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Cameras Rolling on School BusesACLU Takes A Stand On Bus Cameras to Monitor School Bus Violence
Some are against the cameras and some support them. Find out which individuals support or oppose.
Recent Incidents of BullyingThe news media has been airing incidents of violence on school buses. Some students have been seriously injured during these acts of bullying. The bus driver must keep the vehicle and eyes on the road so some schools are turning to cameras to record student behaviors. The Principal SpeaksHalifax, MA Elementary principal, Diane Biggieri is a strong supporter of cameras on school buses. Halifax has taken the "bull by the horns" and decided that "bullying" on busses will come to a stop. The district has installed cameras and the tapes are reviewed when warranted. Halifax is a small school district south of Boston. "It’s no longer ‘he said, she said,’" Biggieri said. When a student complained about being beaten, she checked the tapes and it turned out to be a mere poke. [Christine Wallgran, boston.com, October 7, 2007] 20/2020/20, a television magazine, has featured a segment on school bus cameras in the past showing student behaviors when students didn’t realize the cameras were rolling. A red light is usually on when the cameras are rolling. Cameras automatically begin then the bus goes into motion. For experimental purposes, the cameras were rolling with the light disabled. The differences were dramatic. Students sat like angels with the cameras rolling which inspired 20/20 to play the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah as background music. Parents Point Of ViewSuperintendent Frank Hackett says, "We haven’t had any concerns expressed by parents over the cameras." Buses are fitted with camera boxes. Cameras can be installed by request. When there is an incident, the VHS tapes are reviewed to corroborate the testimonies of students and bus driver. The images on the tapes are quite clear so it is quite easy to make a judgment of who did what. It is not legal to record voices, so in some cases, lips can be read to understand what the student is saying at the time. The date and time is also on the tape. Occasionally, a parent may ask to view the tapes and learn about an incident. This is denied since this parent would be viewing children other than their own. Viewing is reserved for administration only. [Christine Wallgran, boston.com, October 7, 2007] Student ViewIt is not surprising that students are livid about having cameras on the school buses. Many see it as an invasion of their privacy. But, most students would agree that the bus driver should be driving first and monitoring behavior second. Students often ignore a bus driver’s instructions knowing that he or she needs to have their eyes on the road. ACLUSurprisingly, the American Civil Liberties Union seems to have no problem with the cameras. Sarah Wunsch, ACLU staff attorney, said, "I think that’s a place where there is a special need. It’s public. It’s not a place where kids expect privacy. The kids might not like it, but the ACLU is not going to object to it." [Christine Wallgran, boston.com, October 7, 2007] Other OptionsSome schools have chosen other options.
BullyingBullying behaviors can not be tolerated in the schools. They should also not be tolerated on buses. Bullying can scar children long into the future. Related articles: E-Thugs Or Web Bullies, Bullying And Sleep Read previous articles on Educational Issues. Copyright article 2007 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
The copyright of the article Cameras Rolling on School Buses in Educational Issues is owned by Barbara Pytel. Permission to republish Cameras Rolling on School Buses in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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