NationStates Jolt Archive

http://wmaz.com/news/top_stories.aspx?storyid=20466



CINDY CHAMPION, MOTHER:
"I had told the high school principal, Mr. Fore, that he needed to come up with another solution. That this wasn't appropriate. His response to me was he was going to continue to film."



WTF this is rediculous, how can this be legal? videotaping a minor in the restroom?

And what do you think would have happened if this was in the FEMALES bathroom?

WTF this is rediculous, how can this be legal? videotaping a minor in the restroom?

And what do you think would have happened if this was in the FEMALES bathroom?
School administrators have a frighteningly wide discresion on what goes on in their schools. A principal in my old high school once removed all the toilet paper from restrooms because a toilet got stopped up once. The teachers went out and bought toilet paper for the students because the administration wouldn't. Someone really needs to put administrators in check.

And I hear people bitching that the teachers unions are too strong...for God's sake!

This is disgusting. I'd go on a student strike for this...

School administrators have a frighteningly wide discresion on what goes on in their schools. A principal in my old high school once removed all the toilet paper from restrooms because a toilet got stopped up once. The teachers went out and bought toilet paper for the students because the administration wouldn't. Someone really needs to put administrators in check.
Agreed minors are people too, Im not justifying what students sometimes do but we have to work to teach them how this sort of thing hurts them.

And when caught punishments more harsh possibly

But what we do NOT want to do is violate their privacy or rights.

And just think what happens when some poor kid is too afraid to go to the bathroom infront of a camera, and starts to have kidney or blader problems.

The school is going to feel real stupid paying his medical and pain and suffering bills

WTF this is rediculous, how can this be legal? videotaping a minor in the restroom?

And what do you think would have happened if this was in the FEMALES bathroom?
There would have been a brohuha that would have rocked the White House!

I almost can't believe this ... almost. Hmm. Perhaps if people started saying that the reason the principal wanted the camera is because he/she is a pedophile? Mwahahaha! :D

There would have been a brohuha that would have rocked the White House!

I almost can't believe this ... almost. Hmm. Perhaps if people started saying that the reason the principal wanted the camera is because he/she is a pedophile? Mwahahaha! :D
Agreed

Though the school board for the county is sure hearing of this (it got dug) ... over 1800 people dugg it (which usualy means that about 18k people actualy looked at the article)(oh and that is in the last 14 hrs alone)

And their contact information is posted there :p
Would hate to be their email admin

I happen to be an 8th Grade Student. If this went on in my school, we would not like this at all. In fact, i'm sure most of us would go on strike. Right now in fact, we have to sit in the lunchroom by 'homerooms' because 20% of students did not clean their food up. If you ask me, that is a wrong thing to do. Of course yeah teamwork, you are grown up blah blah. Right now we just complain about it. If it was a camera in the bathroom, We would go on strike. That sure as heck enrouches on something in the Bill of Rights. Not to mention alot of angry parents who would have their kids switch schools. And probaly bring the Admin to the School Board

Well, of course he's in trouble. He took school property home.

He should have told the principal and, upon finding out that it was the principal himself who had put it there, his mom. And then raise some kind of raucous.

But not just take it home. That was a bit dumb if well intentioned. Anyway, live and learn, I guess.

I wonder if the principal could/will be brought up on child pornography charges.

Well, of course he's in trouble. He took school property home.

He should have told the principal and, upon finding out that it was the principal himself who had put it there, his mom. And then raise some kind of raucous.

But not just take it home. That was a bit dumb if well intentioned. Anyway, live and learn, I guess.
It may have been smarter of the school to not press the issue as it only managed to further highlight their actions

It may have been smarter of the school to not press the issue as it only managed to further highlight their actions
Now kids going to the washroom will feel compelled to wear ski-mask and either spray paint the camera, or perform lewd obscene acts in front of it.

Well, of course he's in trouble. He took school property home.

He should have told the principal and, upon finding out that it was the principal himself who had put it there, his mom. And then raise some kind of raucous.

