Staci's Place:
Dealing with Online
Bullies
Sample Proposal: Web-Based Surveillance System
Proposal: Web-Based Surveillance System for (School
Name)
Over the past few years the reported cases of bullying
have risen in our school district, and throughout the country. As concerned
parents and advocates for school safety, we propose the installation of a
web-based camera system for the safety and emotional comfort of our
students.
This system could easily and affordably be installed by
parent volunteers and students for a much lower cost than a professional
installation. However, we would be willing to pursue whatever system makes
the most sense overall. We propose to meet with school officials in the near
future to settle specific details, however, we have put together this
initial proposal to start a discussion on the topic between parents and
(school name) officials as to how we can work together on this project.
A study will have to be done to determine the best number and locations for
the web-based cameras. These cameras will be networked together to a
computer that is attached to the Internet, either through a dedicated
connection or through the schools network. We do not propose that the
resulting video be monitored by school staff. It will be monitored instead
by concerned parent volunteers, and/or used in the event of a bullying event
or dispute.
Privacy Concerns:
(School Name) is a public school. Cameras could be
placed only in public areas, such as hallways and outside yards that are not
presently monitored by (school name) due to lack of staff. Classrooms could
also be monitored at request of parents or teachers, in particular where
there are ongoing behavioral complaints. Our proposal would make video
access available only to the parents of students attending (School Name).
Web access would ensure that both school administrators and parents have
equal access to video evidence in case of a dispute.
Parents will have access to the web site with a secure
password provided to them in-person via request at the school office
(passwords to be made active within 24 hours of request). No online
applications for access will be permitted. This will restrict access only to
parents who can prove that their children are in attendance at (school
name). Video will be stored only for a period of 7-14 days. At that time,
the data will be written over with new data from ensuing days. If there is a
problem, this will give parents, teachers and school administrators ample
time to download the relevant video. It will also keep the cost of data
storage down to manageable levels. Additional security layer could be added
by insisting that parents obtain an IP address through an ISP at their own
cost.
Cost:
It is impossible to accurately estimate the cost until
the final number and type of web-based cameras is decided. We will provide a
detailed breakdown once we have feedback from the school administration.
However, these are the known costs:
Cameras (individual units): Logitech Quickcam: $29.95
per unit. Wire and Wireless X10 Cameras retail from between $49.95 and
$129.95 depending on features. More expensive cameras with better quality
images are available.
Computer: Any Windows ME or better computer will
suffice. Depending on the method of Internet access a modem card, router or
network card may be required. Maximum cost: $799.00 (one of the parents
active in this proposal may offer to volunteer to donate an older computer
to this cause).
Internet Access: If the school is already
Internet-connected, this connection should be able to run through its
network. If not, we may require Internet access.
Web Hosting: We propose to approach a local ISP to host
the web site and to provide data services for hosting archives of captured
video. It is also possible for us to set up an internal server to host the
web site.
Network cable, etc could be obtained through the
school’s electronics department.
These costs could be defrayed by charging parents an
annual fee to access the system. It would be priced on a sliding scale with
allowances for low-income parents. Additional costs such as web hosting,
Internet access and web design/security services could be sponsored by local
businesses, in particular (name of ISP), who we could approach in
partnership to build this network.
Arguments in favor of Video Surveillance of Schools:
According to “The Appropriate and Effective Use of Security Technologies
in U.S. Schools - A Guide for Schools and Law Enforcement Agencies”
by the National Institute of Justice (http://www.ncjrs.org/school/state.html):
“Video recordings are also beneficial for use
with parents. Although nearly all parents want to believe their children are
innocent of wrongdoing, some parents will deny their child's guilt despite
the credible testimony of others to the contrary. However, as many school
administrators and teachers have discovered, parents quickly accept their
child's role in an incident when shown a videotape of the incident. Most
parents want to do the right thing, but hard evidence is often required for
some to concede over a matter involving their own child.”
“From a cost standpoint, the use of CCTV in
public areas on school grounds can free up manpower. If cameras are covering
a large patio area where students congregate during breaks, adults who
normally would be assigned to oversee that area can instead be made
available to monitor other areas of concern. ”
“Finally, the solid documentation that a video
recording provides can be invaluable in situations involving liability
claims. Although it is possible that this may occasionally work against a
school, most schools welcome this concrete evidence so that testimony
regarding an incident does not consist solely of hearsay.”
According to this article,
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstory.cfm?ArticleID=4656 Students
in Biloxi, Miss., public schools started classes this year under the
watchful eye of web cameras that will keep track of every classroom and
hallway. School and security officials said they believed Biloxi might be
the first school district in the nation to install cameras in every
classroom.
Summary:
We hope that (school district) will seriously consider
installing such a program in (school). We look forward to your response at
your convenience to meet to discuss the details involved in implementing
this proposal. We are willing to volunteer our personal time to assist in
the development of this program including seeking out funding sources.
(Contact Information) – Get as many parents as possible
to sign the proposal and include names, phone numbers, email addresses and
postal addresses here.
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