The article suggested that Big Wood School in Warren Hill were planning on using eye-scanning for the school register. The rapid introduction of other Biometrics technology like fingerprinting for library books and school meals is very disturbing. The organisation LeaveThemKidsAlone already lists four schools in Nottingham and seven in Notts that use fingerprinting and are convinced this is only the tip of the iceberg, because private companies promoting this technology are selling so many scanners.
Worse still, no one seems to understand quite how this has happened, apart from individual schools deciding to adopt fingerprinting themselves, with very little concern about what this means for privacy and dignity of children. LTKA have used the Freedom of Information Act to ask both Nottingham and Notts councils about any policy they have on Biometrics in schools. None, it seems, plus John Hemstock, Business Manager, Children and Young People's Services, replied that "at this time no schools use this technology" in Notts as of April this year!
Not all headteachers are happy with the technology though. Barry Day, head teacher of Greenwood Dale in Sneinton is quoted as saying: "I feel it's a step too far. I don't think as a rule the population should be fingerprinted. It's an intrusion of people's right to privacy. I cannot see any reason for schools to go down that route. There are other ways." Glad to see someone’s hanging onto his sanity! It seems like he could be saving money as well, as The Register reports that the technology is somewhat less than ‘world-beating’.
It doesn’t seem like the parents are happy either. Maria Wright, who has a 15-year-old daughter at Big Wood School said “I don't like the idea. It's another Big Brother thing. You can't go anywhere without cameras following. It's getting far too much. It is an excellent school… But school kids having their eyes scanned and being fingerprinted? It's all wrong." Exactly!
The threat of Big Brother technology like biometrics is huge. Once it gets a hold more widely in British society, we will be tested and tracked wherever we go. Fingerprinting in pubs and clubs is already happening in some towns. And if the government gets away with its ID scheme which will involve fingerprinting all of us, companies and public sector organisations will find even more uses for it. Getting children used to biometrics will only make this easier. Fingerprinting and iris-scanning in schools must be stopped in its tracks.
Previous articles on biometrics in schools on Indymedia:-
Alarming rise of Children’s ID databases and biometrics in schools
Student fingerprinting - not so VeriCool
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As a complete middle class twit
21.05.2007 13:51
In the case of private schools it seems to operate on two levels; the first is the Schools desire to collect as much information on the pupils as possible. In the case of boarding schools this means that they can conduct 'internal justice' whereby they can use this information about pupils to resolve thefts in boarding houses and classrooms without involving the police (who local media inevitably follow, which is highly embarrasing for the school). As we know many, if not all headteachers think themselves the kings of their own little empires. For private schools in the second instance this also means they can boast higher security for insurance purposes and parents.
In the case of state-run education this could be a lot more serious. Its not too hard to imagine a future where an employer need only scan your finger to ascertain whether you're suitable employment material. And of course its all more info to weed out potential troublemakers and have them biometrically blacklisted before theyve even left education.
Alex_b
unions & community groups
21.05.2007 17:37
Brilliant work,
Max mee
Evening Post Letter Here
22.05.2007 14:01
Nottingham Defy-ID Person
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