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Students Tracked By RFID

TheMeuge writes "The New York Times is reporting a new development in the unrelenting progress of the RFID juggernaut. The school district of Spring, Texas has adopted RFID as a way to track students' arrival and departure. Upon being scanned, the data are transmitted to both the school administrators, as well as city police. I guess cutting class is no longer an option."

866 comments

  1. barcode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you want to track people, why not just tattoo a bar code on the forehead.

    1. Re:barcode by DenDave · · Score: 2, Funny

      yeah beats having to say: Sorry teacher but the dog ate my RFID tag...

      --
      -if at first you don't succeed, stay the heck away from paragliding.
    2. Re:barcode by jai0 · · Score: 1

      what happens if you want to change to another school? A new barcode tatoo?

    3. Re:barcode by SunPin · · Score: 4, Funny
      If you want to track people, why not just tattoo a bar code on the forehead.


      Because the barcode tattoo is _so_ 1984.

      --
      Laws are for people with no friends.
    4. Re:barcode by sharkey · · Score: 1

      Better yet, put it on the wrist. That location has a proven track record.

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
    5. Re:barcode by mwood · · Score: 2, Insightful

      [Paraphrase from the Revelation to John]

      Exactly the opposite of individual ID. The Mark of the Beast is the same for everyone, and doesn't identify anyone. Using that system, you could tell that somebody was in the school, but not who, because there no longer *is* any "who".

    6. Re:barcode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey,

      I've got my SSN barcoded and tattooed on me (not, not on my forehead and not on the back of my neck either). It may be soooo 1984 but the chicks dig it.

    7. Re:barcode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Stick one on Dubya. Make sure he turns up to the office now and again instead of cutting off on vacation...
      You really think that would be a good idea?
    8. Re:barcode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dick? Is that you?

    9. Re:barcode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "sharkey" (16670) wrote:
      Better yet, put it on the wrist. That location has a proven track record.

      How dare you use the Holocaust to make a snarky point on slashdot? That's vile. There should be some converse of the Godwin law relating to uses like this.

    10. Re:barcode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh give it a rest already.

    11. Re:barcode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, that isn't necessarily true. The Mark of the Beast is the symbol of the Antichrist. Some scholars feel that the Antichrist will preach extreme individualism, this being (from a certain perspective) the opposite of Christ' teachings. You know, look after yourself first, insist on your 'uniqueness' to the detriment of common humanity, that sort of thing. In this case, individual ID COULD be the Mark.
      Of course, no one really knows, so your interpretation is as valid as any other, I just wanted to point out an interesting alternative possibility.

    12. Re:barcode by CaptainFrito · · Score: 5, Interesting
      Okay, I'm in. The Mark spoken of at Revelation ch 13 (aka Apocalypse) is a demonstrated allegiance to a way of life that is opposite to God's righteous way and blocks admittance into the promised new world (see Revelation ch7 and ch 20-22).

      For clarification of this position see the parallel prophecy given to the prophet Ezekiel at Ezek ch 9, where a 'secretary' from God is seen marking the foreheads of those that would be saved. It is clear that they get their mark because of their inner groaning over the detestible things being done in the Earth -- detestible according to God's standards, not their own. All others, starting from the sanctuary (those saying that they are Godly but are falsely so) are to be destoyed by the six other messengers.

      The physically tattooed marks and RFID tags are a means to control others, and of course things like these appeal to the masses because these measures seem benign, even helpful. After all, if you've done nothing wrong, what's to fear? But in the end they are a means of control. Today we have security cameras monitoring everything, even traffic flow, cross-referencing vehicle tags. People are being photographed hundreds of times a day in public places and their faces cross-referenced by high-speed computers, police now dress and train as military combatants. Core Internet routers are now archiving every single packet without prejudice. Voice recognition systems are scanning phone conversations in real-time. Fully automted packet-data-examining systems. And so on...it's all very sad, but it is also a warning.

      When Hitler began rouding people up, it all seemed benign and even helpful to the majority. Even those being rounded up believed that they had nothing wrong and thus had nothing to fear, according to their own testimony. But those that would not go along with the round-up got rounded up too. Compare that to the entire context of Rev ch 13. Hitler's actions were a dry run for the larger showdown that is to come, but it will be a world-wide affair according to Revelation. And God steps n to protect his own, and gives them the gift of the new paradise on Earth which he has promised.

      But now for the University science: According to Stanley Milgram's famous experiment, most people will go along with those perceived to be in authority, no matter how objectionable the request might seem upon first glance. And the Stanford Prison Experiment shows that most people in charge of others will without fail revel in sadism in very short order when given control over others. So, that people will attack those who desire to serve God en masse -- preventing them from even maintaining livlihoods and even from buying and selling to sustain life -- will be willing participants, even those of you who are convinced right now that you would never had help Hitler. Reliable scientific research consistently shows that most people would have, regardless of what they say when asked hypothetically.

      (Okay, mighty moderators, protectors of the /. common good, have your way with me. At least it wasn't posted anonymously. And, furthermore, I've actually read and sudied the Bible -- unlike most who are happy to comment as if they know what it says or mod down those that have the courage to repeat what it says -- hehehe.)

    13. Re:barcode by damnwright · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately, this is real and getting realer. I see patents for this kind of stuff all the time. It's frighteningly laughable that this kind of technology is always justified as being "for the children". Check out: http://www.patentlysilly.com/patent.php?patID=6747 562 and http://www.patentlysilly.com/patent.php?patID=6788 200

    14. Re:barcode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Blah Blah Blah.

      You are a tool. You are the one that supports a religion and culture that embraces Authoritarianism (Which is to say that if you follow "God" you are more likely to follow any authority.)

      You probably think that Evolution is a hypothesis, the subconscience has no effect on your thinking, and the Earth is both flat and the center of the Universe. (Which is to say that you deny science to support your believe in a lie.)

      If everyone thought like you do we would still be hiding in caves when the thunder got to loud praying that God's anger would subside. (Which is to say that you are aiding our devolution.)

      That being said I am practicing my Goose Stepping. Don't want to be the one singled out by the Regime and sent to a camp. (Thanks to you and yours.)

    15. Re:barcode by UpLateDrinkingCoffee · · Score: 1

      Great post Mr. Frito... one of the best I've read on slashdot in a long time. I'm adding you to my friends list.

    16. Re:barcode by Rick+the+Red · · Score: 1
      Really.

      So, if I show up for school but forget my Student ID, I'm officially absent? Fine, then I'll just put my ID in my sister's backpack and stay home.

      --
      If all this should have a reason, we would be the last to know.
    17. Re:barcode by Mad_Rain · · Score: 4, Informative

      Just for the people who don't know: Here is a link to the Milgram experiment. In the experiemnt, it was found that around 60% of people would continue administering painful and life-threatening electric shocks to a stranger at the request of an authority figure.

      The Stanford Prison Experiment has recently gotten a little more press as a result of the problems at Abu Ghraib. Volunteer students at Stanford University were put into one of two roles: guards or prisoners. Despite being smart, "psychologically stable" people, the guards rapidly became abusive and the prisoners had varied reactions, from rebellion to one developing a psychosomatic rash within a day. (Philip Zimbardo ran the study).

      --
      "What do you think?" "I think 'What, do you think?!'"
    18. Re:barcode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


      But it's OK for me to be one of the jack-booted thugs oppressing and taking advantage of the faithful who are resisting, because Jesus died specifically to forgive me for those sins.

    19. Re:barcode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And then have to explain it when you get picked up for going into the girls locker room everyday.

    20. Re:barcode by HiThere · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Being a dogmatic atheist is no better than being a dogmatic fundamentalist. The key is, they're both dogmatic.

      Someone who is thoughtful, and willing to explore the ways in which his beliefs mirror the world, and to consider as metaphysical those beliefs that DON'T mirror the world is much more congenial, and, to my mind, a much better kind of person.

      That many of which we hear are both biblical scholars and dogmatic fundamentalists should not blind us to the fact that many biblical scholars are intelligent people that would be nice to know. And AREN't dogmatic lunatics.

      I, personally, am not a Christian of any denomination, despite having been raised as one. I follow a much less common religion with a gnostic (but non-christian) basis. And I don't have any church. This causes me to be occasionally terrified about the fundamentalist Christians, most of whom don't even realize that they are followers of the cult of Osiris (historically speaking...not denying that there was a Jesus Christ just because I have no evidence indicating that such a person actually existed except in the sense that Nicolas Bourbaki did).

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    21. Re:barcode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I used to write school admin systems and, when asked about using barcodes, (vs bubble sheets, gradebooks or manual entry) I always said: "the hard part is getting the kids to stand still while you code them".

