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Kiss Caught On Camera Raises Issues Of 'Big Brother' Surveillance
Surveillance cameras in schools are meant to keep children safe and in-line, but a kiss, a camera and a controversy have Gig Harbor High School in Washington in an uproar.
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Posted by: april burkesville
on May 2, 2007 at 08:52 AM
I think it is great for the cameras at school because there is alot of children and not enough staff to see everything so it should help with problems. I think that there was nothing wrong with leting the parents know what was going on. After all they are there parents and they need to know. To many parents dont know enough now days and that causes problems.
Posted by: Neal
Location: Bowling Green
on May 2, 2007 at 08:02 AM
The cameras should not be used like they were used here. The authorities saw 2 females kissing, which is probably wrong in their eyes, and told their parents on them like attention getting tattletails. The cameras are great if used for the right reasons, but not for spying on two young ladies expressing love for one another. Remember it is the year 2007. This will continue to happen more and more whether you are for it or against it. People have the right to choose who they kiss. You have to ask yourself this, If the cameras would have caught one of the young ladies kissing a boy instead of another young lady, would the parents have been called? I think we all know the answer to that question. NO!
Posted by: Lu
Location: Grayson Co.
on May 2, 2007 at 07:56 AM
Students should have no expectation of privacy except in the bathroom stalls. If you are not doing anything you are not supposed to,why would you care if you were on camera anywhere?
Posted by: Tina
Location: Kentucky
on May 2, 2007 at 04:39 AM
Would he have pulled the tape and notified the parents if it had been a boy and girl kissing? If not then I think he handled it wrong. Whatever public display of affection rules in place should have been enforced. Nothing more-nothing less.
Posted by: cortney
Location: grayson county
on May 1, 2007 at 06:31 PM
i think they should not spy on them like that they should only be used for weapons or if someones goin to get hurt...
Posted by: MAR
Location: Bowling Green
on May 1, 2007 at 04:58 PM
When I was in school, we were not allowed to kiss at school. Regardless of the gender of those involved, I wonder, did that school have a rule against public displays of affection? That's the real issue.
Posted by: Pam
Location: Bowling Green, KY
on May 1, 2007 at 11:16 AM
It should have been reported to the parents and as a parent I would want to know if my child was doing that at school. Besides school is a place of learning not kissing. If the girls wanted this to be private then they should have done it in a private place and not at a public school.
Posted by: vanessa
Location: cave city
on May 1, 2007 at 10:30 AM
I think it's a great idea for cameras to be in schools, that way we can see and know what our children are doing at school as well as home, because the camera does not lie the truth is always there rather it be good or bad, at least we as parents will know whats going on, ona regular basis..
Posted by: Chrissy
on May 1, 2007 at 09:48 AM
I do not see anything wrong with the parents being notified. I think that it is a sad day when anyone else would disagree with that. I understand that we all have rights.
Posted by: Rita
on May 1, 2007 at 09:12 AM
I believe that this particular action did step over the line. Not only did one of the girls get pulled from school but can you imagine how her own ego was hurt by this. Parents should love thier children for who they are and not who they like-- no I am not saying her parents don;t love her but by them pulling her out of her school and making a big deal out of this she may feel abandoned now. Talk to your children, don't complete turn their lives upside down over an expression of how they feel toward somone. And yes I am a parent to 3 wonderful daughters!
Posted by: Ken
Location: Gig Harbor
on May 1, 2007 at 02:27 AM
Parents have the right to know if their children are engaging in inappropriate conduct. Students knew the cameras were there so they had no right of privacy. The mistake was made by the students, not by school officials. As a father of 4 daughters I commend the actions of dean of students and say "shame on the school principle for not backing him up"
Posted by: Dad
Location: Ky
on Apr 30, 2007 at 06:20 PM
Point is: Don't do things at school you would not do at home in front of your parents. They should reveal any disipline problems to the parents. School is for learning morals and earn graduation. Not that type actions.
