TRI In The News
Security Measure a Danger to Students?
10/18/2011
TRI IN THE NEWS: SECURITY MEASURE A DANGER TO STUDENTS?
From One News Now
Original article available here.
A religious and civil liberties organization is cautioning Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia against installing surveillance cameras, as the firm feels it would be harmful to students.
John Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute, says installing a $3 million security camera system in response to food fights in the cafeteria is a reckless overreaction to a discipline problem.
"It creates in them the idea that they're always being watched, that they are suspects," he explains. "Some kids have actually rebelled against the cameras, thrown things at them, tried to drape towels over them, or whatever."
He has pointed out to Superintendent Jack Dale that the idea is undemocratic, expensive, and can produce adverse psychological consequences. In addition, he says there is plenty of proof that shows cameras are not a deterrent.
"Believe it or not, the British government, which has more cameras than any country in the world, ... did a study in 2005, and they came to the conclusion that they do not work," Whitehead cites.
He says Fairfax County Public Schools have been increasingly criticized for its harsh discipline and zero-tolerance policies. In fact, W.T. Woodson High School sophomore Nick Stuban committed suicide last January after he was subjected to a hearing before school officials for getting caught with a single capsule of a drug that was legal at the time.
