George,

With regard to cameras in the schools, I believe a great deal of caution needs to be exercised in this arena as it can be abused by one who is seeking to "trap" an individual and does not use the appropriate avenues for gathering information.

On the other hand, we already have cameras in our school buses which can help a great deal with discipline on the bus. It does eliminate the age old situation where the child and parent are quick to deny inappropriate behavior and blame the school employee of "hating my kid",' having it in for me", "picking on my kid", "always taking his side".

Unless it can be shown that the behavior of children is so completely out of control in a school, installing cameras would be a huge waste of money which should be used for more teachers, teachers' aides, equipment for enhanced learning, etc.

If the school is so large that it can not be effectively patroled by administrators and other personnel, then it is too big.

Martha H. Wood (electronic mail, January 8, 2001).