Posted by: Summer
Location: Bowling Green
on Apr 30, 2007 at 04:18 PM
In my opinion, those young girls didn't do a thing wrong. To some, it may not be the right thing to do, but everyone has their opinion. As long as those cameras didn't catch them stealing, vandalizing, disrupting, or something more sexual, it's no one elses business, not even a parent. I believe cameras are good in schools to keep the children safe, to know if someone is doing something WRONG, in the sense of harming another student, or teacher, but not wrong in the sense of sexual. It's not their decision.
Posted by: Sandy
Location: BG, KY
on Apr 30, 2007 at 03:52 PM
As a parent, of course I would want to know what my child is doing and the security should have been shared. I thank God we have people who watch and care for my child when I cannot be with her 24 hrs a day. Any parent who does not want to know is probably one of the parents that drop off their kids at the mall on Friday and Saturday nights - it is scary what I have seen at that place . parents, open your eyes and be the adult and want to know what you child is doing - thanks school officials for seeing and doing something......
Posted by: Carla
Location: KY
on Apr 30, 2007 at 03:19 PM
I am a parent and if this was something my child was doing, I would want to know. The parents should be informed if a child is "caught" on camera doing something that is against school policy, or any other policy. People comment about private life, then it should be done in private, not at school. The school was simply protecting the students involved, not invading privacy. The only thing done wrong was the school official backing down from his actions. He should stand up and be commended for protecting the children he is responsible for.
Posted by: Allison
Location: Warren Co
on Apr 30, 2007 at 03:15 PM
The school should have only spoken to the girls privately, to let them know that school isn't the place for PDA (public display of affection). The school should only contact the parents if the behavior continues, and creates a problem within the school. Why was the parents of only one girl contacted? Would the reaction by the school had been the same if it was a girl and boy kissing? This is a high school and I would bet that this was not the very first kiss to ever be caught on tape. Personally, it seems that the issue here is more about the kiss being between 2 girls. People preach that if you can't do certain behaviors at home, then you can't do those things at school, and cameras are good to keep a watch on kids constantly. Whether the students are at home, school, or somewhere else, they can't be watched constantly. The school freaks out about a girl-girl kiss, well, maybe they should do a virgin count. That number would be something to freak about. If the only "bad" thing my child does while at school is to kiss someone, reguardless of gender, then thank God! In case some are wondering, I am straight, married, and a very good parent. I would be disappointed to know that my child was kissing at school, but it's not such a problem that deserves this much drama!
Posted by: Michele
Location: Gamaliel
on Apr 30, 2007 at 03:14 PM
I really do not think this was a violation, how would the parents reacted if the kids were doing more than just kissing and no one told them? They would have been very upset! School is not a place too express quite so much affection. Whether the problem be because it was two girls or whether the problem was the action the girls were participating in. If we keep turing our heads to what is happening it can only get worse!
Posted by: Tammy
Location: Burkesville
on Apr 30, 2007 at 03:02 PM
I am a parent and I think this was right to show this to the parents. I send my child to school to learn not to practice any kind of sexual behavior with any other student. The carmeras are there to catch it all, not just part of it. And it should be forbidden to kiss on school property and well as all the other rules. If the girls didn't want it told in my opion they should have kissed in their homes and not in public. No matter how little or big the situation is with my child I would greatly appreciate it if the school would call me!
Posted by: Bobby
Location: Kentucky
on Apr 30, 2007 at 12:46 PM
As a parent, I have mixed feelings about what allegedly occured in this story. The school administrators are placed in a precarious position. What would people's viewpoints be had two students run away after showing public affection (not that these students were so inclined)? The parents would probably want to know why they were not notified. And unless the cameras were hidden, it seems that the students were almost asking to be discovered. Is there really an expectation of privacy for acts committed in front of a camera? What I find interesting is that only one student's parents, according to the article, were notified. What's up with that? I'd also like to know if the same-sex component to this story had anything to do with the notification. It seems to me that the policy, if there is one, should apply to all students. If my child were engaging in a public display of affection to the extent that it became known by school administrators, as a parent I would want to be able to discuss the situation with my child. Some people find extreme public displays of affection to be a bit "de'classe'." I would want to discuss this with my child.
