Should There Be Security Cameras In Schools

My opponent makes the claim that we need security cameras installed in school to catch illegal acts and that since there are security camera's in malls and movie theater's they should also be in schools. He goes on to claim they can prevent illegal activity, prevent bullying, and even school shootings. My rebuttal's 1. Security camera's are expensive to buy, install and maintain. The cost of a good security camera can cost up to hundred's of dollars and it also would cost another large sum to install and run them . [1] In a time when schools across the country are having budget cuts, good security cameras costing up to 1000 dollars each would be a huge financial burden on the school which would more than likely result in the lay-offs of employee's, academic classes being dropped, extracurricular activities such as band and athletics being eliminated, etc. Simply to buy security camera's. 2. Security camera's would be useless. My opponent also claims that security camera's could stop school shootings as well. In order for camera's to prevent a school shooting, the school's we all need to hire armed security guards to constantly monitor the camera's and act in such an event. School shootings are also highly unlikely as only a handful occur in the U. S. every year which normally result in either no casualties or mere injuries and many time are perpetrated by adults who simply walk onto campus, a situation where cameras will have no effect. [2] A better way to prevent school shootings would be to allow teachers to have permits to carry their weapons at home on campus. This would not cost any money at all as the teachers would simply bring weapons from home. This would turn a significant amount of teachers into persons with the ability to put down an armed intruder or student faster than a single guard watching the screens of dozens of live security camera's. Many schools in the U. S. are already following this method as well as countries such as Israel and Thailand [3] Most if not all illegal activity on school campuses, do not occur out in the open such as in the quad, in the gym, etc. They occur in the bathrooms, the locker rooms, etc. The sale or use of illegal drugs, weapons, etc occur in those private areas. In order to make security cameras somewhat worthwhile, we would need to install security cameras in those areas. The girl's locker room, the boy's bathroom stalls, etc would need cameras. It would be extremely inappropriate and a major violation of personal privacy if the students were forced to appear naked, half dressed, and using the restrooms to school personnel. Young females and males should not be forced to appear nude, half dressed, etc to school officials. It is a violation of personal privacy and is extremely demeaning and stressful to students, who will now know that their math or science teacher has seen how large their breasts are, or who will now know how small their penis is, or how fat they are, or how skinny they are, etc. For these reasons security cameras are extremely costly, and in order to avoid the violation of the personal and intimate privacy of students, cannot be placed in the areas where illegal activity can occur the most. Vote Con [1] . http://www.supercircuits.com... (Costs of various security cameras. Prices range from over $250 to $1000+ each. ) [2] . http://en.wikipedia.org... (List of school shootings) [3] . http://en.wikipedia.org... (Schools with "armed classrooms" have already been implemented in the U. S. , Israel, and Thailand. )