Mandurah Catholic College Implements Doorbell Cameras to Track Student Toilet Access
Mandurah Catholic College, a private high school located in Mandurah, has introduced doorbell-style cameras to monitor students' visits to toilet blocks during class hours. This initiative is part of a broader effort to curb anti-social behavior within the school premises. Students are required to press a button and look into a camera, allowing reception staff to verify that they have obtained teacher permission before entering the bathroom.
Parental Concerns Over Privacy and Consent
A mother with two children attending the school expressed significant concerns about the new system, describing it as an invasion of privacy. She emphasized that students should not have to face a camera to gain permission for basic needs like using the toilet. The parent, who chose to remain anonymous, also raised worries about who might have access to the footage, stating, "They're basically recording our kids going to the toilet." She added that she did not recall being notified about the camera installations or asked for her consent.
However, according to The West Australian, the college communicated this change to parents during Term 4 of the previous year. A spokesperson for Catholic Education WA clarified that the security measure does not involve cameras facing the toilets or the storage of footage. The spokesperson noted, "The use of this system has led to a drastic reduction in anti-social behavior," highlighting policies aimed at limiting large groups in toilet blocks.
Broader Implications for Student Wellbeing and School Practices
While many schools discourage toilet use outside break times to prevent issues like vaping and vandalism, the use of doorbell cameras and intercoms for monitoring is not common in Western Australian schools. Wellbeing expert Catherine Smith, a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne, cautioned that increased surveillance, while framed as a safety measure, could negatively impact students' dignity, privacy, and trust.
Dr. Smith explained, "Bathrooms are not trivial or neutral spaces in school life. They are tied to bodily privacy, menstruation, disability access, and dignity. For some students, they are also spaces of fear or vulnerability, including around gender and safety. Some young people feel safer going during class when the space is quieter and more manageable." She warned that relying on surveillance instead of supportive, relational approaches might erode trust between students and staff.
This development at Mandurah Catholic College raises important questions about balancing security measures with student rights and wellbeing in educational settings.