Posted by: Joe
Location: Somerset
on Apr 30, 2007 at 12:09 PM
We are told to monitor our child's internet use.We are told to monitor our child's Cell phone use.We are told to monitor our child's grades.We are told to monitor the places our child visits.We are told to reasearch the friends and homes our child visits.A large part of our child's time is spent in the classroom as well as after school events.Now some are saying that the monitoring system in school shouldn't be used as a monitoring system.Let's get real in the real world.
Posted by: Matt
Location: Illinois
on Apr 30, 2007 at 11:11 AM
This is a direct violation of personal privacy. Security cameras should be used for nothing more than records in the unlikely incident that something does happen. Taking a personal matter to the parents is a violation of that girl's privacy. As for the parents in the story, I wonder how they would feel if they had a security camera in their bedroom, while someone watched them being intimate.
Posted by: Greg
Location: Bowling Green
on Apr 29, 2007 at 10:44 PM
Yep, George Orwell was probably about 30 years off. I hope everyone with kids like me is happy that our children will 0 privacy for the rest of their life.
Posted by: Johnny
Location: Bowling Green
on Apr 29, 2007 at 04:37 PM
Ok and who did this Kiss Hurt...No One, I think that people should keep their own house clean and stay out of everyone elses. Just because 2 people Kiss is no one's business weather it be a man and women, 2 women or 2 men what is this hurting anyone we are all human and GOD put us all here on earth.
Posted by: Tina
on Apr 29, 2007 at 12:13 PM
I do not see that they should have showed the parents. I feel like that is why our children act as though they can not trust adults because you tell them that they can trust parents, teachers,,etc but then they trun around and something like this. If the principal had talked to the girls with a woman involved too, but only because of the kissing being at school because I know there is regulations of public display of affection at school between couples. But the line was ce=rossed when the parents were notified before talking to the students,that does away with the trust issue.
Posted by: Angie
Location: bowling green
on Apr 29, 2007 at 09:59 AM
All public displays of affection are against the rules and could be reported right? So if he girls didn't want to get caught they should have took it elsewhere!I was involved with someone all through high school, but I just chose to follow the rules and not kiss! And no I'm not that old, nor was I a goody two shoes! I just didn't want the school writing me up, which was an option.
Posted by: CCC
Location: KY
on Apr 29, 2007 at 09:27 AM
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO GOODS MORALS?? NOW WE'RE PUTTING A KIDS PRIVACY OVER AN ISSUE THAT GOOD PARENTS WOULD WANT TO KNOW ABOUT!!?? BE CAREFUL AMERICA.
Posted by: Anonymous
Location: Cave City
on Apr 29, 2007 at 08:18 AM
I don't believe the superintendent did anything wrong by letting the parents know. I think it is wrong that everyone else in the world knows about it. This is a confidentiality issue. I believe the purpose of the security camera is to keep everyone safe, not to "hem someone up" so-to-speak. However, if administration sees something that is inappropriate or that is against school policy, then they need to follow the school policy whether it be to bring the students in and let them know that certain actions are not allowed on school grounds and/or call their parents.
Posted by: ms. Parker
Location: Scottsville
on Apr 29, 2007 at 12:09 AM
I am a mother of 3 (2 boys and 1 girl) I believe that the school should have left the girls alone by not telling the parents but simply call them (the 2 girls) into the office and let them know that they saw what happened, and that it needed to stop on school grounds. I mean its wrong that the 2 girls were kissing, but the school should have let the girls deal with it their own way.
Posted by: Todd
on Apr 28, 2007 at 10:14 PM
Some of you think this is good because you can't see the forst. Enjoy your tyranny, devaulued federal reserve currency, and working harder. Just enjoy.
Posted by: James
Location: Bowling Green
on Apr 28, 2007 at 08:54 PM
My question is if they were going to show the video to the parents why did they just show it to one girl's parents and not the other. Are there also reports made to parents when boys and girls kiss each other? Back in my day kissing was a very minor offense which rarely even caused detention for a first offense. It looks like a bunch of do-goodie administrators who need to spend more time teaching our kids how to read rather than watching videos.
