Is Big Brother watching or are schools just looking our for your child’s best interests?

This article in the Seattle Post- Intelligencer discusses an elementary school in Sutter, California that has issued a policy requiring students to wear radio frequency identification badges that can track their every move.  And, it was done without the parents permission or input.

“The system was imposed, without parental input, by the school as a way to simplify attendance-taking and potentially reduce vandalism and improve student safety. Principal Earnie Graham hopes to eventually add bar codes to the existing ID’s so that students can use them to pay for cafeteria meals and check out library books.”

Many parents voice concerns over their children being tracked when not in school or having the information fall into the wrong hands.  Others are outraged about the loss of their children’s privacy .  For whatever reasons, the parents want to put a stop to it.

There is a way to make kids safer without making them feel like a piece of inventory,” said Michael Cantrall, one of several angry parents who complained. “Are we trying to bring them up with respect and trust, or tell them that you can’t trust anyone, you are always going to be monitored, and someone is always going to be watching you?”

So, what do you think?  In an attempt to keep our children safe, are we robbing them of their privacy and treating them as just a piece of inventory to keep track of?  If your child’s school adopted this policy would you accept it without a fuss or would you stand up and fight it? 

I want to hear from you.  Let me know in comments or on your own blog to add commentary to this. 

As for my children, they would lose it the first few days and it would be a mute point.

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