Big Brother is watching you.

Or in this case, your child.

"The Winona school board has voted to allow video surveillance cameras in bathrooms and locker rooms.
Board member Fred Petersen said the new policy, approved unanimously, doesn't mean there will be cameras in those places, but makes it possible if it's necessary in extreme circumstances."

Now I understand their reasoning. I witnessed my fair share of drug deals in the bathroom when I was in high school back in the 1970's. I also understand that video surveillance of our children in schools happens every day.

However, there are still privacy issues here that need to be addressed. If a retail store attempted to install video cameras in their bathrooms in order to deter theft, the hue and cry of outrage would be deafening. If a bar owner installed video cameras in the bathrooms in order to deter drug dealing he would be rightly sued for invasion of privacy. Why are our students not afforded the same privacy?

Then there is the possibility that someone with access to the tapes has less than wholesome motives for viewing the tapes or the possibility that the tapes are not secured so that pedophiles can get access to them. Shouldn't that aspect of safety be considered?

There is long standing judicial precident against this kind of video surveillance. The ACLU sued the City of Minneapolis over its "Photo-Cop" program. Will they do the same here? Only time will tell.