    22. Re:barcode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      geez whats wrong with you? Chain gang would be more effective.

    23. Re:barcode by whittrash · · Score: 1

      I don't know what everyone is upset about. This is the perfect way to cut class. Have your buddy take your tag in and you have an official stamp that says you were there. This is a system so ripe for abuse I wish I were back in high school just to exploit it.

    24. Re:barcode by whittrash · · Score: 1

      Not necessarily, the mark of the beast is on the forehead or the right hand if I remember correctly, and the number 666 needs to get worked in there. I don't know exactly how that works, but it could be a unique mark.

    25. Re:barcode by grolschie · · Score: 1

      When I saw this article, there had been 666 comments on it! egad!!!!

    26. Re:barcode by CaptainFrito · · Score: 4, Interesting
      You probably think that Evolution is a hypothesis

      Yes I do, based on the Scientific Method. Most people that understand it recognize that it is still a theory. Proof? Simple: If you yourself contracted a cancer, is it good or is it bad? Cancer, according to evolution, is the engine of progress. Truth is, you'd leave everything just the way it is. Nobody wants their DNA fooled with because they know intuitively that it's a bad thing. Stanley Miller gave up trying to prove his organic soup theory because he could never make it work (one initial success followed by a career of failures) and that he could never eliminate himself from the experiments. Ironically, his experiments were to prove all this could have happened blindly, without intelligent intervention, but he realized after years and years of failures his experiments never worked without his thoughtful intelligence guiding it. So, in pure scientific terminology, evolution is still a theory, since no one has demonstrated exactly how it works and demonstrated it experimentally. And I might also point out that evolution relates to how organisms morph across specie boundaries, not how life appears in the first place. That is the providence of abiogenesis vs. panspermia.

      I arrived at creationism using the Sherlock Holmes method: Eliminate the impossible, and whatever's left, however improbable, is the truth. Since evolution is mathematically so remote so as to be impossible I gave up on it. After years of objective and deep academic research that had nothing to do with Bible research. I initially set out to disprove the Bible, but could not unless I abandoned objectivity.

      The book The Blind Watchmaker, often cited as having proved evolution, says in one chapter that to transform (evolve) an ordinary squirrel into a flyiong squirrel, one simply needs to find a clumsy squirrel with loose skin and have it fall from trees so often that it soon learns to glide to the ground. Okay, fine. Show me how it's done: get all the regular squirrels you want, and throw them from trees and produce a flying squirrel. If you can, you still haven't proven evolution, because I don't beleive that such an experiment would demonstrate a crossing of specie boundaries. When you've accomplished that feat, you woill have progressed from theory to fact. Otherwise, it's just a theory (hypothesis, actually, since it lacks the detail in the specific mechanisms involved).

      As far as the Earth being flat, the Bible pointed out it is a sphere some 3,000 years ago (Isiaih 40:22), some 250 years before Pythagoras. And it never said the Earth is the center of the universe. So, you're just making those things up. And the Bible clearly says that the subconscience is very treacherous and must be carefully monitored and curbed by the conscious mind (James 1:14,15).

      As for the final outcome, whether you are correct that the world will continue and man will evolve into some higher species through blind chance, or I am correct in believing the Bible's predictions, only time will tell.

    27. Re:barcode by icejai · · Score: 1

      "I arrived at creationism using the Sherlock Holmes method: Eliminate the impossible, and whatever's left, however improbable, is the truth. Since evolution is mathematically so remote so as to be impossible I gave up on it"

      I think this is the flaw (bias) in your approach.
      If evolution is improbable, it is *not* impossible.

      Evolution may be improbable, creationism may just be as improbable, but for some reason you've written off evolution's improbability as impossibility, and somehow accepted creationism's improbability.

      ------

      And, nobody can show you a squirrel "in the process" of evolving. But I *can* paint you a theoretical picture.

      In a part of China, a handful of people have been discovered to posess a certain gene that makes them immune to HIV.
      If they have a lot of babies and they have a lot of sex over the next thousand years or so, the number of hiv-immune people will grow. The remaining population not immune to hiv will die off, leaving only the hiv-immune people in the world.

      This is an example of an accidental mutation.
      This is an example of an accidental mutation benefiting humans.
      This is an example of an accidental mutation benefiting humans in a way that will extend their lifespans longer than those without this accidental mutation.

      This is what evolution is.

    28. Re:barcode by icejai · · Score: 1

      (cont'd from my last post)

      Cancer is an example of an accidental mutation that does *not* benefit humans in a way that will extend their lifespans.

      This is what evolution is.

      However improbable... it IS possible.

    29. Re:barcode by UpLateDrinkingCoffee · · Score: 1
      I think the good captain was saying that in his studies he determined that the probability of evolution was so mathematically miniscule it can be considered impossible for all intensive purposes. Therefore creation, however improbable, is left as the truth.

      Your example demonstrates evolution within a species very well... most people I know that believe in a creator also believe in evolution within a species (micro-evolution). It's been demonstrated over and over by selective breeding, fruit flys with four wings, etc. The problem is evolution as a mechanism to create new species (macro evolution) really has no scientific proof but has been accepted on faith by the scientific establishment. Considering all that you have observed in the world around us, which is more preposterous: that there is a creator responsible for all this, or that it all spontaneously sprang forth from a puddle of goo? All I'm asking is that macro evolution get the same amount of healthy skepticism as any other unproven hypothesis. If not, then science has just become another religion.

    30. Re:barcode by CaptainFrito · · Score: 1
      "And, nobody can show you a squirrel "in the process" of evolving. But I *can* paint you a theoretical picture."

      Exactly: A theoretical picture. I do not dispute that creationism is based on faith, and in my case, it is by no means blind faith. I have studied it extensively. But the same faith issue is true for evolutionists -- it is still very much a theory in which its adherents put great faith based on the things they have been taught. In this, creationists and evolutioists are the same. The Bible clearly says that organisms were created according to their kind, and nowhere does it say that each organism would be an exact copy of itself. To the contrary it specifically points to a great variety with kinds (species).

      The flaw in your 'sentences evolving' example is that an intelligence produced them with a specific purpose in mind. This is inarguably an example of intelligent creationism with purposeful intent. You are unwittingly supporting the Bible's position. Put Scrabble letters on the table and when they arrange themselves, without intervention of any kind other than time and chance events, to form those three sentences you will have witnessed something that is thousands of orders of magnitude more likey to occur than one single strand of DNA belonginging to anything living to spontaneously create itself out of random activity. The odds of the latter have been computed with varying results, some as high as 10^40,000, but since no one, not even with intelligent intervention and all modern science has to offer has been able to duplicate it, I'd say at the moment it is impossible without intelligent intervention.

      Here's the paradox to your HIV immunity example: If a person wasn't immune before getting HIV it would certainly kill them, according to the facts currently in evidence. No one, to my knowledge, has been cured, either with drugs or by some spontaneous genomic mutation. Those identified with an immunity have been discovered because they have been exposed to a degree believed to be irrecoverably infected but have not become infected. So, they must have had this gene prior to infection, thus no direct evidence of evolution (with these specific subjects). So, logically, they inherited the gene. But, if organisms are not commonly exposed to something, then the mechanisms of evolution are predicted to weed them out. So, why did these genes stay around? If they did persist even though unecessary, then DNA is stable and change-resistant, and thus anti-evolutionary. Besides, changing a beetle into a leopard is evolution, not finding gnats-eyebrow differences within a given species. For this to prove evolution it would have to change one species into another. This example is merely a very weak, very indirect inference data point that doesn't contradict evolutionary theory. But this is no different than some people never getting the Spanish Flu that ravaged the earth ninety years ago. And I've never heard anyone suggest that the Spansh Flu was evidence of evolution in high action.

      But if exposure to grave diseases like HIV is what cures humans by correcting genomic shortcomings via direct excitation the evolutionary engine, then by all means we should immediately withdraw all medical treatment and interventions for HIV, and indeed, all diseases afflicting mankind and the animal world, because by intervening we are frustrating the very machinery that will produce the needed genomic immunity. And let's stop removing cancers, because the next human species maybe spawning in one of them. By this logic, we should pump CFC's into the atmosphere to destroy the ozone, because it clearly inhibits evolution. But I believe that even the staunchest evolutionist will argue that these notions are ludicrous. But these satirical examples do highlight the conflict and underscores just how much is still in dispute about evolution -- which proves it is at best a theory, but in my personal view, still a hypothesis.

