UK: Why Are We Fingerprinting Children?
March 8th, 2009Via: Guardian:
As voters express concern about surveillance technology, is it becoming second nature to the Facebook generation – used to publishing intimate details of their private lives on the worldwide web – who, in later life, may be less vociferous in their opposition to such schemes?
An increasing number of today’s schoolchildren are forgoing the humiliating daily name call of registration, and are instead having to “fingerswipe” in and out of class, or to give it its proper name: biometric registration. According to campaign group LeaveThemKidsAlone, schools have fingerprinted more than two million children this way, sometimes even without their parents’ consent. A statement on its website claims: “It’s part of an enormous softening-up exercise, targeting society’s most impressionable, so they’ll accept cradle-to-grave state snooping and control.”
Hard-pressed schools and local councils with tight budgets are being enticed by a new generation of software that promises to cut administration costs and time. In the last 18 months, several Guardian readers have written into the paper expressing concern at this new technology being trialled on their children. Everything from “cashless catering schemes” to “kiddyprints” instead of library cards is being introduced by stealth into the nation’s schools, it is claimed.
The software companies that are jostling for a stake in this lucrative market, such as VeriCool and CRB solutions, boast several testimonials on their websites, arguing that this technology not only minimises lunchtime queues and paperwork, but also tackles more serious problems such as truancy and bullying (a cashless system negates the need to be biffed for your lunch money). They even claim that their systems promote healthy eating, as pupils accrue points for eschewing sugary snacks.
This begs another question. Why are people sending their children to state indoctrination camps in the first place?
Options?
Expensive non denominational “international” schooling.
Biometric registration, but on the plus side the people grow up are useful later in life.
Lower cost faith based school – cheaper but some indoctrination.
Home schooling – the gov breathing down your neck, treating you like your child is sitting in front of the TV, eating chips all day.
Is the UK now just a huge psychology lab where the population are pushed and prodded to see how malleable they are and how much government intrusion people can take before they shout stop?