Parents at a school board in Chateauguay are outraged over the board’s use of hidden cameras in the washrooms of three of its schools.

The New Frontier School Board said is defending the decision to install the cameras in two elementary schools and an adult education centre last year, arguing that the snooping was necessary to crack down on drugs and vandalism.           

“The only time we would ever do something like this is in the protection of our other students, and or to ensure that illegal activities are not taking place,” said Wayne Goldthorp. director general at New Frontiers School Board.

Cameras were hidden inside the washrooms at St. Willibrord School because of a bullying problem, as well as at Harmony School.

Board officials said the cameras only showed the sink area – never inside the cubicles.

Still, the board went too far, said parent Diana Holowaty.

“As a parent, I think they should have told us there was a problem in the first place,” she said, adding that cameras could be justifiable in hallways or outdoors, but definitely not in the bathroom.

“If a kid’s going to do drugs, they'll do them on the way to school or outside, or on the way home. They never do them in the bathrooms. And bullying? It's the same thing, it always happens outside,” she said.

Parent Randal Saul said he’s worried about what happens to that footage.

“My main concern is the children and who's watching the cameras. Who is looking at our children? You can't trust anybody these days,” he said.

Goldthorp, however, argued that having proof on video actually helps the board fix problems and explain issues like bullying to parents.

“To be able to sit down with parents and say,’We have to work together. We have a problem. You may not believe that little Johnny is involved in bullying, but I'm sorry you're going to have to look at this video with us,’” said Goldthorp.

Human rights lawyer Julius Grey said it’s very hard to justify putting hidden cameras in elementary school washrooms.

“I think it violates the Quebec Charter of Rights and Freedoms on private life and dignity,” he said.

Goldthorp said while the cameras have been removed and there are no hidden cameras currently installed in any of the New Frontiers School board schools, he will not hesitate to put them back - in washrooms or anywhere else - if he needs to.