      Okay, I'll stop before all the fundamentalist evolutionsts mod me into oblivion. Or maybe it's too late ;-)

    31. Re:barcode by tobar+mersa · · Score: 1
      Most people that understand it recognize that it is still a theory.
      So, evolution is merely a theory. As is gravity, it should be pointed out. The scientific definition of theory differs slighty from the colloquial definition, and thus should be explained. The Wikipedia article does a far better job of this than I can, but I will enumerate a few key points from the same article: A theory
      • explains, and is consisten with, the vast majority of data
      • makes predictions about what should occur or what has occured that can be tested
      • has survived numerous tests to prove it wrong, and
      • can be proven false
      Evolution is "just a theory" because it fits all of the above.
      Cancer, according to evolution, is the engine of progress. Truth is, you'd leave everything just the way it is. Nobody wants their DNA fooled with because they know intuitively that it's a bad thing.
      Cancer is not the engine of "progress" in evolution. Rather, the mutability of genetic code is the engine of evolution, at least according to current evolutionary theory. Cancer is a good example of the mutability of genes. However, only those mutations which occur along a "germline" (i.e. mutations that occur in gamete cells through meiosis, at least in many multicellular organisms) can be inherited by offspring, and thus "count" as mutations which run evolution by means of natural selection.
      And I might also point out that evolution relates to how organisms morph across specie [sic] boundaries, not how life appears in the first place. That is the providence of abiogenesis vs. panspermia.
      Then why use it when attempting to attack evolution? Evolution will stand or fall as a theory regardless of how life came into being.
      As far as the Earth being flat, the Bible pointed out it is a sphere some 3,000 years ago (Isiaih 40:22), some 250 years before Pythagoras.
      Well, actually, Isaiah 40:22 clearly states that the earth is a circle: "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth". A circle is not a sphere. And they are flat. And while we're on the subject of Isaiah, Isaiah 11:12 states that the Messiah shall gather "the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." Neither a sphere nor a circle has any corners. Now, I will accept that perhaps the writers of Isaiah meant those lines to be read metaphorically; if so, however, why should not Genesis also be taken as a metaphor?

      You are, however, very much correct (as far as I know the Bible), that there are no statements stating that the earth was ever the center of the universe, much less is so now.

      Lastly, how does ANY of this relate to RFIDs?

      --
      This sig space intentionally left blank.
    32. Re:barcode by Teddlet · · Score: 1

      At my old high school their testing a barcode on the student ID cards, and geting bar code scaners for the admin's PDA's. A WIFI network on campus alows the PDA to pull up the students cume file and SASSY (attendance) and at the bottom of it all in bold the parents best contact number. As you come on campus late they scan your card and assign you detention and the system e-mails your parents. There trying to get the deli at the supermarket across the street to put in a scanner there so you can only buy lunch if you are cleared to be of campus at lunch time.

    33. Re:barcode by icejai · · Score: 1

      You raise some interesting and very valid points. Many of which I've never considered before.
      You're not like the other creationists that write about our Flinstones existence with dinosaurs 6000 years ago.

      Because evolution demands that to go from species/animal A to species/animal B, there have to be 'x' sub-species/animals between A and B.

      I guess your proof of evolution would be to see every generation of every animal in history lined up one against the other with complete dna samples respectively with each genetic mutation between each generation accounted for all the way up to modern day human huh?

      That's fair I guess.
      Impossible. But fair.

      It's not any less than any atheist would request for (what they would consider) proof of the existence of god.
      Also just as impossible. But also just as fair.

      I would think evolution of language would be enough to answer any questions anybody had about evolution a la Darwin. Same concept. I mean, they're not identical in every respect, but it is fairly analogous in explaining how hundreds of distinct languages can exist in the world today, while acknowledging that they evolved from one (or a couple) root languages.

      (While at the same time there's no evidence of one language *directly* "morphing" into another in a discrete manner).

      I mean, I think you'd be hard-pressed to explain the eventual evolution of the british accent spanning only one, or even several generations of humanity. So why expect the same level of proof from genetics?

      Just something to think about.

    34. Re:barcode by CaptainFrito · · Score: 1
      Lastly, how does ANY of this relate to RFIDs?

      Well, this is a multilevel thread that has taken on a life of its own, as multilevel threads often do. But basically we got here because the original post I responded to had a misinformed view of Revelation Chapter 13, and the 'mark of the beast', which I helped with. Most people, 5 out of 6, regarded it as valuable, as did the moderators. I wrote it in a way I hoped would not be offensive or come off as Bible thumping. And it started out to demonstrate that evolution per se is not "fact", as most are conditioned to believe, but rather is still very much a theory. Clearly, your post supports my view.

      Regarding Isaiah 40:22, most Bible commentators agree that the Hebrew word translated here carries the implicit meaning of sphericity. It has been translated variously as "circle", "globe", and "roundness". I am sure at some point you have used the "four corners" idiom too, but I doubt it's fair to say you always speak metaphorically. For your reference, Moses penned Genesis about 800 years before Isaiah penned the book that bears his name.

      Germline mutations are directly inheritable, whereas other genetic changes are assumed not. But changes in DNA are changes in DNA: this is still regarded as the engine of evolution; inheritability is specious. It seems beyond credibility that one DNA changes that affect my offspring are heralded as "progress", while the other that happens to me directly is disdained, since they result in exactly the same thing. Next time you're at the dentist, have them leave off the lead apron and have them aim the x-ray gun upwards through your groin and crank up the power a bit. According to evolution logic, you could, quite reasonably, become the parent of the first superhuman.

      And, irrefutably, there are physiological changes that affect germ cells indirectly. Think "crack babies" here. This "progess" is caused first to the host and propagates to the germline. So, I am not sure I agree that cancer of, say, the gonads or of various brain centers have no effect on progeny. The evidence is that they do.

      I double-checked -- "Specie" is indeed a proper word, meaning "in the same kind or shape; as specified".

      Regarding abiogenesis and panspermia, you quoted me partially and out of context. I was merely pointing out that evolutionists often reference experiments like Miller's 'organic soup' series as evidence to support evolutionary theory, but these were designed to show how life can come from non-life (abiogenesis) rather than changing one species into another (evolution). Panspermia is an odd one to me, because it isn't evolution and it isn't abiogenesis either. It was synthesized in an effort to deal with the fact that no theory on abiogenenis has ever been proven experimentally and all that have been tried have been abandoned as false. "So," sayeth the 'panspermians', the abiogenesis happened somewhere else -- beyond the reach of researchers and thus their ability to explain and demonstrate it experimentally, but they know it happened just the same -- and then that life got here whole on an intergalactic transport of some sort (such as asteroid fragments bouncing off the surface of Mars and ricocheting here).

      Now on to your Wikipedia/Evolution definition reference:

      "* explains, and is consisten[sic] with, the vast majority of data"

      The data as I see it are: 1) there are lots of different kinds of creatures on the Earth today. 2) Bones from different kinds have been found and similarities noted. 3) No one has ever demonstrated changing one species into another, either naturally or unnaturally, regardless of skeletal similarities. This evidence does not explain and prove the means by which we have the the many kinds of creatures that surround us.

      * makes predictions about what should occur or what has occured that can be tested

      Okay, I'm open-minded: Turn a duck into a dog by screwing with the duck's DNA.

    35. Re:barcode by mtgarden · · Score: 1

      Before you argue that all Christianity is from the cult of Osiris, please check your facts. You will find that much Catholic doctrine has been drawn from the cults of the world, but that does not mean that all Christians agree or hold that doctrine. I have studied religious history. I have a MA in Bible Interpretation and have studied Hebrew and Greek as well as read many Church Fathers.

      I for one do not agree with the vast majority of Catholic teaching and yes I am a Christian. I am even a Fundamentalist (which is one who holds certain doctrines as foundational or fundamental to faith). That said, I am not a bigot or unwilling to talk reasonably. I only ask that you not equate Catholic teachings with all Christians.

    36. Re:barcode by mwood · · Score: 1

      I don't recall any statement of there being any component of the mark other than the number. Sure, it could be as fancy as a stock certificate, but we aren't told that. What we *are* told sounds more like the beast stamping his "chop" on everything he owns. The whole idea seems to be, "you are not a unique individual anymore."

    37. Re:barcode by HiThere · · Score: 1

      My claim is slightly different. I'm claiming instead that the roots of christianity are traceable to the cult of Osiris. I certainly wouldn't claim that, say the quarrel of transubstantiation vs. consubstantiation was rooted in the various Osirian traditions. Or even various much earlier controversies of note.

      What I'm doing instead is claiming that christianity derives from the essenes, and that their doctrines can be traced back to the cult of Osiris. There are, of course, very large gaps in the evidence, but this is unavoidable given the sparse nature of the record, and the known hostility of the embedding cultures to preserving these facts.

