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Parents Angry Over CCTV In School Toilets
Outraged parents have hit out at a school in Birmingham after pupils discovered CCTV cameras in the school's toilets.
Youngsters at Grace Academy in Chelmsley Wood claim they returned from half-term to find staff had installed the cameras without notifying them or their parents.
Some parents are furious at what they say is a "total invasion of privacy" and claim some pupils are so anxious about being watched they are refusing to use the facilities.
One mother whose teenage daughter attends the school is concerned the footage could fall into the wrong hands.
She told the Sunday Mercury: "She came home from school and told me security cameras had been installed in the girl's toilets but we didn't know anything about it.
"You would expect the school to have consulted parents first yet we received no information and no letters have been sent home explaining this decision."
Grace Academy claims the cameras only cover the sink areas and have not yet been activated.
School principal Terry Wales told Sky News: "It's to safeguard our youngsters, many schools are using cameras now.
"We had a parents' forum last night, we explained the arrangements and the parents were satisfied.
"We've found that when it comes to health and safety, children want to feel secure."
But privacy campaigners warned about the psychological effects of the feeling of being watched, even if cameras are not switched on.
Dylan Sharpe from Big Brother Watch told Sky News: "Children are entitled to privacy like anyone else.
"We're raising a generation of children accustomed to being constantly watched and monitored, whether cameras are switched on or not."
Grace Academy already has 26 CCTV cameras watching other parts of the school.
The incident is the latest row to erupt between schools and parents who are concerned about safeguarding their children's privacy.
Last year police were called to a school in Salford after parents were horrified to discover children had been filmed changing into their PE kit.
Although the footage was not misused, police seized the film after negotiating with the school.
In 2007 it was revealed schools had fingerprinted thousands of primary school children without their parent's consent.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families later ruled that if schools want to obtain and store biometric data from children, consent is not required from parents.
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Posted in: News by SoulRiser on March 28, 2010 @ 5:44 PMTags: Parents, Privacy, School, Youth Rights
6 Responses to “Parents Angry Over CCTV In School Toilets”
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The reasons NOT to go to school, or to ever send my children to school, just keep piling up...
.-= Idzie´s last blog ..A Teenage Brain =-.
I am so glad most of my children are home learners. I really wish my eldest would choose to stay home as well!
This is a total invasion of privacy. Can you imagine the uproar if parents were to place CCTV in their own bathroom where their children and their friends could be filmed?
I simply do not understand why people allow schools to get away with this kind of thing!
.-= Nurture´s last blog ..Comments Approved =-.
Wow, that's crazy, =[ I hope my school isn't doing that. Maybe I should ask one of the teachers.
Hello all,
Regarding anyone rejection of CCTV in schools,street's University, colleges, work, airports, etc.
i don't know why other !! keep rejecting this idea's are they very supportive for Torrence, crimes, Violence, exploitation.
what's the point you dont agree with that?!
i am not supporting the CCTV to be in toilets, but in toilets Entrances, corridors, rows etc. and with Audio as will ( Sound system ).
it's one of tow things that you dont agree ( you are criminal, using drugs, using childish ) and you dont want anyone to see you doing this things.
in the school you are not alone and everyone can see you and what you doing expect ( Parents, Teachers and respected peoples ) but what hipping behinds us is more then what you think.
so what's your point of rejecting that. or stooping parents to fallow their kids and be sure the study steady, save , and fallow homework, educations, well treatments, and with no valiant.
I wish i can go with my kids during the day and not working and be busy with this life to be sure my future family members are safe and well.
kind regards.
I have been begging my mom to home school me, and most of the articles here, plus all the problems that my school district already has, may be enough to push her over the edge.
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