Posted by: Mike
Location: Toronto
on Apr 28, 2007 at 07:39 PM
This country is a joke, 4 million Lip reading, mic'd up, CCTV cameras with speakers? Your personal genetic code with all your family history put onto a rfid chip for you to carry around? Now youre eleven year old daughter has to be fingerprinted like some criminal, in order to get a passport? Sorry but anybody that thinks the government is doing this for our security needs to wake up now!
Posted by: TERESA
Location: CANMER
on Apr 28, 2007 at 06:48 PM
I BELIEVE FIRST OF ALL THE MOTHER SHOULD BE TURNED INTO CHILD PROTECTION AGENCY, I CAN'T IMAGINE A MOTHER WHO WOULD LET A CHILD DO SUCH A THING TO ANOTHER CHILD OF THE SAME SEX. AS FAR AS BIG BROTHER IF IT CUTS DOWN ON ALOT OF WRONG DOING IT SHOULD BE ALLOWED. I ALSO BELIEVE GOD CREATED WOMEN AND MAN TO BE TOGETHER NOT MAN AND MAN OR WOMAN AND WOMAN. I AM APALLED AT THIS ACTION.
Posted by: Kim
Location: Bowling Green
on Apr 28, 2007 at 06:42 PM
I think It is horrible. The mother should be turned into child protection. This is not appropiate and right and this crap needs to stop.. Im a parent of a 13 year old boy.
Posted by: Jennifer
Location: Russellville, Ky
on Apr 28, 2007 at 06:38 PM
All I have to say to this issue is if it was a little boy and a little girl kissing we wouldn't be hearing this. Every one in this state has become so homophopic. For one if it was my daughter I would think she would of told me what was going on. The school was in the wrong. There are alot of people still acting like gay is a disease and they can catch it. No its not like that. You're either gay or your not. I admit I wouldn't like it if either of my children were gay but it would be their choice not mine. A child in middle school or in High School your not going to change them by jerking them up out of school or changing schools. Its done too late. They are making their choices right now. As for the school yes I think they were in the wrong and if it was a little girl and a little boy they would of maybe talked to the kids and went on about their business.
Posted by: PAC
Location: KY
on Apr 28, 2007 at 06:04 PM
RLT: Please explain to everyone how this behavior is to be considered "unwise" to the degree that schools have a responsibility to "protect" children from "this type" of behavior. Do you think that the girls actions were wrong in general (advocating homophobia), or do you think that their behavior was just wrong IN PUBLIC (advocating segregation)? Please enlighten the others.
Posted by: Amanda
Location: Franklin
on Apr 28, 2007 at 05:53 PM
I think that it was wrong of the Dean to report this to the parents of the two girls. What if he had seen a guy/girl couple kissing? Would he have done the same thing? And the main point, they are SECURITY CAMERAS. Where do you get a security issue from two girls kissing? I feel sorry for the girls involved in this incident, because something that was nobody elses business, suddenly gets thrown all across the country, because of a dean of students couldn't keep his stupid nose out of other peoples business. Now, if they had a cache of ammunitions with them, that's a different issue. But a little pda between friends is nothing to get your panties in a twist about. Also, to the parents who believe that your kid should be under surveillance every waking moment (for purposes other than protection from bodily harm), a word of caution: you need to back off just a little. I know we live in different times than when you grew up, but when you don't trust your kids to follow the values that you've given them, what does that say about you? Also mistrust breeds mistrust. If your child is about to make a bad decision or something, and you try to explain what may happen and you say "trust me", what are you going to say when they turn around and ask you why you don't trust them to make the right decision? We're all human, and we all make mistakes. That's how we learn and grow. Kids need support, not somebody breathing down their neck waiting for them to mess up.
Posted by: Sandra
Location: Hodgenville
on Apr 28, 2007 at 04:40 PM
i think the school was right to contact the parent. The school should be a place to teach what is right,not behavior like this.
Posted by: Robert
Location: Russellville
on Apr 28, 2007 at 01:21 PM
Surveillance in this society has proven to be a must have, but lurking in personal affairs(outside of inappropriate sexual contact) is nothing more than an invasion of privacy. Kids are going to grow and expand; not letting them develope who or what they are is against the constitution.