      I suppose, given the gaps in the evidence, that it would be possible to go Jungian, and claim that this is a independant recreation of an inherrent natural tendency, but since this particular cult didn't spontaneously arise all over the world that doesn't seem to me to be a particularly plausible approach.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    38. Re:barcode by mtgarden · · Score: 1

      Nice reply. :-)

      Thank you for not responding in a derrogatory manner as so many do. What specific roots are you addressing? The only one that I am particularly familiar with is the worship of a "Queen of Heaven" who gave birth to a son. This son then marries the mother. (This is actually tracable back to the tower of Bable with Nimrod who actually married his mother the queen. Nimrod and his mother founded the confessional among other things.

      Christianity states that God created the earth in six literal days and that the Son of God was incarnated into human flesh. Man sinned and from that point forward, man needed a redeemer to pay for those sins. Jesus Christ's life began prior to birth, which is why John the Baptist (being six months older) claimed that the "one who came after me is before me" and that he (John) was "unworthy to loose His (Christ) sandle." Christ is God who became a man to redeem men from their sins. After His death, He arose through His own power where He now dwells in Heaven.

      Furthermore, I would argue that since all men were created by God and descended through Noah, then it would make sense for similarities to exist between ancient religions. Each of those religions had the same tradition and teaching. If the cult of Osiris twisted that teaching of truth, it would make sense that thr truth could be seen in their actions.

    39. Re:barcode by Julia+Cameron · · Score: 1
      • But it's OK for me to be one of the jack-booted thugs oppressing and taking advantage of the faithful who are resisting, because Jesus died specifically to forgive me for those sins.

      "Once something's been approved by the Government, it's no longer immoral." -- Rev. Lovejoy

      --
      Julia Cameron
      Oich ù agus hiùraibh éile
    40. Re:barcode by Julia+Cameron · · Score: 1
      • I arrived at creationism using the Sherlock Holmes method: Eliminate the impossible, and whatever's left, however improbable, is the truth. Since evolution is mathematically so remote so as to be impossible I gave up on it. After years of objective and deep academic research that had nothing to do with Bible research. I initially set out to disprove the Bible, but could not unless I abandoned objectivity.

      • As for the final outcome, whether you are correct that the world will continue and man will evolve into some higher species through blind chance, or I am correct in believing the Bible's predictions, only time will tell.

      The Bible. Why the Bible? What about the Navajo belief about creation? What about the sacred creation beliefs of other religions? Why do you believe that after your deciding that evolution is impossible, there can be only one other true explanation for the origin of life, and that is the creation story written in your Bible? That's not at all objective of you.

      Have you considered that there may be some scientific explanation, one that has yet to be discovered, that is neither evolution, nor in the Bible? You seem to want to jump to the Biblical conclusion.

      • And the Bible clearly says that the subconscience is very treacherous and must be carefully monitored and curbed by the conscious mind (James 1:14,15).

      What translation of the Bible do you have that would refer to 'the subconscience' and 'the conscious mind'? James 1:14-15 says:

      • "But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." (NAS)

      • "...but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (NIV)

      • "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." (NKJ)

      • "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (KJV)

      Wise counsel, to be sure. However, I see nothing in that passage that advises parking scientific inquiry at the church door.

      Science isn't temptation. It's damned hard work, and it takes time. No one is claiming that at this point evolution can present all the answers. They're working on it though. In time, they'll get it sorted out.

      The Bible isn't a scientific manual, and it's just silly for people to use it as one. The Bible has far greater value than that, or it would, if people would stop using it as a tool to prove their own prideful ends. I suspect that's why the authors put in those passages about sin, hubris, and 'false prophets'.

      The Qur'an is well worth a read, too.

      --
      Julia Cameron
      Oich ù agus hiùraibh éile
    41. Re:barcode by jaoswald · · Score: 1

      "Christianity" only states that God created the earth in six literal days only if you mean some restricted subset of Christians who believe in the literal truth of the Genesis story.

      Common descent of all humanity through Noah is a laughable idea. It just does not make literal sense on any number of levels, right up there with Joshua calling on God to stop the sun.

      Catholics don't have to believe in such nonsense to be considered faithful Catholics, for instance, and they still call themselves Christian.

    42. Re:barcode by CaptainFrito · · Score: 1
      Actually, all I was responding to was the assertion that evolution was "fact" -- which it clearly is not. This is never meant to become a discussion of who has the correct religion.

      I believe that there is only one true religion because I am monotheistic, and I believe that the one true God has but one way he wishes to be worshiped. My studies show that God has no intention of letting man rule himself indefinitely, and the he will step in and take over. And God dignifies everyone with the choice to be part of that new management or not. Of course I believe I have the correct religion. If I didn't, I'd be a hypocrite. But my religion requires strict abstinence from all forms of man's governments, even in the jutisdictions in which we live. My religion is practiced in all countries of the world (my exact faith) and we all belive identically and worship unitedly. We do not participate in any wars whatsoever and refuse to be violent toward any person for any reason. We are strictly neutral in matters of war, regardless of the stated purpose. We strive to be exactly like our Lord and Exemplar Jesus Christ. And we believe that the entire Bible, Hebrew and Greek scriptures are inspired of God and beneficial for all things. (2 Tim 3:16,17). We live in sharp contrast to the world in general (see 2 Tim 3:1-5).

      Regarding the verses in James, they have reference to the process involved, which includes the subconscious mind, which was asserted by another /.er was absent from the Bible. Here's how it applies: First, information is fed into the mind, intentionally or unintentionally. Then the subconcious chews on it. Next, even forbidden and unwise courses of action can start to seem good if we are not careful (we all rationalize). Then it is acted upon. This is what James was pointing out. Understanding this verse to this depth requires some background that you may be lacking, such as knowing the many Bible accounts dealing with the figurative heart, which is used to represent inner motivation and often beyond conscious thought. James, throughout his letter (book, epistle) makes many references to this implicit treachery of the imperfect human, soi that we may be instructed and learn to avoid falling prey to it.

      To the translations you have quoted, they're all generally accurate, and while they do not all read identically they do all express the point I am making. (Some translations quoted use middle english, others a mix of middle and modern. I prefer interlinears and strictly literal translations myself -- see The Role of Bias and Theology in Bible Translations by Rolf Furuli for a discussion of literal vs paraphrased translations).

      But you make the point that scientific inquiry does not belong at the church door. I agree. The role of science is to discover how things work. The role of religion is to understand God's purpose for mankind (assuming the Christian faith, for instance). And while completely accurate in matters of scientific detail, the Bible is not a science text book. Anyone who has read it and endeavored to understand it knows that. So your implication that I am using it in that way are false.

      As for my Christian beliefs, I have studied the Hebrew and Christain scriptures extensively and have arrived at my own conlusions. I have also studied other religions as well. You are welcome to your own analysis. And, I don't mind making a defense of my faith, but I do stop short of pointlessly arguing.

      My actrivity on this thread began with someone else's loose but incorrect application of the 'mark of the beast' from Revelation chapter 13. It has strayed far from this purpose. I have answered enough challenges now to show any honest-hearted one I am not some blind-faith, unreasonable, fundamentalist kook. But there are those, no matter what is said, will always see these posts negatively and comment pejoratively. See Matthew 12:33-50.

    43. Re:barcode by mtgarden · · Score: 1

      Tis true. Many Christians deny the literal interpretation of Genesis. Please understand that I do not hate Catholics - most of my relatives are active and practicing Catholic and I love them despite my disagreement with their beliefs. If I speak against Catholicism, I am against the teachings not the people.

      But, I ask you to consider two things. First, the great number of scientists who have begun rejecting traditional evolution for Inteligent Design. Many of these refuse to acknowledge the Bible as absolute truth, but they admit that the Earth had to be created. Consider Philip Johnson, who is a lawyer and who rejects a literal 6 day creation. He has several books including Darwin on Trial that disect evolutionary theory. Or consider Behe's Darwin's Black Box . Behe is a Catholic scientist who argues persuasively against evolution without arguing for a specific 6 day creation. Evolution is dying despite what textbooks and the media attempt say. Whether or not one believes in a literal 6 days, it is becoming harder to defend evolution.

      Secondly, when someone rejects the literal nature of Genesis, they reject the foundation of all Scripture. The rest of Scripture bases itself upon the accuracy of Genesis. Even Christ Himself treated the creation account as accurate. To deny Genesis would make Christ less then the omniscient God that He was before, during and after the incarnation. The Apostle Paul argued from the accuracy of Genesis when he wrote about the place of women and men in marriage. Peter referenced the Flood of Noah.

