Pupil Discovers Camera In School Bathroom (and Gets Suspended for It!)

WMAZ ^ | 11/30/2005 | n/a

[wideawake]

Rather than ripping out the camera, he should have alerted others and contacted his parents and/or the cops.

The principal should be under investigation.

[Dubya-M-Dees]

Just a note from a former PI with some background in issues like this.

In most states, it is quite legal to place cameras in locations where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. It is legal (at least in the Commonwealth of Virginia) to place a camera in a bathroom so long as it is not pointing inside of a stall (where someone would expect privacy). In an open area of a bathroom (where there are multiple stalls or urinals) you do not expect privacy. Anyone could walk in and see you in these locations.

You might be surprised at the number of retail stores that have cameras in their restrooms....

[geezerwheezer]

If the principal was worried about vandalism in the mens' room, why didn't he assign a male teacher or go himself between classes and catch them? A camera seems to me to be extreme, yet I think both sides have a valid argument here. Do you have the right to pee in private, or does the school have the right to make sure you don't pee on the walls by photographing what you do when you relieve yourself?

[enraged]

You nailed it!

[Steven W.]

Brownsville Station: Smoking in the Boys Room

[Itzlzha]

What the hell is wrong with FR lately? I can't believe that there are people here that apparently think it's OK for the school to film 8th grade boys in the bathroom. That kid made the right assumption that some pervert put that in there, and he did the right thing by taking it out. Gawd, there's some sick, twisted puppies out there if they think the boy was wrong.

What you are seeing are the Statist, "LEO-Uber-Alles", Authority-Is-G_D crowd here.

You may notice they are the first to defend Bad Cops, and blame "perps" for everything. This kid isn't even accused of ANYTHING, and some are painting him as a suspect or criminal!

It's been a staple here for a long time.

[XJarhead]

We don't know the story here. It's possible that kids were ripping towel dispensers off the wall, breaking mirrors, etc. And its also likely possible to put a camera in one of those bathrooms in a way that doesn't view kids in stall, and with the boys' backs to the camera's when they are using the urinal. Depending upon the vandalism and the placement of the camera, it might not be that bad of an idea.

[FLcitizen]

I suspect that if you placed a camera in a public bathroom, that you would face some sort of legal action though.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Is there also a camera in the girls bathroom?

Was there vandalism in the girl's bathroom that warrated a camera?

[mad puppy]

If you put cameras in the bathrooms, my kids will pee in your office.

[pierrem15]

Turn the principal and local DA in to the Feds for possession and distribution of child pornography.

[sheik yerbouty]

He's probably been pulling his own while viewing the pictures. He needs to be fired at the least.

[ozoneliar]

What's the difference between this and child porn?"

While having a camera in a bathroom might violate some statutes. It would not be child porn. Here is an excerpt from a group that accepts reports of illegal websites:What content isn`t child pornography?

* Text describing child pornography or explicit sexual behavior of/with children is not illegal.

* Child modeling sites, (i.e. childsupermodel.com) are not illegal. ASACP does not accept child-modeling sites as Sponsors or Approved Members, but these sites are legal.

* At this time animations, drawings and cartoons are legal.

* Child nudity does not always equal child pornography. The determining factor with child pornography is not whether the child is nude, partially nude, or fully clothed. The determining factor is what the child is doing and/or having done to him/her is.

[eleni121]

I do not see a problem with keeping track of the bathroom. The camera could be preventing even more serious problems.

As for who is watching - the pervert issue---I'm not sure how to solve that. Who's monitoring the monitors?

[thoughtomator]

So if the child is urinating, does that qualify as child pornography?

[Stashiu]

There is no good reason to put a camera in a children's bathroom. I would have taken it out too.

If I were the parents, I would be pressing the School District with legal action.

[ozoneliar]

So if the child is urinating, does that qualify as child pornography?

I'm researching relevant USC and GA statutes right now.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

This principal is just following the Marxists plan for statism, taking away all sense of individual privacy at a young age. They are conditioning our children. Public schools are indoctrination breeding grounds for the communists.

What is not taught is an honor system, a system that depends upon individuals to practice civil discourse.

[Lx]

Is there a reply from principle George Michaels?

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

...but the kid had no right to steal it either

I for one would not convict him for stealing, no more than I would convict the players in the Boston Tea Party of any crime.