But not just take it home. That was a bit dumb if well intentioned. Anyway, live and learn, I guess.
unless it was tagged with the highschools logo how was he to know it was school property? *I* certainly wouldnt have thought that the school was filming in the bathrooms.

unless it was tagged with the highschools logo how was he to know it was school property? *I* certainly wouldnt have thought that the school was filming in the bathrooms.
I thought much the same thing. GMTA, "Legs!" :D

Now kids going to the washroom will feel compelled to wear ski-mask and either spray paint the camera, or perform lewd obscene acts in front of it.

Meh, just pocket the thing and sell it... Or use for spare parts.

By the way, what's the correct spelling of "raucous"[sic]?

Well, of course he's in trouble. He took school property home.

He should have told the principal and, upon finding out that it was the principal himself who had put it there, his mom. And then raise some kind of raucous.

But not just take it home. That was a bit dumb if well intentioned. Anyway, live and learn, I guess.

No, he should have called the local TV station, and had them do an "investigation".

Then the principal would have been spluttering on TV, trying to explain why he was filming young boys in a supposedly private setting.

If the kid in question got together with his friends, and cooked up a story about how they always felt that the principal was creepy, and kept asking to be alone with them, and constantly touching them, the principal would be fried.

unless it was tagged with the highschools logo how was he to know it was school property? *I* certainly wouldnt have thought that the school was filming in the bathrooms.
He knew it wasn't his. That's why he should have reported it to the school first instead of just taking it.

Meh, just pocket the thing and sell it... Or use for spare parts.

By the way, what's the correct spelling of "raucous"[sic]?
Erm... raucous? http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/raucous

No, he should have called the local TV station, and had them do an "investigation".

Then the principal would have been spluttering on TV, trying to explain why he was filming young boys in a supposedly private setting.

If the kid in question got together with his friends, and cooked up a story about how they always felt that the principal was creepy, and kept asking to be alone with them, and constantly touching them, the principal would be fried.

And then they could have sold the rights for movie of the week! :)

He knew it wasn't his. That's why he should have reported it to the school first instead of just taking it.

You mean he should have handed the evidence to the guilty party ?

You mean he should have handed the evidence to the guilty party ?
Was thinking the same thing

They were stupid enough to put it there in the first place ... I would not trust them to do the right thing if the evidence was handed to them

Not only that but I have a feeling that he would have gotten in as much trouble just for taking that camera down ... probably would have pinned destruction of school property on him

You mean he should have handed the evidence to the guilty party ?
He didn't know that was the guilty party. That's why he should have told his mom also and she then would have followed up with the school. The point is you just don't take something that doesn't belong to you.

He didn't know that was the guilty party. That's why he should have told his mom also and she then would have followed up with the school. The point is you just don't take something that doesn't belong to you.
Having the camera SPECIALY if it has school markings on it is a much smarter idea

Again they would have just pinned destruction of school property on him either way he went.

But the way he ended up going preserved the evidence of the schools idiocy

He didn't know that was the guilty party. That's why he should have told his mom also and she then would have followed up with the school. The point is you just don't take something that doesn't belong to you.

He didn't know for certain. But I imagine he could suspect. And without evidence.. noone would believe him.

Of course, this may be overestimating the intelligence of the child a bit. Maybe he was just acting like you expect a kid to act: not completely thinking everything through.

I suggest none of you ever use the bathroom in a Las Vegas Casino, nor a good deal of other places. In order to protect themselves from fraud (someone faking a slip in the bathroom) many place have put up Cameras in a location in the bathroom where they can catch fraud and vandalism.

And I hear people bitching that the teachers unions are too strong...for God's sake!

This is disgusting. I'd go on a student strike for this...

lets see what a student strike would do, give police the right to go round them all up, keep the schools empty but teachers and principals still getting paid(if public school), probably keeping the students back a grade or two depending how long strike last.

do you still think a student strike would work?

While I don't believe a camera in a bathroom in a junior high is necessary, this kid vandalized school property. He deserves to be punished.