      If you reject Genesis, then you reject the inspiration of all Scripture. Not many Catholics are willing to say that Christ was in error, or that the Apostles who founded the church were mistaken. Some may reject Genesis and hold to the inerrancy of the teachings of Christ. I can debate them, but I will not critcize their point of view. They are people and as such are allowed their own interpretation regardless of what I believe.

      Have a great day.

    44. Re:barcode by jaoswald · · Score: 1

      The point is not about your so-called "scientists," the point is your use of the word "Christian."

      If you maintain that a literal belief in a six-day creation is necessary to be called "Christian," then you are using the word in a very restrictive sense. There are far more people who call *themselves* Christian than you would call Christian.

      Can you clearly answer this question or not:

      QUESTION: Do you have to believe in a literal six-day creation to be Christian?

      Yes or No?

    45. Re:barcode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are a complete moron. Please shoot yourself or remain celibate to prevent propagating such brain damage to your children. Thank you.

    46. Re:barcode by mtgarden · · Score: 1

      For starters, I would not call anyone a "so-called 'scientest'" just because I disagree with them. Some of the authors that I have read are not crack-pots. Read the resume of Russel Humphreys at this site: http://www.icr.org/creationscientists/humphreys.ht ml This is not a "so-called scientist" but a brilliant and well-respected nuculear weapons researcher.

      As far as my use of the word "Christians," the Bible only uses the term for those who have trusted in the work of Christ for their redemption. Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches that salvation is a gift from God that man must accept and that man cannot work to earn. God will never weigh a person's works as a means to enter Heaven. Salvation is given through the name of Christ alone, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy because all of our righteousness is as filthy rags in His sight.

      If a person has met the qulaifications of salvation, then they are a Christian regardless of their interpretation of Genesis 1-11. BUT, I struggle to comprehend how a person who trusted in Christ for their salvation would be unwilling to trust Christ's interpretation of Genesis. I supose it could be so, but I admit that I do not understand that logic. So, no I cannot state dogmatically that a person must believe in 6-day creation to be a Christian.

      I am as narrow as Scripture in my interpretation of "Christian." If you disaprove of my use of Christian, I respectfully ask that you demonstrate from the Bible how it is in error. I will always change my opinion if I err from Scripture. It is my goal to always have my thinking conformed to the teachings of my Savior.

    47. Re:barcode by jaoswald · · Score: 1

      The thing is, all Christians believe they are Christians according to scripture. But many of them still deny the literal six-day creation. Your struggle to comprehend is just a measure of how narrow and closed your method of interpretation is.

      Where you say "narrow as Scripture" you really mean "narrow as my interpretation of Scripture."

      I'm interested where you think Christ himself, during his ministry on Earth, actually said anything about the six-day creation story.

    48. Re:barcode by jaoswald · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure why you keep trying to divert the discussion toward evolution when you are trying to defend a literal six-day creation, but evolution is by no means dying.

      It may be that American society is becoming less and less informed over time; there is no guarantee that societies or humankind can avoid mass ignorance. But that has nothing to do with the actual truth of evolution, which is that it is the only scientific theory consistent with the accumulated evidence of hundreds of thousands of person-years of scientific investigation. The popularity of a belief does not indicate truth. The rejection of evolution is, at its base, a rejection of scientific inquiry as a way of determining truth.

    49. Re:barcode by mtgarden · · Score: 1

      In Matthew 19:4, Christ states, "Haven't you read that He who created them in the beginging made the male and female?" This statement was in the context of divorce, but clearly evidences Christ's literal interpretation of Genesis. In the phrase "made the male and female," He is quoting Genesis 1:27. In the next verse, he recites Genesis 2:24 regarding marriage.

      As far as my "narrow interpretation," instead of just implying that my view is wrong, please demonstrate it biblically. If my explanation of the biblical definition of Christian is in error, show me the verses which prove your case.

    50. Re:barcode by mtgarden · · Score: 1

      I can give my evidence for Creation. The missing link fits the creation theory beautifully. There would not be a link if God created all creatures and commanded each creature to reproduce after its own kind. Secondly, the Grand Canyon is great evidence for a universal flood as well as the dinosaur graveyards (in which many types of dinosaurs are buried and fossilized together). More evidence comes from the complexity of life. It could not be possible for life to be so compmlex unless the Second Law of Thermodynamics was suspended or non-existent. The truth is that evolution is as much a matter of faith as creation. Every evolutionist that I have read or heard about assumes many things. They assume that any facts which disagree with their theory must not be facts. I understand that these men are highly trained and all are intelligent. I will not denegrate them because I believe that they interpret facts incorrectly. How could a bird evolve? How could a dinosaur with thick dense bones and leathery skin, turn into a bird with soft skin, feathers, and an ultra-light bone structure? Consider this short paper on the termite: http://occawlonline.pearsoned.com/bookbind/pubbook s/tfc/medialib/Applications/termites.html and then explain how all three organisms evolved simultaneously since all three are required to support life. Even if one occured, how could a two or more termites have evolved simultaneously to allow for breeding? Even without a missing link, why can't science find entire lines of animals that are crossing the lines? The simple fact is that creationism answers the questions.

      If you prefer a philosphical point of view, then consider this: something has always existed. Matter did not just appear out of nohwere to form a primordial soup. Either matter has always existed or chance has always existed or God has always existed. Something has had to exist to start the universe. God seems to be the reasonable explanation in my mind. Since I do not see chance mutations that are beneficial today and no scientist that I am aware of has ever demonstrated a beneficial chance mutation, I will not believe in an eternal chance. Since it has been demonstrated that life does not spontaneously occur, I will not believe that matter existed and that matter is our mother.

      The fact that the earth is situated perfectly around the sun to prevent us from freezing or boiling seems to demonstrate a grand design and a wise maker. If the moon is moving slowly away from the earth each year as the scientists tell us, then calculations reveal that millions of years ago the moons orbit would have devestated all of life on the earth with tital waves and earthquakes. Only if the earth was young could life have survived the closer orbit of the moon.

      You state that evolution is true. That is your right and choice. Would you be willing to defend your belief? What proof can you offer against these problems for evolution? To many people the statement that "God created it all in six-days" appears to be a cop-out. It is the only statement that fits all of the facts. I do not have every answer. I know this, but I also know that my belief in a literal creation answers more questions than evolution does.

      I am not your enemy, whether or not we disagree. I have appreciated your candid and polite responses. I dislike talking with those who lash out instead of replying intelligently. Your posts (and your grammar) reveal that you are intelligent and that you have an education. Thank you for being a gentleman.

    51. Re:barcode by jaoswald · · Score: 1

      You completely misunderstand the second law of thermodynamics. Your understanding of the geology of the Grand Canyon is laughable. It is great evidence for an ancient earth, not for any fairy tale flood.

      You oversimplify the evolution of birds to create a strawman. It is easy to conceive of intermediate forms between dinosaurs and modern birds; you are apparently comparing huge dinosaurs (dinosaurs weren't all giant Tyrannosaurs and Apatosaurs) with small birds.

      Do you believe God created the dinosaurs? And then made them extinct? Does that sound like an intelligent and benificent designer? Why does an intelligent designer create Mercury and Pluto? Or the billions of other galaxies? Sure seems like a real waste if all creation was meant to produce Abraham and his descendants.

      Your definition of "beneficial chance mutation" is unclear. Do you believe any mutations are not due to chance? Or do you believe there is no such thing as a beneficial mutation? How do you explain drug-resistance in infectious agents? Mutations sure seem to benefit the tuberculosis bacterium. Is this from the recent action of the hand of the Creator? Or evolution by artificial selection acting on random variation?

      You totally ignore the huge problems with a Bible-based creation theory. You apparently think Native Americans, Eskimos, Australian aboriginies, and Polynesians all managed to belong to the same family tree with Noah at the very top. You apparently think all of the millions of insect species in the world somehow survived a global flood a few thousand years ago; presumably in the Ark. Not to mention all the species native to Australia.

    52. Re:barcode by Julia+Cameron · · Score: 1
      As the widow of an Anglican rector, I have loads of background. I did the studies too. The 'subconcious' bit still is a bit over-the-top to my thinking.

      Muslims are monotheists, by the way. But you know that, I suspect.

      • You make the point that scientific inquiry does not belong at the church door. I agree. The role of science is to discover how things work.

      I agree.

      • The role of religion is to understand God's purpose for mankind (assuming the Christian faith, for instance). And while completely accurate in matters of scientific detail, the Bible is not a science text book.

      Accurate? Adam's rib? Silly. You seem to be using the Bible as a textbook. But... believe as you like. That's your right, of course.

