We need to put cameras in all areas of public schools, except the bathrooms and locker rooms. These cameras should be accessible to all parents 24/7 via their computer or smart phone. This is already being done at many private schools.
My school district was having trouble with discipline on the busses, so they installed video cameras. The idea was when little Johnny misbehaved, we’d show his parents proof of his deeds. But it didn’t work out that way. Yes, you can show little Johnny’s parents video of LJ, but you can’t show them the faces of any of the other kids—right to privacy and all of that.
Students, not being an arm of the government are not constrained by this rule—they can video each other as much as they want.
We were also told that if we ever took a kid’s phone, we were to have them turn it off first. Under no circumstances were we or any school official to look at what was on their phone. Reason—if there was anything that could be considered child pornography, we’d be an adult in possession of kiddie porn. Once again, perfectly legal for them (if they’re under 18), big trouble for us.
I really don’t think schools—or much of society—have come to grips with the reality of this technology.