Should surveillance cams be in our schools?
In case you missed the news, Ontario’s York Region District School Board has announced it will expand its digital surveillance in their schools. Here’s a Q&A on the topic. What are your thoughts about cameras on your kids?
Sync caught up with Vy Hoang, executive vice president of sales and marketing at the Toronto-based i³ International, to chat about this controversial announcement.
Sync: Hi Vy, thanks for your time. I read that you said ”cameras in schools are here to stay.” Why is there a need for it?
Vy Hoang: Canadian schools are generally very safe but cameras add another element of security for students and staff, for a relatively low cost. Criminal acts caught on video can be shared with police. Cameras also act as a deterrent for theft and vandalism of school property. And in the extremely rare situation of a school lock-down, security cameras provide the authorities with eyes inside the building.
Sync: What are some of the privacy concerns and how does York Region address those?
Hoang: The school board is extremely concerned with protecting its students’ privacy. Our software encrypts all out-going data so outsiders can’t access video. Additionally, there is an automatic record of each time an authorized user accesses video. The board is also exploring using an advanced version of the face-blurring technology built into the i3 DVRs [digital video recorders] to address privacy.
Sync: How widespread is the use of surveillance cameras for this school district, at present?
Hoang: At present we have i³ IP [Internet protocol] DVRs and cameras in 109 of the board’s schools. In the interests of keeping down costs we have also integrated the existing analog cameras into the system, although we retrofit a number of schools with new devices each year. We are currently updating the cameras in 25 schools as well as installing cameras in four brand new schools. Where feasible, these cameras are being tied into motion-sensitive lights to discourage vandalism and theft, after hours.
Sync: Can you talk about some of the advanced features offered, such as an automated way to find out how long the PVRs have been recording, who last accessed them, and so on? And why is this important?
Hoang: Our Central Monitoring Software allows for the board to keep check of system status (ie. proper functioning) but also tracks who accessed the system. It was important to the board that this “health monitoring” software be easy to use and accessible remotely. That way, fewer people are required to manage the system, keeping operational costs reasonable. And fewer people managing the system also reduce the risk of privacy breaches.
Sync: You’ve mentioned i³ International is a “leader” in digital video technology. What are their credentials?
Hoang: i³ International began as an installation company in 1990 and grew into a manufacturer of IP digital video technology, video analytics, and POS data management integration. i³ is at the forefront of video analytics research and has even received grants from the Federal Research Council.
Sync: Thank you, Vy.
Readers, are you concerned about many surveillance cameras in schools? Do you think we’re inching towards Big Brother or are cameras the lesser of two evils? Do you feel safer with cameras on the kids?
It is a case of big brother getting the kids used to being watched. Next there will be cameras in their homes, which based on the same faulty reasoning, will appear normal. By then Canada will be a 100% police state with Fascism fully entrenched in our society.
History tells us what is required to bring Democracy back and it isn’t pretty.
Mr. Hoang is getting is reward now, directly or indirectly, for his in favour opinions, not caring about the consequences tomorrow. In fact he may well be part of a well sheltered elite group that won’t be affected by such trivialities anyway.
On the surface litle things like this may appear insignificant, but their accumulative effect will have stagering consequences to the Canadian Society as we knew it.
Very True, but its sad that we, who attend schools are fairy more law abiding and seem to become more and more under surviellance and scrunity than those who have been convicted and sentenced to jail DO NOT HAVE TOTAL CAMERA SURVIELLANCE IN OUR CANADIAN PRISONS and thus durring uprisings in prisons by prisoners, those that destroy public property seem not to unindentifiable or punshied. but we who are not in prison are becoming more and more undersurviellance so subtley by non government groups and police, in accordance with the wishes and laws that tend to slowly erode our privacy, very SUBTLEY AT BEST, AND WE ALWAYS SEEM TO ACQUIESCE as the reasons given seem so LOGICAL at the time.
How easy will it be for us the voter, (not prisoners, presently incarcerated for crimes) to STOP or even recind these camera’s or laws? It appears once government intrusion occurs the ablility to curb them is an almost lifetime in getting the laws repealled. So, everbody should really try and understand just what is taking place and that to Quote a famous canadian. INFORMATION IS GOLD AND WHOEVER CONTROLLS THAT INFORMATION, HAS POWER AND POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY..