      • Anyone who has read it and endeavored to understand it knows that.

      You sound like the Wee Free.

      • So your implication that I am using it in that way are false.

      Then why did you bring in religion into in first place, quoting chapter and verse?

      • Of course I believe I have the correct religion.

      Doesn't everyone? My religion is a personal way for me to worshop God. It has nothing to do with 'correctness'. It's correct for me, just as I imagine being a Roman Catholic is 'correct' for a Roman Catholic. I can't believe that God is that petty that He (or She) cares whether we cross ourselves from right to left, or the other way round... or at all, for that matter.

      • To the translations you have quoted, they're all generally accurate, and while they do not all read identically they do all express the point I am making. (Some translations quoted use middle english, others a mix of middle and modern. I prefer interlinears and strictly literal translations myself -- see The Role of Bias and Theology in Bible Translations by Rolf Furuli for a discussion of literal vs paraphrased translations).

      Here's one translation I'll bet you don't have. It's beautiful, as well as a sound translation. It's well worth having. You'll need to learn Scots though:

      • "For God sae luved the warld at he gied his ae an ane Son, at ilkane at believes in him mayna perish but hae eternal life."
      • John 3:16
        • Lorimer's translation of the New Testment, from the original Greek, intil Scots, published in 1983

      Your denomination, sounds lovely, by the way.

      --
      Julia Cameron
      Oich ù agus hiùraibh éile
    53. Re:barcode by mtgarden · · Score: 1

      Why am I misunderstanding the Second Law of Thermodynamics? Is it because it conflicts with evolution? Evolution requires more order to develop out of lesser order. How is this comaptible with the law that all things tend toward an equilibrium or disorder? I always felt that this was a simpmle law to grasp. I might misunderstand it, but the math that I have seen seems to defend my point of view on this.

      Secondly, I did not suppose that evolutionists claimed that a T-Rex turned into a bird. I recognize that many small dinosaurs existed. But, that still doesn't explain or even come close to proving that a dinosaur could change into a bird (even over several million generations). Wings would have been useless without feathers and a light bone structure. How would a ultra-light bone structure assit a dinosuar? Don't assume that you know what I am thinking.

      I do believe that God created dinosuars and I believe that God allowed them to become extinct. Dinosuars are not people. They do not have souls. Even if God destroyed dinosaurs by choice, and the Bible indicates that they did indeed survive the flood, as creator God owns the dinosuars. He can destroy them at will.

      Here is the crux of the problem. If God exists, then He created. If He created, then He owns. If He owns, then He has the right to destroy or punish as well as reward and bless. If an artist creates a sculpture, the artist has the right to destroy it if He chooses. Who is to tell him that he is wrong to destroy that which he made? Does the artwork have that right? No, it doesn't. Man repells at the idea that they are answerable to a greater being.

      Yes I believe that Eskimoes and aboriginies had one ancestor, but last I checked, the evolutionist agreed. That is falacious argumentation. I also, give those groups credit for the intelligence that they had. They could and did travel accross the oceans. As I recall the iceman found a few years back had maps of the earth from 4-5 thousand years ago. That is the time period that I am discussing. Not hundreds of thousand years ago.

      I agree with you, viruses mutate and become resistant to drugs. The key here is to understand that they do not become new viruses. They only mutate within their own strain. Mutations have never been demonstrated to create a new species.

      You have attacked my beliefs, but where is your proof to defend yourself? My answer is simple, but it is also consitent with facts. Mt. Saint Helens has challenged the beliefs of geologists. In a short 20 years, many formations have been formed that have traditionally been said to require thousands or millions of years. Carbon dating of rock samples at Mt. Saint Helens reveal the new rock to be over two-million years old. Is that accurate fact? Not at all. The rock is less than 25 years old. The list continues and the facts of evolution crumble. I have a rational faith. My faith in God can be substantiated by science and archeology. The Bible has been proven true repeatedly. I have a reasonable faith.

    54. Re:barcode by jaoswald · · Score: 1

      The second law of thermodynamics does not preclude evolution. The law states that CLOSED systems invariably proceed toward states of higher entropy.

      The Earth's biosphere is NOT a closed system. There is this massive energy source called the SUN (perhaps you've heard of it?) which puts lots of energy into the biosphere. Which means that local entropy reduction inside your own body, for instance, every second of every day, is more than balanced by a HUGE entropy increase in the sun.

      The most likely intermediate forms developed feather-like structures *before* flight, and gliding before powered flight. Consider ostriches: they have feathers, but not light bones. As for wings, bats have wings without feathers. And flying squirrels are living examples of how gliding structures can exist and be used for flight without either full blown wings or feathers. Light bones are a benefit to creatures *with flight.*

      Carbon dating cannot be used for rocks. It is for organic material continuously incorporating carbon from the atmosphere. In fact, if you follow what is apparently a link to the issue you bring up, you see that it is argon dating that causes anomalous results.

      Using logical reasoning, and after considering other mechanisms (lab contamination), he concludes the most likely explanation is that excess Ar-40 was present in the rock when it was first solidified.

      However, he neglects to consider one other aspect: because of the long half-life of K-40, the dating procedure cannot be expected to be accurate for samples younger than about 2 million years before present. In fact, the lab he sent the sample had a standard warning to that effect. Plus, there were lots of questionable processing steps before he sent the samples to the lab.

      Meaning the most likely logical chain is:

      1) K-Ar dating is unreliable for samples analysis of Austin's work?

      When do you think the flood happened? While dinosaurs still existed? Do you believe man existed at that time? The point about the Eskimos and aboriginies is that you are presumably claiming a *recent* date for Noah to start the entire human population. How did the Native Americans get to meet Columbus? How did they get to America if they were recently descended from a population begun in the Middle East? Mainstream biologists have genetic and archaeological evidence showing multiple migrations occuring TENS of thousands of years ago, correlating with ice-age migrations of large mammals. Did those wooly mammoths get off the ark? Did opossums and kangaroos? If so, why aren't there any kangaroos or koalas or playtpuses or opossums on the mainland of Asia?

      What "map" are you talking about? Do you have a link? Is it any more than a few ambiguous marks?

      How do you draw the line between "new" and "old" organisms? There is no reason for wild tuberculin to be resistant to new antibiotics. Yet, when conditions change, the organism evolves. No one believes a single mutation can change a dinosaur into a bird. However, multiple mutations eventually add up to significant differences. Do you believe that modern dogs, domesticated pigeons, and agricultural crops are the same species as the wild varieties? Do you think the amazing results that breeding of domestic plants and animals can produce in just a few years have anything to do with possibly large changes that could happen in many millions of years?

    55. Re:barcode by jaoswald · · Score: 1

      Oops, a runaway tag cut off part of the argument.

      The most likely chain is

      1) K-Ar dating is unreliable for samples < 2 MYA
      2) A sample < 2 MYA was submitted for analysis
      3) an unreliable measurement resulted.

      No one claims the rock is 2 MYA. Evolutionists don't continue to claim that the rock is 2 MYA, because it isn't, and there isn't any reliable evidence to suggest there is! You have made only a straw man argument. However, geochronologists do believe K-Ar ages for other samples indicating 18 MYA, and such results AGREE WITH MULTIPLE OTHER METHODS.

      How do you respond to the following analysis Austin's work?

    56. Re:barcode by mtgarden · · Score: 1

      The earth is not a closed system, but the universe is. Eventually you will run to the end of the open system. The second law still applies if you include the entire system in which the aforementioned subsytems are contained.

      So you have given examples of animals that appear to be examples of in-between species (ostrich, squirrel), but what evidence exists to demonstrate how they are in-between?

      Please explain how mutations add up to new creatures. How does a dinosuar become a bird? Why does it become a bird? Why would it develop wings? Why would it switch to a beak? Why would it develop a drilling technique like a woodpecker? Why would a woodpecker develop its special tongue and the special muscles that protect its brain simultaneously? Without the special muscles or padding behind its beak, its attempts to drill into the tree would kill it. What about the termite? You did not answer that. I did not say that I had all the answers or that every attempt by the young earth creationists was always correct. I did say and still have not seen proof that shows evolution to be a better answer.

      I stand corrected on the map of the iceman. I was mistaken with regards to that detail.

      Why can't evolutionists demonstrate a true cross-over animal? What proof is their for evolution?

    57. Re:barcode by jaoswald · · Score: 1

      You still don't understand the second law. The universe may or may not be closed in the thermodynamic sense (because universal expansion may add energy), but that is beside the point. The earth or an organism is just a small part. The second law of thermodynamics does not say anything about these small parts if they are connected to larger parts.

