I came upon an article about how high school kids in the U.K. are being monitored via micro-chips embedded in their uniforms. "The devices are used to monitor pupils’ movements and register their arrival in class on the teacher’s computer. Supply teachers can also be alerted if a student is likely to misbehave. The chip connects with teachers’ computers to show a photograph of the pupil, data about academic performance and whether he or she is in the correct classroom. It can also restrict access to areas of the school..."
The Radio Frequency Identification System (RFID) raises so many objections, especially from the kids themselves. They say it's a lot like George Orwell's Big Brother. But c'mon... is it really that objectionable??
If i were a parent, it would be nice to know that the school has a way of keeping tabs with my kid, making sure he/she attends class during class hours and even find out where he/she wanders off to after school.
The right to privacy, like all other rights, can be encroached upon by the State when overriding interests are present. Although safety hasn't really been the main concern for the installation of the RFIDs, it seems obvious how much RFIDs can help in this area. And besides, even without trying to figure out whether or not the right to privacy can be encroached upon by other compelling State interests, we just have to look at the persons whose rights are being violated... kids. Just how much right to privacy can high school kids have?? When it comes down to knowing where you are and where you go, kids must always be answerable to the higher authority-- their parents. If their parents agree to the use of the RFIDs, then that's that.
Article:
No comments:
Post a Comment