School’s tracking tags for children causes outrage

Lisa Leff, Sutter

The badges, introduced at Brittan Elementary School on January 18, rely on the same radio and scanner technology that companies use to track livestock and product inventory. Each child must wear identification cards with their picture, name and grade, and a wireless transmitter that beams their ID number to a teacher’s handheld computer when the child passes under an antenna above a classroom door.

While similar devices are being tested at schools in Japan so parents can know when their children arrive and leave, Brittan appears to be the first US school to embrace such a system.

“If this school doesn’t stand up, then other schools might adopt it,” Nicole

Ozer, a representative of the American Civil Liberties Union, warned school board members.

“You might be a small community, but you are one of the first communities to use this technology.”

The system was imposed, without parental input, as a way to simplify attendance- taking, reduce vandalism and improve student safety.

Principal Earnie Graham hopes to eventually add barcodes to the IDs so pupils can use them to pay for cafeteria meals and check out library books.

But some parents see the system as Orwellian.

“There is a way to make kids safer without making them feel like a piece of inventory,” said parent Michael Cantrall.

“Are we trying to bring them up with respect and trust, or tell them you can’t trust anyone, you are always going to be monitored, and someone is always going to be watching you?”

Mr Cantrall said he told his children not to wear the badges, but some welcomed the IDs.

“Bad things can happen here,” said parent Tim Crabtree.