Simply put, so who really cares if there is a log of who accesses the video, what happens to that video and how it is used for good or nefarious purposes is the overall priority.
and as most of have realized ” IDENTITY THEFT” is growing concern, even tho companies and government ” adverise” that our information is FULLY PROTECTED and we shouldn’t worry.
hmmmmm how many people have had there identity stolen??
how many government records have been comprimised??
how many companies have comprismised your personal information??
So back to cameras and “1984″ be wary!!!!!!
I go to a school with multiple security cameras installed on the property, the newer kids don’t usually notice them, but they learn quickly. The people who don’t want to get caught doing some rather unsavory things do it where the cameras aren’t watching. Even if you put cameras in every single spot in the school so that there were no blind spots, which would be a sick invasion of privacy, the criminals would just find new ways to do their dirty deeds. It’s nice to think that just putting up some cameras would stop all crime in schools, but it doesn’t, and it won’t, all it will do is just push the crime farther underground.
Let “big brother” watch, if you aren’t breaking the law, you have nothing to worry about. My tax dollars will be spent on outfitting the schools with security equipment and I don’t have a problem with it.
The need for surveillance cameras would never have been an issue if violence and bullying in schools were not an issue.
I also strongly believe there should be metal detectors in every educational institute in order to further protect the innocent. Tragically, we are no longer living in a safe and harmonious world.
yes they should!!!
in europe they have cams around the school . why not here in canada.
There should be a difference between a school and a prison! What is next, a web cam in everyone’s bedroom? In a students life, there are two places that they spend majority of their time and should be private, with as little intrusion as possible and those two places are home and school. Leave the kids alone! One can understand the safety issues and worries, but that doesn’t mean slowly we start to imprison the kids in the name of safety and send them to jails or police stations for childish behaviours. We must also remember that at the end of the day, all these tech companies & the rest of corporations want to sell products in whichever way they can, even if it means fear mongering! They will probably bring the health hazard x-rays that are now use at the Airports with horrible safety record and fake promises of not keeping records. The school systems are there to serve the public and provide the new generation with a healthy school experience and not one that feels like a jail! Students are over stressed & are given very little respect. To School boards, please SERVE & DON’T STIFLE! Let the children enjoy their school years as the generations before them, with a sense of joy and privacy. As for those happy to spend their tax $ for these kind of things. You are probably a member of one of these tech companies who sell products to schools and don’t really care how you make your buck! Unlike you, others rather see the kids not get their school programs cancelled for the lack of budget. eg. gym, music, etc!
are you paying your tax?
do you have any children?
so why not have safety for our kids at school.
what will bother them if they are not doing anything wrong?
they will be safe and the parents will have peace of mind.
in this way maybe nobody can get close to them.
paying a baysitter it is ok, but having a cams isn’t????
you exaggerate! wake up and realize cameras, and any other ‘invasive’ gadgets are set up due to the violent acts that are committed far too often! years ago there was respect between the teachers and students, as well as among the students themselves. Discipline had a high ranking effect. Now when a student is depressed or frustrated, it often ends in tragic random shootings.
If these acts of violence were not a reality, there would be no need to spend money on protective devices. Until sanity returns to the public sector – I’m all for whatever it takes to keep our citizens safe from harm – or worse!
What do you mean, ‘don’t turn our schools into jails’? Public schools ARE jails! Do the kids have a choice to go or not to go? No, they don’t, they are FORCED to go to school, like it or not.
Public schools have never been about education, but about dumbing down kids, and brainwashing them to believe what the government wants them to believe. Public schools are there to stop children from learning to think for themselves.
This is a a very angry person there is nothing wrong with school without it we would all be in the dark ages.
The problem is with those who for what ever reason enjoy
bullying hurting and torturing thier fellow human beings.
We live in a very sad world we kill in the name of god yet ignore the bibles message love all
Familys teach hate and fear and payback.
Everyone has a right to go to school without fear .
If this means cameras to protect the children then i say yes
as for this person my guess,? she was a bully in school and got busted and didnt like the ending.