Having the camera SPECIALY if it has school markings on it is a much smarter idea

Again they would have just pinned destruction of school property on him either way he went.

But the way he ended up going preserved the evidence of the schools idiocy
The school wasn't doing anything illegal, as the article itself states. So camera or no camera, it wouldn't have mattered. You can, however, accomplish the same by telling everyone that there are cameras in the washrooms and creating pressure against the principal, who then would have been forced to take down the camera. This would accomplish your objective while not leaving you open to punishment.

I suggest none of you ever use the bathroom in a Las Vegas Casino, nor a good deal of other places. In order to protect themselves from fraud (someone faking a slip in the bathroom) many place have put up Cameras in a location in the bathroom where they can catch fraud and vandalism.

I assume these cameras are clearly advertised on the door and that the tapes are viewed by special personnel. Not secretly placed in a childrens bathroom and watched by a random person.

lets see what a student strike would do, give police the right to go round them all up, keep the schools empty but teachers and principals still getting paid(if public school), probably keeping the students back a grade or two depending how long strike last.

do you still think a student strike would work?
Yes because Schools get funding based on the number of students present, in California at least. If zero students are present that can set back a school's money supply rather quickly. Of course it wouldn’t be to hard for the government to call it a special circumstance and enact blah blah blah measures to bail the school out.

where was the camera aimed, the door to watch who comes in and out, the sinks, not much privacy needed at the sinks, that is also important to consider.

if i was sensitive enough about cameras in the bathroom depending on where they were aimed, i would just piss in the halls

I assume these cameras are clearly advertised on the door and that the tapes are viewed by special personnel. Not secretly placed in a childrens bathroom and watched by a random person.

You assume incorrectly for the most part. They are viewed by security personnel. They however are not advertised anywhere but entrances to the building. Standard warning about how the entire building is being monitored. Nothing that’s going to tip you off in particular that yes that means the bathroom too.

He didn't know for certain. But I imagine he could suspect. And without evidence.. noone would believe him.

Of course, this may be overestimating the intelligence of the child a bit. Maybe he was just acting like you expect a kid to act: not completely thinking everything through.
Agreed and he did something steriotypical

Brought it home to mommy ... he deffinatly was thinking like a kid

Go figure he is one

He didn't know for certain. But I imagine he could suspect. And without evidence.. noone would believe him.
That would depend on his family, getting some witnesses, and all that.

Of course, this may be overestimating the intelligence of the child a bit. Maybe he was just acting like you expect a kid to act: not completely thinking everything through.
Yes. I wouldn't be so hard on him. Though the school is technically correct in giving some kind of punishment, he acted without malice and thinking he was doing the right thing. I believe he was right in doing something, he just didn't know precisely what would be the best thing to do.

You'd think the school would want to keep this as quiet as possible. I certainly wouldn't want it to become too public were I the administration.

The point is you just don't take something that doesn't belong to you.

when it is a camera in the bathroom, yes you do. and now that he knows it's the school's and they will probably just put it back up, he has an obligation to take it down and destroy it when they do.

direct action gets the goods.

and really, all cctv cameras should be destroyed on general principle. what can i say, i just don't love big brother.

Erm... raucous? http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/raucous

That's odd. I could've sworn it was spelled some other way.

You'd think the school would want to keep this as quiet as possible. I certainly wouldn't want it to become too public were I the administration.

Maybe the priciple is kinky like that. :p

when it is a camera in the bathroom, yes you do. and now that he knows it's the school's and they will probably just put it back up, he has an obligation to take it down and destroy it when they do.

direct action gets the goods.
That's not direct action. That's stupid action that will end up in the school getting another camera and you in a deeper shit-hole.

Edit to the edit:
and really, all cctv cameras should be destroyed on general principle. what can i say, i just don't love big brother.

Me neither, but to take down Big Brother you have to know how to play Big Brother's game and then beating him at it. Otherwise, he just rolls over you.

