Introduction
Do closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) belong in the classroom? Today
our debaters will discuss whether CCTVs should be installed in school
classrooms to record teachers and students. Some think that CCTVs
help protect students and improve teaching quality. Others believe
that it is an invasion of privacy. Let’s see what our debaters think.
Constructive
Debater 1 Henry
There should be CCTVs in classrooms. If students know that they
are being recorded, they might behave better. It may also help teachers
with their teaching. Teachers can watch the videos and see how they
can improve. Furthermore, parents will feel better knowing that
classrooms are being monitored. Also, if there is an accident or
an incident, then there is video footage to see what exactly happened.
Debater
2 Ashley
There should not be CCTVs in classrooms. It is an invasion of privacy.
Teachers and students should be allowed to have class without being
constantly watched. There should be trust between parents, teachers,
and the school administration. They should work together in order
to help the kids succeed. However, installing CCTVs makes teachers
feel like parents and the school administration do not trust them.
This could lead to problems.
Rebuttal
Debater 1 Henry
Installing CCTVs in classrooms does not mean that the parents and
school administration do not trust the teachers. It is just an extra
measure to make sure that students and teachers are safe. CCTVs
can actually help teachers. For example, imagine that there was
a discipline problem in the class. The teacher can show the parents
and school administration the video footage as proof that the student
was misbehaving.
Debater
2 Ashley
Students should learn how to behave well in class whether they are
being recorded or not. Also, teachers could be recorded on a monthly
basis in order to improve their teaching. They do not need to be
constantly recorded. CCTVs do not record sound. It is possible that
the parents or school administration could misinterpret the footage
without sound. Therefore, video footage may not help if there is
an accident or incident.
Judge’s
Comments
The winner of today’s debate is Henry. Ashley’s main constructive
argument is that installing CCTVs creates distrust between the teachers,
parents, and school administration. She said that distrust may lead
to problems, but did not explain what those problems would be. Her
argument would have been much stronger if she explained this.