Canadian
It is so refreshing to hear another adult stick up for kids instead of always complaining about them in this corrupt hypocritical environment we have created for them. The only reason I would support the cameras in the classrooms would be to monitor the teachers behavior towards many of the kids. I have encountered so many teachers that clearly should not be given any money for their performance in their jobs. The destruction that is cause by some teachers mental abuse is unforgivable and gives long lasting scares to many. Oh how powerful. My remedy, as it is most often impossible to have any success with going to admin. is to simply call CAS on Teachers. Lets be clear on what our expectations are from teachers and if they fall short, good bye as it would be in any other job. Maybe then kids can start to respect and trust us. Oh and yah I know there are good teachers, but a really good teacher would support this as well.
KC
What a bunch of dumb ass paranoids, “leave the kids alone” is a stupid thing to say. At my university, there are cameras noticeable and not, they are there to protect me my girlfriend, my buddies and other students and staff.
Remembering Columbine should be enough to send chills down your back not to forget Polytechnic and Dawson in Montreal. Ask the police if cameras would have made their job a bit easier and perhaps would have saved some lives.
Legally no cameras are allowed in washrooms so you can take your dump in private.
Personally, I feel much safer knowing that if G-d forbids something should happen the authorities can find me, or see that I am safe and notify my parents if I cannot.
My father installed security cameras around the house and found that a maid was stealing and a babysitter was snooping around where she should not have been. Both were immediately dismissed and good riddance to them. When I have my own house I too will do as my privacy and safety concoius parents did. Install security inside and outside to keep my family safe. And G-d forbids that anything happens the police will have a record of events. That is recognizing and using technology to my advantage.
Everything can be used for good or bad but to be obsessed is just stupid and yes, I have read my dad’s book by Orwell 1984 a fantastic read, still not looking over my shoulder though.
Good luck………….BOO :)
Don’t be ashamed to say or write GOD
@Mack,
If you knew anything about Jewish culture this writing of G-d’s name is a sign of respect and so much more. This is not the forum for such discussion so why be so inappropriate. Out of my whole statement, that is what was important to you, How sad.
There were cameras at Columbine. The police were called. They didn’t come in time by choice.
100% je suis d’accord, Phil!!
Very well put!
http://www.ontla.on.ca/bills/bills-files/38_Parliament/Session2/b212ra.pdf
The unfortunate reality of modern life in today’s schools is that a very small percentage of students are predisposed to violent behaviour. Gun possession by students as young as 12 – 13 years old is common, not rare. I have witnessed it and reported it to police. One boy, 13 years old, was suspended from school for threatening to kill the vice-principal. Two months later he was shot to death in a drug deal gone wrong. Cameras did not save his life but cameras in schools do minimize anti-social behaviour. Students know that they are there and that anything they do (ie: bullying, drug-dealing) will be recorded. It may seem a bit Orwellian but the upside is a safer environment. This is a goal that should be welcomed by all parents even if it is at the expense of the students’ privacy.
Rule of thumb……if you have nothing to hide and are doing nothing wrong, where is the problem?
To have the means to add protection to children in school is not big brother, but a means of safe guarding children.
The people that always seem to lash out a cameras, are the people that don’t want to be caught doing something they shouldn’t be doing.
It is our responsibility as parents, and members of society to ensure that our kids are safe, and if it means cameras, then do it……infact metal detectors should also be involved as it would stop weapons being brought in.
Schools are a place that children should feel safe, and unfortunately, most children are either bullied or abused by other students as no one can see it happen, this should help cut down on that as well.
A huge yes yes yes.
Camera’s would enable teachers and police to monitor pupil activity in class and in
the playground. It is a pity that our society has brought us to this, but for the safety of
our students, Camera’s are a must
I don’t believe what i’m reading.Our gandfathers would be rolling over in their graves if they read this.They went to war and gave their lives for our freedom,and now we are giving it away.Canadians-don’t let this happen.
Democracy will fail when your right to privacy is taken away.
Been to war, doesn’t bother me a bit. It’s a public place and privacy should not be a concern in a public place. If I was to do what kids do now when my grandfather was alive, he would be second in line behind my father to go at me verbally as well as with his hand or a strap or switch on my butt. Too many bleeding hearts in this country that are too worried about their feelings getting hurt. Bring back the discipline we had at home years ago (and the accountability)and most of the problems we have with our youth today will go away.
