(November 29, 2000) — Walking down the hallways of Clark Magnet High School, there is a feeling of uneasiness, a sense that someone is watching. You might look over your shoulders only to find nothing, but all you have to do to see the cause of this uneasiness is to look up. There, in what seems to be every nook and cranny of Clark’s ceilings, are the recently-installed cameras. Though some might feel safe because of security cameras and gates, other students say they don’t understand the reason for all this. Some students have said that the money for the cameras and gates should be used for other things, such as the student parking lot. “They take away our privacy and I feel violated. We don’t know exactly where the cameras are and when we’re being watched,” says sophomore Araks Khachatryan. One of the things that was appealing in the first years of this school was the peaceful and beautiful environment. In the past years, when students stepped down from the bus, they saw beautiful green grass; this year, however, unattractive, black gates interrupt the beautiful environment. Never had Clark such an uninviting atmosphere due to all the “security measures.” “That was one of the things I liked about Clark,” remembers junior Erin Klinthong. “It was really beautiful here.” Some students say they wonder whether the school board has gone too far. According to school administration, other schools in the district have undergone the same changes. Some believe, however, that security cameras in Clark is “too much” and that students here are anything but mischievous. “The students here are good. It’s understandable in Glendale or Hoover, but it’s unnecessary here,” says sophomore Michelle Mack. Nevertheless, the school board believes this kind of security is needed in every school since one of the issues that has concerned parents and the administration alike for years is the issue of school safety. “I think that the cameras protect us all and bring us a safer environment,” says assistant principal Joan Shoff. Though the cameras are used for security purposes, they can also be used to monitor a student’s every movement. There is also the issue of trust and whether the school board only expects students to be disobedient. It is through this different light that some feel that the school board is feeding the misconception that all teenagers are bad and unmotivated. Although most kids at Clark are generally good and work hard to achieve their goals, the bad image given by untrusting adults only discredits their hard work. In this school, where students are highly motivated and seek the best for their future, it’s only fair that the school should have a little more faith and respect towards these hard-working individuals.