If the administration was well intended, I think the decision to put a camera in the boy's bathroom was a poor one. They would have been better off having a teacher or some other legitimate school authority monitor the bathroom in person. An adult standing near the door way would go a long way toward preventing whatever behavior they were looking to catch on tape.
Of course, this also stinks of someone with bad intentions of child vouyerism.

That's not direct action.

um, perhaps you should look up 'direct action'.

If the administration was well intended, I think the decision to put a camera in the boy's bathroom was a poor one. They would have been better off having a teacher or some other legitimate school authority monitor the bathroom in person. An adult standing near the door way would go a long way toward preventing whatever behavior they were looking to catch on tape.
Of course, this also stinks of someone with bad intentions of child vouyerism.

not sure about your school, but most of the teachers in my school would be teaching or planning, they could do it in between classes but that isnt when vandelism happens, ussually happens during classes.

um, perhaps you should look up 'direct action'.
Ok, it's direct action, but it's stupid direct action.

Now, if it was twisted, perverted, subtle, machiavelic action, I'd be all for it.

That's not direct action. That's stupid action that will end up in the school getting another camera and you in a deeper shit-hole.

Edit to the edit:


Me neither, but to take down Big Brother you have to know how to play Big Brother's game and then beating him at it. Otherwise, he just rolls over you.
The kid acted like a kid even to the point of bringing it home to mommy, personaly I would have went right to the news station

But what can you expect out of an 8th grader?

Ok, it's direct action, but it's stupid direct action.

Now, if it was twisted, perverted, subtle, machiavelic action, I'd be all for it.

the kids in 8th grade, you should teach him the corrupt ways of Iztatepopotla :D

School administrators have a frighteningly wide discresion on what goes on in their schools. A principal in my old high school once removed all the toilet paper from restrooms because a toilet got stopped up once. The teachers went out and bought toilet paper for the students because the administration wouldn't. Someone really needs to put administrators in check.That happened at my school too. Announcements were made stating that vandalsm would result in loss of priviledges. Graffiti soon covered the walls of the school bathroom: "toilet paper is a right, not a priviledge".
There is toilet paper in the school washrooms again.
See? Vandalism is constructive. It results in increased priviladges.:D

That happened at my school too. Announcements were made stating that vandalsm would result in loss of priviledges. Graffiti soon covered the walls of the school bathroom: "toilet paper is a right, not a priviledge".
There is toilet paper in the school washrooms again.
See? Vandalism is constructive. It results in increased priviladges.:D


heh. semi-symbolic action, but it seems to have gotten the goods too. just begging rarely does.

Ok, it's direct action, but it's stupid direct action.

not if it is done consistently by a large enough group, accompanied by a set of demands. cameras cost money. how much educational material are the willing to sacrifice paying for to buy new cameras that they know will just be destroyed? especially since they keep getting put into the news as the school run by perverts that film children going to the bathroom.

but remember kids, mask up out of the sight of teachers and cameras before engaging in camera destruction. masking up means escaping to smash another camera tomorrow.

heh. semi-symbolic action, but it seems to have gotten the goods too. just begging rarely does.Yeah... In the tech wing of my school, there is a guys' washroom, but no girls'. That also means that there are more guys washrooms in the school (which makes no sense, considering that there are lineups in the ladies' between classes, and the guys' are almost always empty).
I complained, and when that didn't work, used the guys.
I got caught, which was my intention, and then the admin tried to suspend me "indefinitly". For using the guys' washroom. I knocked first.
They claimed that I should have gone to them first. I did.
But I should have set up a formal meeting with the principal, and suggested possible solutions. I should have written up a formal proposal, in which I gave them all the answers. :headbang:
I'm a student, and I brought a problem to their attention, and they did nothing. The problem was only addressed when I broke the rules.
The problem still has not been solved, however.
I have autoshop next semestre.
>evil laugh<

If the kid in question got together with his friends, and cooked up a story about how they always felt that the principal was creepy, and kept asking to be alone with them, and constantly touching them, the principal would be fried.Yes...indeed...