Posted by: RLT
Location: Kentucky
on Apr 28, 2007 at 12:06 PM
What is obscene is this kind of stuff in public.School hallways are not the place for your "private" life. Take it to an alley where no one else has to be exposed to it. The life they lead is of their own choice but they do not need to make a public display of it.The policy in my school is hands off, i dont care if it a hetrosexual relationship or a monosexual one, the same rules apply to both and my administrator would have called parents just as quick if he has seen the boys and girls kissing in the hallways.Hands off means Hands off....
Posted by: Lisa
Location: Kentucky
on Apr 28, 2007 at 10:48 AM
Are safety / surveillance cameras needed in schools today? YES! Are they also needed in public places? YES! As long as what is caught on these cameras is not of a violent nature , nor illegal, nor harmful to others, should we take it upon ourselves to make a moral call [literally or figuratively] on the private actions of others. NO! The world we live in gets more complicated every day. Some things however remain simple to see. In this case, the Dean was wrong and should learn from his error in judgement.
Posted by: chasity
Location: Leitchfield
on Apr 28, 2007 at 09:32 AM
I am a parent and I think this was wrong of the school to show the parents, the camera should just be used for security purposes only not to out someone. I am sure this is something the girls wanted to keep private and when the time came they would tell their parents. To me this is a violation of privacy dont get me wrong I agree with having survalience cameras but not for this purpose. And if I was the parent I would be very upset with the school.
Posted by: Mary
on Apr 28, 2007 at 06:29 AM
Parents do have the right to know if their children are practicing behavior other than that permitted at home. When in the schools care the children should have as much protection as they would at home. Telling the parents and the parents removing the child from that place were BOTH correct actions!
Posted by: Paula
Location: Bowling Green Ky.
on Apr 27, 2007 at 11:44 PM
Shame on that Dean of Students. The girls were in no danger and hurting no one. He should have left it alone. And yes I am a parent.
Posted by: RLT
Location: Kentucky
on Apr 27, 2007 at 11:03 PM
OMG, how can any parent be upset over this. I work in a school and sometimes the camera is all that catches some things. We can't be everywhere at once and if the kids know that they are being monitored, I think they stop and think before making unwise choices IN PUBLIC. Take that kind of stuff to a private place, not in my child's school.The one's upset seemed to be the children who obviously think they could do things at school and not get caught, that they possibly (hopefully) are not allowed to do at home.Spying on a person is not the object of school cameras, it is to protect your child and protecting them from this type of behavior is part of a schools responsibility.The superintendent should have stood his ground...mine would have...and I applaud his actions, I just don't know that admitting to a mistake was the best choice to make, I'm not sure one was made. I would agree with the parents in this story.
Posted by: amy
Location: Bowling Green
on Apr 27, 2007 at 10:48 PM
Isn't this a violation of some sort. I believe that the children have a right to not have school officials "reporting" to their parents about their personal life. If a child is doing something illegal, or dangerous, then the schools owe it to everyone to try to prevent tragedy from occuring. But to use the cameras as a way of monitoring a students social life is just obscene. |
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For a kid getting beat up, drug deal, fencing of stolen property, sharing homework. I can see all of that. But a simple kiss? A bit too much. The fact that it was between the same gender, and they went straight to the parents? Way overboard, a kid with homophobic parents could get kicked out for that, and parent child relationship could be seriously damaged. It could have been delt with with MUCH more tact.
I think that the cameras are find, i love looking at what ppl do . So role on red rider!
Why should students get in trouble for kissing in the hallways as long as no one is around. I think that they should be allowed to kiss in the hallways. Its better then kissing in front of hundreds of other students not including the faculty and staff. I see kids everyday kissing in front of teachers and other students but nothing is said to them, but when my friend was kissing a boy her and the boy got in trouble for kissing and almost got referrals.
I agree with kelsey below me, i'm friends with jenna as well. And thats exactly true, it's not the fact that parents should know what there kids are doing in school, good for you. It's the fact that her parents never asked if there were any tapes of there daughter, and at Gig harbor high, the rules are simple. There is no rule against anyone kissing in the hallways nor should it be caught on video camera. So regaurdless of what parents think, your kids need to grow up. They don't need mommy and daddy spying on them why they are at school. And they certainly don't need someone to be watching them and there privacy either.
