Dundee campaigners are calling for CCTV cameras to be introduced into classrooms across Scotland.
They believe the controversial move is the only means of protecting some of the country’s most vulnerable school pupils from harm.
The Dundee parents want to see surveillance become a feature of teaching areas and corridors where pupils with additional support needs are present.
They are behind an existing campaign to have the Scottish Government investigate the use of restraint at Kingspark school in Dundee and at other schools.
The parents want to see surveillance become a feature of school buildings, in teaching areas and corridors where “vulnerable” children are present.
The cameras could also be used to combat a rising tide of attacks upon teachers, though that is not the focus of the campaign.
This summer it emerged that the number of attacks on school staff in Dundee rose by more than a third last year, from 392 reported incidents in 2014 to 548 in 2015.
The campaigners have been told that the CCTV proposals will be a hard sell, with opposition from Dundee City Council’s SNP administration and opposition councillors alike.
Local politicians have also been reticent to endorse the idea, despite previous backing for the efforts of the campaigners.
Nonetheless, they intend to take the campaign to the Scottish Government, believing it is the only way to safeguard some of the city’s most vulnerable children.
Monifieth mum Claire Thould withdrew her daughter from Kingspark after she returned home with scratches and bruises.
She has since been working alongside fellow Kingspark parents to force the Scottish Government to consider the introduction of national guidelines in schools for disabled pupils.
One of the main concerns centres around the use of restraint. The petitions committee at Holyrood has agreed to look into the issue.
Claire said of the latest campaign: “I am one of the original parents who made complaints against Kingspark school.
“As a group we have been wanting for some time to see cameras introduced into school classrooms and corridors.
“Many of the children who attend schools such as this are non-verbal and it can be very difficult to find out how they have sustained injuries.
“Children are still coming home to this day with unexplained injuries at schools across Dundee and Angus.
“These children are extremely vulnerable and I believe we need CCTV to project them and we can know what happens to them.”
Claire said she was aware of the idea of CCTV use being considered in the past “in passing” but did not believe it had ever been a serious proposal.
She and other parents now intend to bring a further petition to Holyrood calling for the use of CCTV to be explored.
“This is something I and my fellow parents are very passionate about,” she said. “We need to stop our children being injured.
“We believe CCTV should be introduced wherever there are vulnerable children.”
Councillor Laurie Bidwell, Labour’s education spokesman in Dundee, said he had deep concerns about the proposal.
He said: “Despite allegations of mistreatment of a small number of vulnerable pupils at Kingspark School, being repeated many times, no evidence of this has been proven.
“I am therefore not convinced that there is an issue that needs a response from the Council or the Scottish Government.
“As a former teacher and lecturer, I know I should find the presence of CCTV in the classroom a real intrusion into teaching and learning.
“There are also privacy and human rights issues for pupils and their parents and carers to be considered.
“In my experience, the staff of Kingspark School are well qualified and professional in managing the multiple challenges in their classrooms.”
“I shall not be lending support to this campaign.”
A spokeswoman for Dundee City Council added: “The council already has CCTV cameras operating in strategic locations in schools across the city.
“We have no plans to put cameras in classrooms.”