Welcome to Amerika...the Land of the Free sexual assault accusations...Home of the Fried teachers.

Wanna make a fake sexual assuaut accusation? -We can help you- We the US justice system can help you all the way...just take a number.

When the teachers at my old school were complaining about graffitti in the bathrooms my friends and I were constantly making jokes about putting up cctv cameras in the toilets. Well, just as we were about to leave they announced that they really were going to! If I was going to be affected by it I would have organised protests and increased the pressure until they were removed but frankly I knew I'd be out by the time the cameras were installed and the younger kids were extremely unpleasant for the most part so I decided to leave them to it.:)

not if it is done consistently by a large enough group, accompanied by a set of demands. cameras cost money. how much educational material are the willing to sacrifice paying for to buy new cameras that they know will just be destroyed? especially since they keep getting put into the news as the school run by perverts that film children going to the bathroom.
Ah, organized direct action. Now, that's different. I thought you meant the kid acting by himself.

Yeah, but you need a plan for that and, as you say:

but remember kids, mask up out of the sight of teachers and cameras before engaging in camera destruction. masking up means escaping to smash another camera tomorrow.

I would also add out of sight of other students, you never know who's gonna rattle; more than three people in the know is just begging for someone to spill the beans; don't brag about it, you're not in this for the glory; and strike fast, strike randomly, you don't have the tanks.

I would also add out of sight of other students, you never know who's gonna rattle; more than three people in the know is just begging for someone to spill the beans; don't brag about it, you're not in this for the glory; and strike fast, strike randomly, you don't have the tanks.

Three people can keep a secret if two are dead, as it goes ;) .

Yes...indeed...

Welcome to Amerika...the Land of the Free sexual assault accusations...Home of the Fried teachers.

Wanna make a fake sexual assuaut accusation? -We can help you- We the US justice system can help you all the way...just take a number.
Yeah I would not fool around with the fake accusations

If that is found out it may cover up the real issue of these idiots filming a jr high bathroom

"dont throw the baby out with the bath water" as they say ... you dont want to set up a situation where it is easy for them to do that intentionaly or un-intentionaly

Ah, organized direct action. Now, that's different. I thought you meant the kid acting by himself.

Yeah, but you need a plan for that and, as you say:



I would also add out of sight of other students, you never know who's gonna rattle; more than three people in the know is just begging for someone to spill the beans; don't brag about it, you're not in this for the glory; and strike fast, strike randomly, you don't have the tanks.

Again I think it was better in the end to inform the public then to continue distruction of school property

Of course, upon discovery of such a camera in my high school bathroom, I would be forced to put on a show that would probably get me some odd looks from the teachers. :D

not sure about your school, but most of the teachers in my school would be teaching or planning, they could do it in between classes but that isnt when vandelism happens, ussually happens during classes.


I havent been in school for over 20 yrs, but when I was there, male teachers regularly passed through the bathrooms to catch smokers.

I happen to be an 8th Grade Student. If this went on in my school, we would not like this at all. In fact, i'm sure most of us would go on strike. Right now in fact, we have to sit in the lunchroom by 'homerooms' because 20% of students did not clean their food up. If you ask me, that is a wrong thing to do. Of course yeah teamwork, you are grown up blah blah. Right now we just complain about it. If it was a camera in the bathroom, We would go on strike. That sure as heck enrouches on something in the Bill of Rights. Not to mention alot of angry parents who would have their kids switch schools. And probaly bring the Admin to the School Board

Students going on strike would accomplish nothing. Youd just eventually miss enough days that youd be unable to move on to the next grade. Teachers are gonna get paid anyway, youd only hurt yourself. Now, if there was a massive exodus to home schooling.... that might be different.

They put cameras in our school bathrooms for both genders but noone gave a fuck, they promised us that the camera's "couldn't see anything" and that was about it.

