School using GPS to track students that skip

[Saucycarpdog]

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/18/6081656-schools-use-gps-to-track-students-who-skip?GT1=43001

What are your thoughts about this? Is it going too far or do they have every right to do it?

 

[emeraldrafael]

Thats Creepily awesome! But those Ducks games are just so irresistible D8

OT: I dnt know. I mean, I like the idea. Its got the right principle, and its not like they're just implanting a chip into their brains or somthing.

So I dont know, I like it. Their reasons are justifiable. And the math adds up.

 

[Berethond]

It's optional. That's about all there is to be said.

 

[Lyx]

If privacy were traded at the stockmarket, i'd dump all my leftover cash in it. According to trends of the last 20 years, and future prospects, I'd get rich in no time.

 

[ScarletRider]

So the kid has to voluntarily carry the tracking device, which is about the size of a cell-phone in order for them to track him/her? If they were serious about ditching, it could easily be worked around.

"Yo dawg, mind taking this here thing and punching in the code when it rings?"
"Fo' sho', homes."

Kids still talk like that, right? <_<

 

[emeraldrafael]

So the kid has to voluntarily carry the tracking device

It's optional.

<quote=Article>It's worth noting that while this anti-truancy program is very elaborate and almost invasive, it is also entirely optional. Students and their parents are offered the chance to voluntarily participate in the "monitoring as a way to avoid continuation school or prosecution with a potential stay in juvenile hall."

On top of that, parents would also be avoiding the $2,000 fine that can come from turning a blind eye to truancy if a school district chooses to pursue the issue.

Bolded parts remove much of the "volunteer" aspect of it, At least I would think. If your parents have 2 grand just floating around each time you want to skip school then more power to you.

EDIT: Then again... the fine's gonna happen anyway. It pretty much means that your parents are making your decision for you, not the school.

 

[DevilWolf47]

Way too far WAY TOO FAR. I appreciate keeping kids in school, but this is fucking ridiculous!
...wait... aren't schools struggling?! OI!! YOU HAD MONEY FOR A GPS SYSTEM BUT NOT FOR MORE TEACHERS?! FUCK YOU!!!

This really is something infuriating to me. A lot of news i read shows schools are being hit hard by the economy and by Obama's stupidity in giving aid only to the private sector, and a waste of money like a highly unreliable GPS system...? It's like they were trying to piss me off.

 

[darth.pixie]

This made me laugh. I forgot things bigger than a cellphone all the time and I never answer it. I would probably lose it in a week. That or my dog would eat this 400$ gizmo and that would be the end of it.

I can see so many problems with it too. What if you pretend to be sick just to stay home and play video games? It's not like they come to your house with a doctor. Money down the drain is what it seems, as for the kids, they'll always find ways to skip class. It's what they do.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

Way too far WAY TOO FAR. I appreciate keeping kids in school, but this is fucking ridiculous!
...wait... aren't schools struggling?! OI!! YOU HAD MONEY FOR A GPS SYSTEM BUT NOT FOR MORE TEACHERS?! FUCK YOU!!!

This really is something infuriating to me. A lot of news i read shows schools are being hit hard by the economy and by Obama's stupidity in giving aid only to the private sector, and a waste of money like a highly unreliable GPS system...? It's like they were trying to piss me off.

Schools operate on a state-by-state basis. Obama and Congress have nothing to do nor should have anything to do with this.

OT: This school district has its priorities out of line. This is extortion and a violation of privacy.

Captcha: Control Satiri

EDIT: Never mind what I said about the quote. I thought you were saying Obama was endorsing the GPSs.

 

[DevilWolf47]

Way too far WAY TOO FAR. I appreciate keeping kids in school, but this is fucking ridiculous!
...wait... aren't schools struggling?! OI!! YOU HAD MONEY FOR A GPS SYSTEM BUT NOT FOR MORE TEACHERS?! FUCK YOU!!!

This really is something infuriating to me. A lot of news i read shows schools are being hit hard by the economy and by Obama's stupidity in giving aid only to the private sector, and a waste of money like a highly unreliable GPS system...? It's like they were trying to piss me off.

Schools operate on a state-by-state basis. Obama and Congress have nothing to do nor should have anything to do with this.

OT: This school district has its priorities out of line. This is extortion and a violation of privacy.

Captcha: Control Satiri

Okay, i agree with what you said wholeheartedly about it being extortion and about fucked up priorities, and someone with a Nagato avatar should really be in a position of knowledge in that regard...
...but the captcha is starting to freak me out. Sometimes what pops up is tied to the topic, and the fact that it happens more often with negative forums is making me paranoid. I wonder if someone will open a forum on junk mail and the captcha will randomly mention my address and apartment number.

 

[Saint of M]

Also, the School unions have the options to dump most of their cash in politics, say during election year. As stupid as this sounds, the different Unions in CA, including the schools, did that to a few of the Govenator's things a few years back.


While I like the idea as it would also help with safety (kids still get kidnapped) those GPS units cannot be cheap, and the money can be spent elsewhere.

 

[Plucky]

Of course, attendance rates dip a bit as soon as students stop participating in the monitoring program. But according to Miller Sylvan, regional director for AIM Truancy Solutions, the company that makes the truancy system, at least many of the kids "learn new habits that help them."

Yep, the habits they learn is that they should not set off adults or anything that houses you for a large amount of time in a single day, espcially if you have a tracking device the size of a cellphone strapped onto you, plus they only looked after they were off the tracker and probally didnt see into a month ahead or somthing.

Using a tracking device shouldn't be used just because of a few missed sessions, it may be acceptable to be used as a last resort if the parent wishes, but a parent should tell the school why their child ditched a few classes, instead of letting them stack up, or even ask ther child why did they miss classes.

Everyone has a right to walk about whenever, what im mainly concerned about is privacy. like what if they ask stuff like "why were you in the girls room" or "why did you take the long way to class?" is just invasion of privacy, for all we know, the child may have had perfectly reasonable explainations.

 

[Nexus4]

Before I get ninja'd: Explosive collars are going on next!

 

[The Code]

Here's a thought. Most kids these days have cell phones. More often than not, the phone has some kind of built-in GPS device. Why not, for simplicity and cost effectiveness' sake, just use the GPS devices the kids already have?

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

Here's a thought. Most kids these days have cell phones. More often than not, the phone has some kind of built-in GPS device. Why not, for simplicity and cost effectiveness' sake, just use the GPS devices the kids already have?

Because then the parents would not have to pay for the GPS or the truancy fine.

To add, key operating word: Most.

 

[Leg End]

(O_O)

This planet feels like 1984 more and more every day.

(O_O)

Or at least similar to it.

(O_O)