Webcams in Classrooms: How Far is Too Far?

I. INTRODUCTION

Trends in School Violence

Columbine, Pearl, and West Paducah bring to mind horrific images of children opening fire on other children.1 It seems as if there is a new story of unspeakable violence almost every week.2 Parents are demanding action and school districts are scrambling to find a solution.3 In the wake of these highly publicized school shootings, communities are willing to trade some basic legal protections for a greater level of safety. What often goes unmentioned is that violence in schools around the nation has been on a downward trend since the mid-1990's. From 1992 to 2000, nonfatal violent incidents of rapes, assaults, and robberies dropped 46% from 48 to 26 per 1000 students.4 While students are safer at school than almost anywhere else,5 public perception has been shaped by several high-profile shooting deaths in schools in recent years. Consequently, school districts are introducing strict disciplinary policies and developing safety plans that incorporate the latest technology.6 Metal detectors and surveillance cameras are now as common in suburban areas as in the inner cities.7 The purpose of this Chalk Talk is to discuss why webcams in the classroom, one of the newest approaches to enhancing school security, do not provide an optimal level of safety and are not the best solution to end violence in schools. Webcams are an intrusion into the learning environment masquerading as a safety precaution. School administrators can develop a false sense of security, and the unintended consequences of mishandled information, as well as the potential liability of such negligence, will far outweigh any realized benefits.