I’m sick and tired of hearing about all this stuff. Society has brought it on themselves with all the bleeding hearts out there screaming about human rights. Don’t get me wrong I’m for human rights but not to the extremes that we have. First of all I firmly believe that the Young Offenders Act be abolished. I believe that this is first and foremost at the heart of the problems that we experience with our youth today. Just ask any cop or judge out there and they will tell you that their hands are mostly tied by this act. Kids scoff at them and litterally tell them that they can’t touch them. Why do you think that older criminals use underage kids to commit offences for them? It’s because the justice system over protects them. I want to know that the name of the kid found guilty of arson, murder, theft, drugs etc especially if he lives in my neighborhood and if it follows him for life so be it. You can’t tell me he or she didn’t know it was wrong. Maybe protect their names if they are younger than say 10 but definitley not older than that. When I was a kid you understood right from wrong at an early age Perhaps as young as 5-7 yrs old. Parents had responsibility and the last thing a kid wanted to hear was “wait till your father hears about this”. Parents don’t accept any responsibility for their kids now. There is too many families out ther with both parents working and not spending enough time to get truely involved with their kids lives. So it’s no wonder they don’t even know what their kids are up to. They feel guilty for not being there for them and spoil them rotten. And I also blame the school system itself. They should teach right from wrong from an early age. Parents should be allowed to spank their kids, not have them hear their kids say you can’t hit me they said so in school. Parents need to have the right to discipline their kids. Maybe all kids should be put into a prison for a week as part of the curiculum to show them what it’s like. I’m sure we would have fewer kids doing what they do now and basically thumb their noses at society. I’m sure I’ve angered aa lot of people with this but I say too bad most of those who get angry about what I’ve said are probably the ones who contribute to the problem now anyways. As for cameras in school, it’s a public place and for the security of the teachers and the students I say go for it. Look at the principle of a school in N.S. recently. The video vindicated him and showed that the student was at fault and he did his job. Without the video he probably would havelost his job. The kids parents were screaming bloody murder after seeing it, but after it was leaked to the media (which was wrong)and they aired it (also wrong)it was obvious that the kid was at fault and should have been charged with assault (but was not.
So if I’ve offended, too bad. If you agree talk to your local politician and have the act abolished.
Well you have everything right! In fact the youth in prison get more than the kids that are behaving and outside of prison. I totally agree with parents being able to discipline their children (not abuse them) Kids have no fear of anyone anymore not even Hell!!! The thought of having cameras in schools I do like but as it has shown in the past, the criminals will attack off the property or out of the view of cameras. The Young Offenders Act is an offence in itself. Kids get more while in prison in the way of material things, getting to watch movies, candy every night, brand new gyms…ya there’s one for you! Let the kids get stronger while in prison so they can pound on the person that put them there. If prison were more like the hell it should be perhaps these kids would stop being idiots. I know of murders in youth custody that have run from jail, gotten back and get an ipod, movies, and snacks….Really what is with that. New clothes every month and the list goes on. It is too bad that the cameras weren’t catching the gang crap going on all over. In trying to curb the criminals we lose our own freedom of privacy. But as someone else has stated…if we are doing nothing wrong then what have we to fear….well getting caught speeding! I wish we had a magic wand.
Helpus
The authorities, parents and the public must cease protecting violent offenders or offenders of any sort, be they child offenders.
Take the case of a US woman who said that she brought her child to the school and the child never reported to the classroom. While not in Canada or Toronto for that matter, the child disappeared.
If there was a surveillance camera, not only inside but outside – in front of the school door, it would have beeen confirmed whether or not the child was brought to the school.
In addition, the Russian teenager who disappeared and who, it was stated that she used another door to enter the school.
Cameras are also necessary for predators – child molesters.
To do otherwise, you are digging a hole for yourselves and the children who continue to offend and also bully others. One child murdered in a school, one child injured and property vandalized are one too many.
I state, by all means, place and keep those cameras in the schools without much ado.
Being nurtured by disciplined parents I have no empathy for children who offend. It is imperative that parents nurture their children appropriately and to show by also example, if they are to have obedient and law-abiding children.
Parents also have to assist the government, law authorities, the schools, society and their children. We must never make the mistake of making excuses for as it is stated: “An excuse is a lie.”
