ROYAL PALM BEACH, Fla., March 24 (UPI) -- A Florida principal is under fire for installing fake surveillance cameras in her middle school's bathrooms to deter vandalism, officials said.
Principal Stephanie Nance had the mock cameras installed last week at Crestwood Middle School in Royal Palm Beach. The cameras were taken down during the weekend after criticism from parents, The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post reported Wednesday.
Children were told the cameras were real and that prevented use of the bathrooms by some, including the 12-year-old daughter of Michael Messino.
"She would wait until the end of the day or not go at all," Messino said. "That is absolutely ridiculous."
Messino and some other parents said they didn't care whether the cameras were fake or real because even fake cameras could intrude on privacy by evoking the feeling of being watched.
Nance installed the cameras because vandalism had been a frequent problem, said district spokeswoman Vickie Middlebrooks, adding she was not aware of any disciplinary action being taken against Nance, who referred all questions to the district.
