By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2010-07-07 00:15:32 | Word Count: 664
In the not too distant past, school surveillance and security systems were unheard of. The closest thing to school surveillance was probably an intercom speaker in each classroom and the security system might have been a truant officer, if the school had one. Today’s complex social behaviors and societal problems can encroach upon the school atmosphere limiting not only the safety of the students, but the actual ability to learn.
Digital video school surveillance and security systems provide the surveillance system you need to cover the perimeter of the school property and each room, lobby and hallway. They also can be used to enforce the security you need to ensure a safe learning environment.
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School surveillance and security systems are not just for high schools. These surveillance and security systems can be used with all levels of education including:
• Child Care/Preschool
• Middle School
• High School
• Public or private schools
• Colleges and Universities
Many schools have metal detectors at their entrances to screen for potential dangerous and/or unlawful weapons but that alone is not good enough. A solid digital video camera surveillance system can provide a much more comprehensive security structure. In addition, a digital video school surveillance and security system can provide a recorded “instant replay” of a particular episode for the benefit of school administrators.
A digital video security camera system with a Digital Video Recorder or DVR can be very useful for documenting any inappropriate behavior on school property. One big problem in Middle and High schools especially is bullying. The intimidation of students by other students can not only result in undesirable consequences but can nearly destroy the learning environment for the intimidated student. School surveillance and security systems can not only document the activity, but when students know they are being monitored, bullying activity is sharply decreased.
Along the same lines as documenting intimidation, school surveillance and security systems can help monitor any gang or gang like activity within the school. These same systems can reveal acts of violence; expose acts of vandalism and theft; and identify student drug use. Further, a digital video school surveillance and security system can protect students and teachers alike.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of all to using a school surveillance and security system is the high deterrence factor created by the use of monitoring cameras. Many school teachers have voiced their opinion that school surveillance cameras used in classrooms have improved behavior and even increased grades.
A typical school surveillance system consists of the following:
• Cameras
• Processor/DVR Unit
• Monitor
Digital video cameras can be placed in just about any location throughout the school. Each camera has a video transmission cable that is run from the camera to the processor/DVR unit. The digital camera captures its video images and sends them to the processor/DVR unit via this cable. The processor creates a digital video file of the image which makes it available for real-time (live) viewing on a monitor and also stores it on the DVR. The DVR is basically the same thing as the hard drive disk on a personal computer. The DVR continues to store the videos chronologically until the disk is full. When the storage capacity of the disk is met, the unit starts recording over material starting at the beginning. Units can be purchased with built-in DVD writers that can copy video footage for archival purposes or if needed, to present to authorities.
School surveillance and security systems aren’t just limited to the building. Smaller, compact digital video surveillance systems are available for use on school buses also. These systems have a proven track record of curtailing inappropriate behavior by students while traveling in school buses.
The units used in school buses normally run off the electrical power provided by the bus, have at least one camera that covers the entire passenger area, and include a mini-DVR normally in the form of a USB thumb drive or a Flash memory card. Their memory devices are normally large enough to store the video for an entire route.
As you can see, school surveillance and security systems may not be able to stop a particular event from occurring, but proper use of a digital video camera system has provided great deterrent factors resulting in much better group control and a higher quality learning environment. Innovative technology has made these systems affordable for most schools, regardless of their class size.