America can be seen as how it's natural that when people make progress, they insist on having special rules and that being politically correct is the only way to get things pushed through once it's deemed that happiness is more important than discipline in a certain area (what a mouthful).

Not to condone or dissent upon Hannity, but take a look at this case as well as how the posters consider the topic.

http://www.hannity.com/forum/printthread.php?t=4739

I understand how people can be shocked from this, but retaining the opinion is useless. Today's world moves so fast without regard towards commonsensical structure that it should be expected how the authority abuses it power. The only real way to overcome this would be if EVERYONE all at once decided to drop the gloves and actually deal with their problems. No more talk about respecting, tolerating, or accepting your common man as well as his ideals. Just stop being wise asses and get along.

America can be seen as how it's natural that when people make progress, they insist on having special rules and that being politically correct is the only way to get things pushed through once it's deemed that happiness is more important than discipline in a certain area (what a mouthful).

Not to condone or dissent upon Hannity, but take a look at this case as well as how the posters consider the topic.

http://www.hannity.com/forum/printthread.php?t=4739

I understand how people can be shocked from this, but retaining the opinion is useless. Today's world moves so fast without regard towards commonsensical structure that it should be expected how the authority abuses it power. The only real way to overcome this would be if EVERYONE all at once decided to drop the gloves and actually deal with their problems. No more talk about respecting, tolerating, or accepting your common man as well as his ideals. Just stop being wise asses and get along.

WTF

That has nothing to do with anything thats been mentioned

Perhaps if people started saying that the reason the principal wanted the camera is because he/she is a pedophile? Mwahahaha! :D

I thought the same thing.

This is currently going on with our boys bathroom at our school (mixed middle-high school). It keeps getting really messy. They had all the boys go into the gym for a talk (I missed most of it becuase I was doing the state's required standardized test retest).

However, I don't think they'll resort to cameras in the bathroom.

But for fuck's sake, did anyone not notice that is highly illegal.. I mean surely a parent or a teacher would have known bout this.

I know it's tape, but it would be wrong just wrong if they had the position of "Bathroom Camera Monitor" and especially if that was some random task given to students.

At least they don't have a megaphone in there shouting lines like "Flush the damn toliet you little prick!" or "Stop mastubrating you little sicko!".

If I was that age, perhaps I would put in the girls bathroom for fun.

Now also, were is it located? It is out of sight of the the stalls and urinals?

And of course it's in Georgia, why does it seem that people in southern states tend to do stupid things?

They put cameras in our school bathrooms for both genders but noone gave a fuck, they promised us that the camera's "couldn't see anything" and that was about it.
Its kind of sad when people feel comfortable allowing video-cameras in their bathrooms

I think :headbang: we :headbang: may :headbang: have :headbang: them:headbang: at:headbang: my school,:headbang: but :headbang: what can :headbang: we :headbang: do!:

IThey would have been better off having a teacher or some other legitimate school authority monitor the bathroom in person.

Annnnd, then be accused of being a pedophile, right?
I would think that the security tapes could only be viewed by the principal (who is a legitimate school authority) and/or assistant principals/deans, so it would seem your statement is contradictory?

This is obcene. I hope someone sues the school. You wanna hear something even worse? I don't have a link, but in a public school in Texas a class of 12 year old boys and girls were forced to be strip searched (without parental consent) for a missing $5 (I think, it may have been more). No one found the $5. By proccess of elimination, etheir the student lost the money, the teacher took it, or the student brought no money and was just some sicko who wanted to see some of his fellow students naked.

This is obcene. I hope someone sues the school. You wanna hear something even worse? I don't have a link, but in a public school in Texas a class of 12 year old boys and girls were forced to be strip searched (without parental consent) for a missing $5 (I think, it may have been more). No one found the $5. By proccess of elimination, etheir the student lost the money, the teacher took it, or the student brought no money and was just some sicko who wanted to see some of his fellow students naked.

I'm glad I live in Britain where they can't even search our bags

I believe that kid has a right to remove the camera in the bathroom. He should call the AACP and get the principle fired. Fo sho.