All things along these lines will be introduced as a good thing and the people will go along with it (them)….Only seeing the downside when it is too late! Ya comrade, it is good thing…Ve vill be vatching!
So what could possibly be wrong? Lack of morals, disrespect for others, drugs galore, lawlessness the police cannot cope with, the new source of religious fervor- the almighty dollar, and no control over what we concoct to corrupt minds and hearts! I know that this only applies to some, but that “some” is growing more powerful every day. I am old enough to have seen the changes. The most damaging change is the uncontrolled increase in population. How do you govern 7 billion people, and believe me, without controls the human race would quickly self-destruct. In fact, with what I have seen developing, I can truthfully say that I am ashamed to be a member of my species. The best thing at this point that could happen to the world would be the sudden disappearance of all humans. Think about it. The more we are watched and controlled, the better for those of us that are moral, caring and upstanding. If there is a problem here it is for those of us that are in need of watching anyway.
i.) We worry about privacy issues, yet these kids post anything and everything about their lives on social network websites.
ii.) To the parents who buy their kids a birthday gift of an iPod, cellphone, laptop, iPad, to only have someone break into their locker to steal it. Having a camera can catch such an ignorant act. Wouldn’t you want the person caught.
iii.) your child gets assaulted in the halls afterschool. Cameras can help prevent such a crime.
iv.) Look at all the Caught-on-camera shows that have helped convict criminals. Are you kidding me.
v.) Cameras are in all stores, why aren’t you fighting them for recording your image?
You people who dislike the cameras are a bunch of whiners. Stop complaining about cameras in the school and maybe fight for tougher crime laws.
I have gone through all the comments here and we are all missing the bigger picture. It is not about privacy, it is not about cameras, and as much as I think that we are heading towards a totalitarian/Orwellian state. The problem is that we don’t know what the problem is because it is the combination of a number of problems. First off it is materialism and consumerism that is creating a need to be better than someone thus leading to the consumption of material and then there is the need to be able to purchase these items thus leading to the need for more people to be working to sustain the lifestyle which actually leads to an over saturated employment pool which then leads to unemployment and poverty. Both extremes of this symptom lead to a lack of discipline, and lust for what we do not have. It also leads an end justifies the means mentality and part of the lack of respect that is necessitating the cameras. This is not an encompassing analysis but it should lead to some interesting insights.
We also live in a country that is becoming more and more sterile in how we relate to each other. Where community used to happen, we have locks and fences. People are afraid to touch each other so they actually develop unhealthy manners of doing so and we label them sociopaths because we don’t know how to do so appropriately. The irony is that then the pendulum swings and all the bad stuff that we were told not to do we then find out is fun and feels good and people do so with abandon.
We are also facing the melding of communities that have trouble relating to each other. In a lot of ways we are continuing to generate problems with stop gap solutions instead of taking the time to look at the real problems. Crime is just a symptom of something else.
Oh and think about how long there has been “teenagers”. Some will think that they have been around for ever. The truth is “teenagers” are a new invention. In the creation of the teenager we have tried to strip them of responsibility and development for the sake of some sort of psychological believe.
Maybe the real problem is not that all these things are happening but that we as a society don’t know how to mature with the current realities.
I know that I don’t have all the answers but maybe we should actually looking at the real problems and do something about them instead of complaining about cameras.
I’ve read the posts and to be honest cameras work in schools because in my case my son was accussed of doing something and when I came in for the interview I demanded to see the actual footage and guess what it wasn’t even my kid that did what they said he did. He was hung out to dry by the teachers kid that did what they said happened. It saved his school career so for me it was a good thing for the asses that lied it wasn’t so good.
we need more cameras in schools not more excusses so the haters can win.
Oh before I go…Who ever said that Canada is indeed a free contry. It isn’t and hasn’t been since the 50′s. just look at our judicial system and you’ll see that there isn’t anything protecting freedoms in it and the rest flows down hill from there.
