topaz

Courtesy of

tfarrell:

California elementary school tracks students with RFID badges

Earlier today I sent the following letter to the school principal, whose e-mail address can be found on the school's web site. An abridged version went to a couple of newspapers.

Mr. Graham -

I have recently read with great interest Brittan Elementary School's experiment with active badges to monitor students' location during the school day. I am writing to commend the school for its forward-looking stance on these sensitive matters, and to suggest some improvements.

We live, unfortunately, in a dangerous and difficult world — a world where our children may at any moment turn into vicious killers, or where trusted family friends may turn out to be dangerous molesters. It is regrettable that not everyone recognizes the urgency of ensuring our security in these distressing times.

With that in mind, I suggest that, while distasteful, it would be advisable for not only the school students but also faculty and staff to wear badges to monitor their position, so that parents can be sure of the continued physical safety of their children. In the unlikely but tragically possible event that a school employee were to take advantage of a child, school administrators and parents should have the opportunity to know right away and be able to intervene instantly. Monitoring faculty and staff locations would also keep administrators apprised of teachers who, for example, neglect their responsibilities to the school by skipping department meetings or taking extended cigarette or coffee breaks.

I believe that extending the system to school employees as well as students would do a great deal to ensure student safety. I cannot imagine that anyone who does not have something to hide could object to such a program, so I have great confidence that the school board would approve it promptly.

Thank you for your consideration —

Tim Pierce