Schools Should Have Surveillance Cameras

That's how my school was. It was a small private school run on the honor system. We did not even have lockers with doors. If anyone did steal anything and only one did, they were immediately expelled for stealing an ice cream bar. No nonsense or second chances. Some things were considered to be a one shot deal....stealing was one such offense.

I am trying to get my kids out of the public schools they are in. My youngest has had many things stolen by a couple of kids in her class. They are dumb enough to tell people about the theft, thankfully. She has gotten most of her stuff back. Normally, I don't let her take valuable things to school, but she does need her cell phone because of a health issue. I feel safer knowing it's on her if she ends up alone in a restroom and has a problem. It's a seizure disorder and she would probably not be able to walk for help after a seizure. It takes her a while to gain full control of her muscles after one.

This problem could be avoided with cameras at the lockers. These kids seem to be totally aware of how to stalk someone who has not locked their locker and take full advantage of the situation. Some kids don't lock their gym lockers and they are stolen from.

I agree, cameras should not be in certain places. In places where kids are changing is definitely one of them. I do think increased teacher presence is called for. A same sex teacher monitoring them would be a help, but it's a shame for the kids who do not need to be constantly watched. Still, it's better than having expensive things like cell phones and i-Pods stolen along with any money the kids might have to buy something like a yearbook or to put in their lunch account. I don't let her take her i-Pod. Some kids do bring theirs to school and I don't really see why. They can't listen to them and it's not worth the risk of having them stolen for the bus ride to and from school. It is a shame that it has to be that way, but until these thefts are taken seriously and kids are expelled and sent to a school for kids with behavior and conduct problems, it will likely continue.

my2cents2u

13 May 2009 15:57

Comment

I am trying to get my kids out of the public schools they are in.  My youngest has had many things stolen by a couple of kids in her class.  They are dumb enough to tell people about the theft, thankfully.  She has gotten most of her stuff back.  Normally, I don't let her take valuable things to school, but she does need her cell phone because of a health issue.  I feel safer knowing it's on her if she ends up alone in a restroom and has a problem.  It's a seizure disorder and she would probably not be able to walk for help after a seizure.  It takes her a while to gain full control of her muscles after one.

This problem could be avoided with cameras at the lockers.  These kids seem to be totally aware of how to stalk someone who has not locked their locker and take full advantage of the situation.  Some kids don't lock their gym lockers and they are stolen from.

I agree, cameras should not be in certain places.  In places where kids are changing is definitely one of them.  I do think increased teacher presence is called for.  A same sex teacher monitoring them would be a help, but it's a shame for the kids who do not need to be constantly watched.  Still, it's better than having expensive things like cell phones and i-Pods stolen along with any money the kids might have to buy something like a yearbook or to put in their lunch account.  I don't let her take her i-Pod.  Some kids do bring theirs to school and I don't really see why.  They can't listen to them and it's not worth the risk of having them stolen for the bus ride to and from school.  It is a shame that it has to be that way, but until these thefts are taken seriously and kids are expelled and sent to a school for kids with behavior and conduct problems, it will likely continue.

Comment

I wanted to put them in private school.  Their father was very against it, but now he doesn't even talk to them, so I am trying to get the younger one in.  My oldest is already almost through 10th grade.  She is pretty against switching now and I don't blame her.  She is established.  Also, most of the private schools here will not accept kids past 9th grade.  Some of the bigger ones do, but they are a bit far from where we live.  It is difficult getting into these schools.  Our county has terrible public schools and there is a high demand for the private schools.  As an alumna, I can probably pull some strings for the younger one, but the curriculum is structured so differently in high school from the public schools that I don't think the older one would be able to go.  I have thought about home schooling her, but don't want to kill her social life.  She is taking good classes and it is not so much what she is learning from her teachers that bothers me.  It's the fighting, theft and disrespect that the students show authorities that bothers me.  Of course, they are not all bad.  My daughter is a good kid and her friends are pretty good kids.  It is just a shame that some kids don't realize that these are the best years of their lives and that an education is a priviledge that many around the world don't have.