also shouldn't do something inaproprite so if you fell uncomfuratble you shoudln't and also maybe you should try to act like it isn't a big deal hope ya have good times...

I surveillance cameras in schools, and anywhere really, is a great idea. it's not like they're in the locker room or bathroom where they're watching you do private things. the only thing you do in a classroom is learn right? so what's the problem here? and same as in the hallways. walking to class is what you should be doing and maybe some socializing. what are you doing in these places that you don't want to be recorded? it isn't an invasion on privacy because these aren't private areas. these cameras could very well end up saving your life or even just bettering your community and peers. what's so bad about that?

well why would you need privacy in school? I mean arent you just staring at the chalkboard watching the work? Arent you just paying attention to the teacher to get a good education? See cameras dont matter! Its not like your trying to talk in class and write notes *wink*. LOL do you catch me here? Like what if a gunman came in and shot your bestest friend and got away and never got what he deserved because they didnt know the guy who did it because of no cameras? SEEE they are important. You dont need privacy in school... just in the bathrooms ^_^

I guess I don't see what the big deal is. Your teacher is already paying more attention to you than the cameras would, and they won't be using the cameras to send you to detention for sticking your tongue out at the teacher when her back is turned, they'll be using them to record serious problems so that real troublemakers can be prosecuted.

I don't agree with the nonsense that 'if you're doing nothing wrong you have nothing to hide', but in this case, you're being watched anyway.

'If you are not doing anything inappropriate then you have nothing to worry about'

lol, yeah I'm sure the Gestapo said the same thing in Nazi Germany.

But anyway, it really seems unnecessary to me to have cameras in the classroom unless there are crimes happening that involve putting a teacher's word against a student's. The hallway I could understand, when I was in school we had a teacher monitor the hallway, but I can see how this is a waste of a staff member. A camera would be a logical alternative.

The prison comparison is absurd. You're not being watched 24/7, you're not on lockdown, and you certainly aren't treated like a prisoner. When you go into a store to buy something, it usually has cameras there to catch shoplifters, because that is more logical than having a security guard posted at every aisle. Same concept.

There is nothing private at all about the classroom environment, so it's not an invasion of privacy.

I think that they've gotten way out of control with things like cameras.. they don't really protect us anymore then having teachers walk around the halls... we have like 2 cameras in our school and they are over the cafeteria.. even that bothers me because I feel like I'm always being watched... and everyone else who posted this was saying if you aren't doing anything wrong then you shouldn't care.. that isn't true because I dont do anything bad ever (at school) and I still hate the cameras I hate the teachers staring at me I dont like being watched... so yeah I agree with you I think that it is in a way and invasions of the students privacy...

it's not like the entire faculty is hovering over a line of tv sets watching what each student is doing. they're being used to look back on if an issue occurs. geez.