I think :headbang: we :headbang: may :headbang: have :headbang: them:headbang: at:headbang: my school,:headbang: but :headbang: what can :headbang: we :headbang: do!:
Take a crowbar to school and go crazy on the cameras. Sure you might get suspended or worse. But you're sending a message to the school district board that that SHIT won't be tolerated.

This is obcene. I hope someone sues the school. You wanna hear something even worse? I don't have a link, but in a public school in Texas a class of 12 year old boys and girls were forced to be strip searched (without parental consent) for a missing $5 (I think, it may have been more). No one found the $5. By proccess of elimination, etheir the student lost the money, the teacher took it, or the student brought no money and was just some sicko who wanted to see some of his fellow students naked.
Wow

I was not going to believe it and chock it up to urban myth but damn you are right
http://www.local6.com/news/4061915/detail.html
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/01/07/cops_investigate_school_strip_search_case/

Fucking rediculous that this was upheald as being reasonable in a texas court

Take a crowbar to school and go crazy on the cameras. Sure you might get suspended or worse. But you're sending a message to the school district board that that SHIT won't be tolerated.
Amen! Break that camera:sniper:

For this issue, I'd just wreck the cameras (pick some kid with "average build" to do the deed so they can't guess who's wearing the mask! It's amazing how recognizable some faceless bodies are...). That's what we did when they put smoke detectors in the johns (to catch us smokers) when I was in. Bam, crunch, 2 minutes and end of story.

But if blatant destruction isn't their thing:

This could VERY easily be parlayed into a sea of awful publicity for the school, as many have already mentioned. Cameras in the bathrooms sounds inherently pervy. It wouldn't need any fake accusations. Just some mere innuendos should bring the wrath of the community down on that school!

And, the strike option is a viable one.


do you still think a student strike would work?

Absolutely! We did it when I was in high school (graduated 19 years ago...now I feel old. :( But I think it'd still work fine.). The teachers had struck and gotten a raise out of it. So we then counter-struck, not about cameras, but for various improvements that the school had been stonewalling on which would benefit the students (and a few offbeat things that got attached to the list). It was a "sit-down strike" or a "sit-in." Instead of staying home, we would come to school every day and sit politely but unmovably in the common areas.

At first, the school officials acted furious and blustered and BSed that we'd all get expelled! Then, it turned into a "3-month suspension" (imagine "threating" someone with the possibility of being paid a million dollars, and you can imagine how deterring THAT was hahaha...). Then it became 2 months, then 1 month...

Then when none of that worked, they quit the bullshit and started negotiating!!

In the end, the frivolous demands (that had crept in) were tossed, but we did succeed in winning increased funding for the school library and various repairs were made that wouldn't have been done otherwise. So it was successful where it counted.

So yeah, strikes work, if enough students are willing to do it.
It's boring as heck to sit there, though. If you know one's coming, bring books, lots and lots of books to avoid going bananas (plus it looks better to have a book than a GameBoy if you want to be taken seriously)!

Also they need time it so it doesn't give the evil district any real chance to hold back advancement or any other such crap (take your finals/midterms FIRST then whack the place ;) ) Schools build in extra days into their school years, so missing some time doesn't throw off the year. They do this because "things" happen (usually stuff like bad weather or massive mechanical failures etc.). A well timed strike can chew up all that actually-unneeded extra dayage with no ill effects to the planned release date. Of course, the school districts will NEVER admit how padded the school years really are in relation to the ACTUAL legal requirement--at least not until they'd have to work extra days themselves to keep up the ruse...

(About the spelling of "raucous") That's odd. I could've sworn it was spelled some other way.It's not the spelling that's wrong. The problem is that while there is indeed a word, "raucous," it's not the right word. "Raucous" means "rough-sounding and harsh" or "boisterous and disorderly" according to http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=raucous

The proper word in this case would have been RUCKUS. A "disturbance or commotion." ("The parents should raise a ruckus!")

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=ruckus