      Are you living and breathing as you read this? Your metabolism is a local decrease in entropy, unless you remember to count all of the chemical inputs and outputs (food, oxygen, carbon dioxide). The second law doesn't say this is impossible. But if I put you in a box without letting *anything* in or out, you will eventually keel over, die, and disintegrate into a less ordered system than you are now. But you aren't in such a box, are you?Yes, eventually, the solar system will not be able to support life. For that reason, don't expect to live more than 10 billion years or so. But you have plenty of thermodynamic room to live a very long life without violating the second law.

      This kind of profound ignorance is what is most frustrating about creationists. Anybody who takes the time to honestly understand thermodynamics would see that the second law does not prohibit the Darwinian theory. Yet, you people keep trotting it out. At some point, one has to believe this kind of ignorance is just a deliberate attempt at self-delusion to avoid having to believe the truth.

      Scientific theories are not meant to make you all warm and comfortable so that you can say "oh, my vision of the universe is both pleasing to my psychological need for a personal God and in accordance with scientific observation." Feeling vaguely uncomfortable about the implications of a theory is not a sign that you will easily be able to find evidence against it. Trying to collect half-baked thermodynamic arguments absolutely and completely destroys the credibility of your claim to be open-minded.

      I don't understand at all what you mean by "cross-over" species. Species form an incredibly dense family tree with lots of branches. At any point in history, there are species that are succeeding, species that are marginal and perhaps are dying out, species that are becoming more specialized in their niches, and species whose niche is disappearing, but are able to find a new niche.

      The most plausible story of the evolution of birds is something like this: dinosaurs developing feather-like scales, and also dinosaurs that begin to develop structures that support gliding behaviors. The idea is that feathers have advantages over scales for thermal regulation. Gliding is obviously useful for quickly getting to food on the ground from a high observation point, or being able to safely escape a heavier predator coming after you in a tree. The order doesn't really matter too much. Once you get gliding dinosaurs, the evolution toward reduced bone density makes sense: lighter gliders can glide further and longer. Then, there is evolution toward powered flight, as the gliders develop body structures that allow for strong flapping.

      My point on the ostrich and the flying squirrel was to show that historical intermediate forms are not at all unimaginable, and, in fact, would look pretty much like animals that exist today. They are not "in-between" anything, except their parents and their children, just as the historical intermediate forms were in-between their parents and their children.

      The fact that you can't make that connection shows to me that you are not interested in giving evolutionary models an honest attempt at understanding. If I try to explain multiplication to a five-year old, and they don't try, they'll give up, and think I'm just making up this stuff. But that doesn't mean multiplication isn't a rigorous theory, it means they haven't had the preparation to understand it. For a five-year old, it is a matter of mental development. At some point, someone who doesn't believe 6 times 9 is 73, and refuses to be convinced, is either mentally damaged, or phobic. If he nonetheles

    58. Re:barcode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I do get what you are saying. However, you would have a totally different opinion if you got pinched (or even were denied lunch! {see other posts}) for something just because of a system like this, worse still you would be even more annoyed if something happened to you by mistake(or a hack) and you were disadvantaged by that!

      I live in the United States of Australia (our future name if trends continue) and I have always respected the Americans for demanding and retaining established formal boundarys for thier privacy, I hope this will not change in the future, because it is always a government who wants to control people that one should avoid the most! Freedom in all things!

    59. Re:barcode by mtgarden · · Score: 1

      Ok. You have laid out a logical progression for dinosaurs to evolve into birds. Does that mean that evolution actually occurred? Just because you have a possible sequence, does not mean that it actually happened.

      Once upon a time, it was assumed that the our Earth was the center of the solar system. They saw the sun and stars rotate overhead and developed a logical theory regarding those facts. They were wrong, though I seriously doubt they intended to be wrong. They assumed that a logical explanation proved their case. When better testing came along, they were proven false. Evolution is the same way. Justs because there is a logical explanation does not equal proof.

      Truth be told, both evolutionists and creationists interpret facts based upon their presuppositions. The evolutionist asks me to believe that a mathematically improbable sequence of events actually occurred to create one animal. Even if I could accept that one evolution, no matter how improbable, actually occurred, it requires a great deal of faith to accept that thousands upon thousands of mathematically improbable mutations occurred in tandem. Further, it requires a great deal of faith to accept that these mutations all interwove themselves into the delecate balance that exists today. What are the probabilities that any one mutation occurred let alone that the billions required for a human? What are the probabilities that all of the mutations required to support the evolution occurred at exactly the right time to support the development of humanity?

      To me, the chances of all of these mutations actually occurring is too great to accept. My faith in God seems more reasonable as well as consistent.

  2. Cutting Class by aonnix · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It should be easier to cut class now. Just give your tag to your buddy, and the school's computers will think your there.

    1. Re:Cutting Class by Repugnant_Shit · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That won't be a problem once the subdermal tags arrive.

    2. Re:Cutting Class by hummassa · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Simple, yet. You just put a tinfoil leave over the subdermal patch and leave the premises. The computer will still think you are inside.

      --
      It's better to be the foot on the boot than the face on the pavement. ~~ tkx Kadin2048
    3. Re:Cutting Class by ultrasonik · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I really don't see any type of implant as being used in the future. Biometrics is comming along too well for that. The school could have just as easily used finger print scanners.

    4. Re:Cutting Class by themaidtricks · · Score: 2, Funny

      Right, and once kids figure out where the tags are, they'll start showing up to school with missing fingers, arms, and legs.

    5. Re:Cutting Class by horrens · · Score: 1

      couldn't you just zap the transmitter?

    6. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I find the parent highly insightful.

      Someone talking about cutting class with the typical you're vs. your mistake.

      Go to school you illiterate brat.

    7. Re:Cutting Class by double-oh+three · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Yeah, but I think the teachers will get suspiscious when there's only one kid in the class with buldging pockets.

      My real problem is what will happen when they get lost. My school instituted mandatory photo ID cards this year and pretty much everyday there's a crowd of 20-100+ teenagers outside the main office waiting for temporary IDs. Personally I havn't worn mine in two weeks and no one has noticed, so~

      I'm also wondering why it would be nessisary to CC the police on who didn't show up in the morning.

      Not to mention the fact that someone could track anyone in the school after they figure out which RFID is theirs. I think that's a much bigger invasion of privacy than having to wear photo IDs. I have no doubt that this will be spreading to other counties and states in the near future so I'm glad I'm graduating next year. Saves me the trouble of explaining why my RFID badge has become a finely ground white powder.

      --
      "For years, I struggled with reality... but I'm happy to say I finally won out over it." -- Elwood P. Dowd
    8. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I skipped school most of the time after fifth grade. Why did I do this? It wasn't because I was stupid. It's because I was picked on. By picked on, I don't mean that people called me names and wouldn't hang out with me.

      See, I was successful in a couple of sports. In fact, I was nationally and internationally successful. I began with both sports when I was five years old and was a national/international champion by the age of eight and for many years after that. So you don't think I"m some goodie-two-shoe brat, I want to point out that I was not into these sports. I hated both of them but my dad was in both sports when he was a kid. He forced me into it agains the threat of beatings. I also received severe beatings when I did not win at a sporting event. This was a significant reason to not ever lose... so except for a couple incidences, I NEVER LOST. Anyway, the point is that I hated the sports I was so good in but was forced into them. And what is a ten year old kid going to do, fight back a 40 year old man?

      The problem is that being so good at these sports made me prime for being picked on and harassed in school by people who didn't understand or were jealous or... whatever. I never talked about my sports in school, because I didn't like the sports. It embarassed me more than anything.

      So back to school . . . As I said, it wasn't a matter of being called names and teased. Yes, that stuff happened. But more, I got into fights. Classmates would gang up on me during recess or lunch - or when the teacher was out of the room. They'd try and kick my ass. I always wound up kicking their asses instead. And, because I kicked their asses, I would be punished or even suspended. Nobody in the school cared that I didn't start the fights. It was only important that I didn't sit there passively and allow myself to be beaten to a bloody pulp. If I'd done that, the other kids would have been punished and I'd have been fine. I guess.

      It was also typical to be attacked by kids who were much older than me. When I was in junior high, I was attacked by four highschool juniors (13 year old being attacked by four 17 and 18 year olds). I was in a fight at least a couple times a month. It got to the point where I just stopped fighting back.

      If I fought back, I would be punished by teachers and school administrators. If I didn't fight back and I got beat up, I would be punished by my dad. When school administrators punished me, it would be along the lines of suspension or detention. When my dad punished me for *not* fighting, I would be punished more along the lines of a belt across my ass, a two-by-two across my back, a hose wrapped around my neck and then him lifting me into the air by it, hanging me in it, or being beat across the face with a cold welding torch.

