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F6 Writing 3

The document discusses the impending installation of CCTV cameras on campus, highlighting both potential benefits and concerns. While CCTV may enhance security and deter misconduct, it raises significant privacy issues and could foster mistrust among students and staff. Ultimately, the effectiveness of this surveillance system in improving campus safety and behavior remains uncertain.

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3B08 郭文迅（2021-2022年度） KWOK MAN SHUN
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2 views

F6 Writing 3

The document discusses the impending installation of CCTV cameras on campus, highlighting both potential benefits and concerns. While CCTV may enhance security and deter misconduct, it raises significant privacy issues and could foster mistrust among students and staff. Ultimately, the effectiveness of this surveillance system in improving campus safety and behavior remains uncertain.

Uploaded by

3B08 郭文迅（2021-2022年度） KWOK MAN SHUN
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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“Big Brother is Watching You” in the Campus

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you must have witnessed the
traces of closed-circuit television are getting all the more ubiquitous,
parading into all nooks and crannies of this metropolis, everywhere from
public areas to back allies, from workplaces to campuses. Campuses? Yes,
the installation of CCTV in our campus is impending, as it is often hailed as
the partial antidote of the campus insecurity by the administrators.
Indeed, the implementation of CCTV could possibly dwindle sins, be it on-
campus people or outsiders, but before we delve into the era of CCTV, we
should also at least be wary of the concerns and take note of the benefits
associated within.

Of the myriads of reasons opposing this policy, the infringement of privacy


tops the list. Picture this, with the surveillance system switched on, each
and every movement of us is being inevitably, invariably tracked and
recorded, encompassing you whispering with your companion, you being
nagged by the discipline head or even you dropping a clanger, as if you’re
living in the dystopian world of 1984. It is just a human instinct to be
quailed, irked and resentful. Worse still, the drawbacks could extend
beyond the campus. Intangibly, the school administration is fostering
suspicion and mistrust among the students and teachers, if so unfortunate
that the distorted skepticism has deeply inculcated us vulnerable
adolescents, the consequences could be formidable. With this abominable
mindset, it is natural for grievance to be bred and disputes to be induced
while the skewed students are mingling with their significant others, just
like the parents’ own flesh and blood snitching on themselves to the
omnipotent party in 1984.

“Speaking of the routine schoolwork is a headache already, the newly


implemented monitoring system is overloading my pressure cooker, I have
next to no idea about how the school is gonna deal with the recording.”
Mary Ma, a F5 students studying in GHS, who lately applied the CCTV,
murmured. This is indeed a proof point around how unsettling the CCTV
can be. Especially in this age of digital crime, there are risks of
unauthorized access, data breach and potential misuse of the videotape.
At that time, privacy would be utterly out of question. It goes without
saying: under such circumstance, we pupils would be profoundly disrupted
in terms of mental health and network security.

The matter is not more optimistic for teachers and the administration.
Paradoxically, much as installing CCTV is perceived to be ensuring staff’s
performance meets expectation, there is every likelihood that it would
backfire. On the ground that many (basically all) employees don’t
appreciate being scrutinized from time to time, it is clear as day that they
would be less satisfactory with their working ambience, which means
lower job performance. There would be little room for instructional
flexibility, whether it’s conducting a group discussion or giving a short
break to the students, it might just inadvertently provoke the monitor to
deem the teacher slacking off. With the unsatisfaction, even a prestigious
college’s reputation could be teared down. While more staffs are inclined
to resign and less fresh graduates are prone to be employed, the
repercussion appears to be glaringly obvious, a brain drain within the
school (i.e. a smaller talent pool), let alone all the expenditures associated
with installing and maintaining the system.

It is not all gloom and doom, though. The monitoring system could serve
as a deterrent against misconduct. Usually, if not always, whenever one
catch sight of a discernably prominent camera, he would think long and
hard before committing misbehaviors, as the possibility of being held
accountable afterwards increases drastically. The transparency fostered
within could nurture a culture of openness and respect, creating an
atmosphere where positive behaviors are encouraged, and negative
activities are deterred. Better yet, youngsters could also be indoctrinated
the accountability of their actions, instilling a sense of responsibility. More
remarkably, the same can be said for outsiders, such as theft, mischief,
vandalism, you name it. As the adage goes “the school is the miniature of
the society.”, maintaining campus safety always remains the top priority
of a school and installing CCTV fits the bill.

What makes the surveillance a better bet is the embodiment of safety


awareness, which facilitates the operation of the school. On the one hand,
the video footage could provide accurate and reliable information
whenever incidents happen, be it for the sake of insurance compensation
or resolving allegations. On the other hand, the presence of security
cameras could actually provide peace of mind to parents. What it basically
means is that the gadget showcases that the school holds students’ safety
in high regard. Those parents in favour of having the recording often
express their appreciation towards the proactive approach to ensure their
beloved kids safety. They advocate that acknowledging their children are
under continuous observation can prevent potential threats and mitigate
risks. In short, it cultivates transparency between parents and the school
administration.

If these aren’t enlightening enough, the camera could also enhance the
learning ambience. With all the aforementioned benefits associated with
safety, pupils can fixate more on their studies and holistic development
rather than worrying about their personal safety. As for the educators,
with the minimized misbehaviors, they could also dedicate a larger portion
of time to instruction, collaboration and professional development
activities. Ultimately, both the teachers and students could bear fruit,
leading to a win-win situation.

As you finish reading this and carry on with your day, I encourage you to
keep an open mind about the policy, as whether it is a boon or a bane is
still up in the air, but one thing for certain is that you and I should
shoulder the responsibility of upholding standards of behavior, with or
without CCTV.

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