Excuse me but no one was "engaging" in sexual activity. the girl on the camera is my girlfriend. If a teacher ever caught me kissing a boy or girl they would have no right to take a video tape to my house, and in front of a CHURCH and show my family and friends. The video is not for that use, and it is certainly not meant to leave school grounds. The reason he showed her parents was purley because of the fact he new the girl personally and he didn't want her being "homosexual". I went to that school for 3 years. Teens did alot more then held hands and kissed in that hallway, in front of those same camera's. No one ever called there parents.
Minors have few rights, especially while in school. If my child is engaging in sexual activity during school hours, I have every right to know about it.
thank you to desiree below me, jenna is one of my bestfriends, (the girl on camera) and it's true, way to show you love your kids.
I seriously doubt that the dean would have reacted in the same matter if he had "caught" a guy and a girl in the act of -gasp- kissing. Why can kids NOT have a right to privacy--especially when it comes to something as harmless as this? Cameras are for the purpose of security--NOT spying. Like someone said, no wonder for teen suicide. To pull the girl OUT of that school by her parents? Way to show love you guys. Way to go, Parents.
I am a sophomore student at a relatively small school. i have a problem with schools these days. i dont think that cameras should be used to spy on people. I also dont think that its should be that big off a deal. i know that my school lets certian people show pda but if me and my boyfriend and we were to just be holding hands we would get into some major trouble i know that because we were holding hands and he got told if we were caught agian he would get pulled from the Basket ball teams. they dont want us together because im a girl and he is younger than me. he is in the 8th grade and im in 10th but he is 14 and im 15. so i guess it goes back to what kind of school you go to and what the teachers and staff do about it.Its not fair but then agian life isnt fair and sometimes you just have to let it go. Choice your battles wisely because some just arent worth fighting.
I'm 12 turning on 13 and I'm a boy. Yea I agree with cameras but it depends for what reason they are used for and where. Security cameras should be used for just that, security. He had no right to tell the parents at all, the girls should of been able to tell their parents when they were ready to. Also I would like to say that school is for learning AND socialising, because my day is normally; wake up at 7:30 get ready and go on coach to school, then I get out of school at 15:25 and i'm home at 15:55 and I have on average 3 pieces of homework each day each lasting an hour not counting projects. 19:00 have tea and get ready for school the next day watch television. 21:00 bed time. My point is that kids have no time to socialise except from in school. How often are we on cameras when we go outside our house? with each shop owning approximately 2 each with ones outide of shops, except from our own homes there isn't many places that we aren't on camera but do the people who own them...
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its not fair to these girls, so what if they were kissing, they weren't hurting anyone. recently my school had cameras put in and my English class is trying to get rid of them. These cameras are being used for other reasons besides what everyone was told they were going to be used for. I mean it getting to the point where schools are doing everything they can to get you in trouble. personally my school doesnt have enough money to keep middle school sports so then we go and waste it all on stupid cameras. Dont you think if you sit there and say your on camera dont do this, people are most liking to do something after they've been told not to. Cameras are all just a waste of money, and i hate the fact that I cant even feel safe when i walk into my own school because i feel like im being watched, and if i ever do anything wrong then im going to get caught for it because they'll have it on tape its sad when it gets to the point that teachers have to have something else do a job they cant.
Yes, this is a violation of some sort. Although their actions were not illegal, these girls violated school policy. They should have been treated as if they were caught kissing by a teacher. If this includes calling the parents, then so be it. Rules are rules. When did minors in a public school system get so many rights to privacy? I don't want my kids in a school like that.
Q: Why are our children in school? A: To get an education. Anything outside of education or approved extra curricular activities ought to be reported to parents. After all our children are mniors and we are responsible for them and their behavior.
I understand both sides of the school and the parents. But, are you missing the main issue here (daughters /students)? And you keep wondering why we have teenage suicide. I somewhat agree that the parents needed to be informed, should have been on a more of a confidential situation (as all schools matters should be handeled). You may be looking at a lawsuit stating invasion of privacy.....