Later
Great idea. more to monitor the teachers doing their jobs. My daughter is now attending university. However, Gr 10 & 11, had some not so bright who didn’t know biology and would tell the class how they will never be as smart as he is, but would rather talk about deer hunting and would show everyone how he could throw a piece of chaulk across the room and land it on the blackboard ledge, and break it in a million pieces. Biology is a criteria for what she needed in university! With a competitive entry, She was very lucky to get accepted. Its no joke . . the majority of the bio class failed the final exam at year end, and they finally someone realized what the h e l l was going on and the students were offered a re-write. Doesn’t that tell you something. In fact, We, as parents wanted to place a monitor of some sort in the room, but we were not allowed in those days
- hoping that the camera would stop the teacher and the sexual gestures that we hear about daily in the news that will be destroyed in their tracks
- a start for gang activity to be stopped
Very good discussion here..pro and con.. one element missing..as I think back to the unpleasantness of being a native child, very artistic and gifted..in a military lifestyle on military bases across the country..the experience was the same..singled out by teachers and students..the sacrificial lamb..a first nations child being called by a circleing ring of ice white kids..chinky chinky chinaman..truth is eurocausians have the lowest mean IQ’s of all the rest of us..:) search it out your self or give your puter away genius..:)physically abusive teachers, verbally abusive teachers..down right perverted teachers..completely incompetant teachers.. laughable psycholgists with their little clip boards and white smocks being punked by a grade 4 student just had enough abuse and shut down.. failing IQ tests intentionally, to be left alone..smirking behind their backs as he was pronounced below average intelligence.. :) i sure wish those performers and incidents were on tape today..racism and eurocausian delusions of superiority, religiosity, nothing but a vicious methodolgy i reality, all contribute to the abusiveness of the society , regardless where or what that society is..endemic to human kind..we need the replacement for the BIG EYE OF GOD since god is dead a long time..:)in secular society.. if it feels good do it..sociopathy as a delightful norm..:) damn right cameras are needed everywhere..sadists get into every area where vulnerable people or children are gathered..and the home.. predators lurk..lives ruined..horrific actions against the vulnerable..these whiers for privacy in public are like latent frustrated streakers :) wanna get aked but ot be SEEN doing it :) are likely abusing someone at a school or hospital right now..seniors homes..day cares..foster parents..a little knowledge is dangerous..paragigm views are created in sociology labs.. we are after all just a bunch of figuritive rats in a box feeding on each other..the ewest dns testing can identify the potential psychopath in utero.. :) if you think camers are a bad thing wait until eugenics hits the streets AGAIN..:) most of the c plus average buffoons whining wont be born.. be aborted..:) no flaw allowed in whiteman world..:) yet the biggest flaw is thee oh self proclaimed master of all our poor pitiable enslaved destinies..keep eating your poison foods and taking your poisoned pharma..building toxins into all you create..breeding sociopaths and stepping on the “other” until the other says ok.. that’s it.. and wipes your stupid face off the planet.. :) billions of US.. few of you..judgement day can happen right here on earth.. and is unfolding daily.. as we see the west collapsing into impoverished debt slavery.. economically castrated themselves via free trade which is just a licence for whitey and all the assimilants he creates via immigration..right wing voters right..:) to pillage and impoverish other struggling nations.. to destroy democracy rather that nurture it.. Christers build prisons..what are YOU building ? Do not interpret my use of some religious jargon as an adherance to that religiosity.. No man can speak with equanamity about that which is beyond his realm of experience.. hense the blithering fools decrying cameras that save lives and have the perps taken care of..only the guilty seek annonymity. So unless you are buggering children welcome the cameras into your bed room..we would all like to see what the hell you are up to there :)
Oh crap..I really really need a new keyboard and laser eye surgery :)Im old..youth cannot survive the treachery of old age so.. get over it :)
thats. the newest dna testing…the lowest mean IQ’s of all the rest of us..the n key requires some trauma to be actuated..:)
catch my drift ? Cameras are the substituted artificial apparatus of the extinquished conscience in human behaviors today..:0)
And to respond to the critique of my annonymity.. the most horrific crime in a dishonest deluded culture is speaking truth,..this messenger loves life..those semiteintigated hate laws are nothing but a ruse for their own dark agendas..to protect the larceny in their own Zionista subversiveness and freedom for fascists only. If not so then they would not now be under legal condemnation for their abuses of the mandate they contrived to hide their dirty dealings against freedom of speech for us and freedom to oppress and invade for themselves.
Who said..one can not reason with lunatics nor truth unto them.. :)
Oh ..heh.. I DID..:0) Self discipline is a dirty word in Gamorrah West.