Master is watching you
2004-05-11 08:15
Sasolburg - Pupils at a Sasolburg primary school are watching their step since a closed-circuit television system was installed in the classrooms.
Discipline at Leeuwspruit Primary has improved dramatically and principal Piet Sevenster hasn't regretted the move for a second.
As far as is known, this is the only school in the country where the principal can see right into a classroom at the push of a button and address disciplinary problems as they arise.
"Since we introduced this system there's much less drama at the school and I don't see half as many pupils in my office."
He said discipline deteriorated rapidly after corporal punishment was abolished.
"Pupils pushed their luck and back-chatted teachers. They even showed them rude signs behind their backs. And when confronted, they simply denied any wrongdoing. But now we have hard evidence."
The system allows Sevenster to enforce the school's code of conduct for pupils and teachers.
Sevenster hopes to expand the system, which has so far cost R20 000, to the school grounds and sports fields. At present it includes cameras in 16 classrooms, by means of which he can monitor 620 pupils.
He says pupils, teachers, parents and the governing body approved of the system. They agreed that it was in everybody's best interest and that it improved the quality of education.
Thebe Mohatle of Gauteng's education department said there was no harm in such a system if all parties agreed to it. The department supported innovations such as closed-circuit monitoring if it delivered positive results, he said.
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