      As much as I hated getting in trouble in school, being punished for defending myself was preferable to the punishment I'd receive if I was passive.

      So, most of my time in school was spent getting into fights, avoiding fights (I really hated it - nobody wants to be beat up and, because I was kind of a wuss inside, I hated it when I hurt other people, even if they deserved it). When I wasn't in school, I was practicing my sports. Always under the watchful eye of my dad, who was an assistant coach to both teams that I was on for both sports. If I did poorly in practice (I practiced EVERY night and went to competitions EVERY weekend all year long), I was beat on the way home. If I did well, I'd just receive a long lecture, on the way home, about all the things I should have still done better.

      By fifth grade, I got so tired of it that I started skipping school. I didn't cause trouble. I just went to quiet places where I could be alone and learn. I spent all day, while skiping school, in libraries and bookstores and museums, with the occasional trip to the arcade to blow off some steam.

      When highschool came, I thought it would be better. I'd have some of the same people I grew up throughout school life with but also ma

    9. Re:Cutting Class by Crescens · · Score: 1

      Chances are, if you're explaining why it's a ground white powder it wouldn't be to school administrators. :)

    10. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      You just put a tinfoil leave over the subdermal patch and leave the premises.

      And still some people think that tinfoil hats are of no use.

      Tightens his tinfoil hat.

    11. Re:Cutting Class by Dwonis · · Score: 2, Interesting
      (+5, Insightful??)

      Anyway, subdermal tags are no match for an MRI... :-)

    12. Re:Cutting Class by blahlemon · · Score: 1

      Quit crying about rejected stories; you think this is a democracy? Cowboy receiveth and Cowboy taketh away.

      --
      It take more faith to believe in evolution than it takes to believe in God
    13. Re:Cutting Class by Politburo · · Score: 1

      I'm also wondering why it would be nessisary to CC the police on who didn't show up in the morning.

      In many areas, Truancy is a misdemeanor, and as such, is a police matter.

      Although I don't really agree with the rationale, I think the general idea is that if kids aren't in school and aren't sick, then they must be out doing "bad things".

    14. Re:Cutting Class by Twanfox · · Score: 2, Informative
      Not to mention the fact that someone could track anyone in the school after they figure out which RFID is theirs.

      Not necessarily true, depending on the quality of the RFID badge and scanners. Have you ever seen those credit card like cards that companies use for secured access? Ever wondered "How they do that?" RFID. While I'm not a big fan of RFID on everything, carrying a badge with such a tag is commonplace for companies with secured areas. Oddly enough, dispite that, there still isn't a way to put a scanner in a room and actively scan who is where.

    15. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      school's computers will think your there

      ...or you're there... (if you go to English classes)

    16. Re:Cutting Class by karniv0re · · Score: 0

      Where's the "+1 Scary but True" when I need it?

    17. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Subdermal RFID tags don't require the subject to do anything but walk by the transmitter.

      Biometrics will require them to place a finger on a scanner, or look into a camera. Since finger scanners can be fooled now with a wax/plastic copy of a finger print, that leaves retinal scans.

      Biometrics will also cost alot more than using RFID tags.

    18. Re:Cutting Class by jridley · · Score: 1

      Not to mention the fact that someone could track anyone in the school after they figure out which RFID is theirs

      Our company uses the same system they do, at least the reader in the photo looks the same as ours.

      The cards only work from a max of 20cm away. If you put a square of aluminum foil behind the card in the holder, you have to actually rub the card on the reader to get it to work. If you put aluminum foil on both sides (even if it's not totally sealed) it won't read at all even if you rub it around on the reader.

      I did these tests on the big square grey reader they show. It's the most sensitive. We also have some doorjamb readers that are 5 x 10 cm, and even normally you have to get within about 4 cm to get them to read.

      I had the same concerns when our system went in at work, but I don't now think that these cards will be read unless you know it. Or, at least, it's simple to take countermeasures.

    19. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow. What poofter voted the parent offtopic? Reasons for not attending school and how RFID tags would affect such kids is pretty ontopic shit. Get your assses out of your heads moderators.

    20. Re:Cutting Class by Ironsides · · Score: 1

      Remember, By law every minor must atend some form of school until he/she reaches the age of 16. So technicaly if they are under 16 and aren't in school thaty are doing a "bad thing" just by not being in school.

      --
      Fly me to the moon Let me sing among those stars Let me see what spring is like On jupiter and mars
    21. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow man, honestly if I was in your situation, I would of killed your father. Even now, I would kill him and burry him 20 feet deep or make him ocean bound so where far away.

      Your story is not far off from mine, except my father was a drunk, and didn't really spend any time with me, he was always at home drunk. Up until I was in High School I was always the quiet shy type, played little league baseball, pretty much a wuss. I was picked on all the time.

      My freshmen year in high school a student threatened to beat me up after class in front of the teacher. The teacher told me I better defend myself, and that was all he was going to do. I took a baseball bat home with me, and he was waiting for me when I got off the bus. I gave him a concussion, and broke his nose. I really wanted to kill him. His friends scrapped him up and took him to the hospital, the cops came a few hours later and arrested me for assault.

      After that nobody really messed with me till my junior year. I was on the golf team that year, and this kid used to always give me shit because I wasn't as good as him. Him and his friends would get up in my face and tell me they wanted me off the team, and try to push me around. They did that one weekend we were practicing at the course, and I laid him out on the ground and started walking away with my clubs. He got up with a bloody nose and came at me again, so I yanked out my 7 iron, and whacked him one good time in the leg...

      After that I started getting death threats from his friends, so I just stopped going to school. School wasn't worth my life, and I knew the teachers wouldn't do anything about it.

    22. Re:Cutting Class by mforbes · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Where the issue is security, the RFID cards are used to keep doors unlocked unless a card is read to unlock them. This seems to be much more about tracking the comings & goings of students who already belong.

      Kind of interesting, since school security has two main concerns: keeping students where they belong (but with enough flexibility to allow them to leave for doctor's appointments, etc), and keeping out people who don't belong-- the divorced parent who lost custody but is determined to keep their child at any cost, for instance.

      Oh well, it's not like minors have rights in the US, so the schools are pretty much free to do what they want in this regard.

      --

      Allegedly real newspaper headline from 1998:
      Man Struck by Lightning Faces Battery Charge

    23. Re:Cutting Class by jdgeorge · · Score: 1

      The cards only work from a max of 20cm away. If you put a square of aluminum foil behind the card in the holder, you have to actually rub the card on the reader to get it to work. If you put aluminum foil on both sides (even if it's not totally sealed) it won't read at all even if you rub it around on the reader.

      Now you tell me. Just after I used up all my aluminum foil making hats.

    24. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anyone else having issues with placing subdermal tags or recording biometrics of minors? I no some adults have privacy concerns, and minors can't consent and then they might have those privacy concerns when they are older. Then again maybe I'm just paranoid.

    25. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just a guess, offtopic was the closest thing to "-1: I don't believe a fucking word of it".

    26. Re:Cutting Class by Politburo · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I disagree. Laws can be misguided, and as such, breaking the law does not automatically mean you are doing a 'bad thing'.

    27. Re:Cutting Class by kin_korn_karn · · Score: 2, Insightful

      This should help with the offtopic.

      Congratulations on making it out of that situation alive. There is no "right" way to grow up, and you did what you have to do. I admire you, if your story is true (I'm sure you understand why I'm adding that clause, this being the internet and all.)

      I've known many kids that were in your situation, but not necessarily about sports. They invariably turned to drugs and/or burnt out before they finished their freshman year of college.

      You're right about the shootings, too. School shootings happen because the kids are caged animals that have no other option in their mind than to lash out violently. School admin doesn't give a fuck, nor do their parents. Look at Columbine. Look at Jonesboro, AR. Look at Grayson, KY. That was the first in the big wave of shootings in the 90's and it happened at a high school near mine. The kid that was the shooter was one of these kids that I was talking about. I knew him and competed against him in our local academic competition league.

      Such a fucking waste, because adults can't stop using their children to cover up their insecurities and shortcomings.

    28. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But in a civilized society determining whether or not the breaking of a law is a "bad thing" is left to the courts. Informing the police that a crime appears to have been committed is not an inherently evil activity.

    29. Re:Cutting Class by ikkonoishi · · Score: 4, Funny

      And "cutting" class takes on a whole new meaning.

    30. Re:Cutting Class by VertigoAce · · Score: 1

      In the state of Texas, the age is actually 18 (unless you graduate from high school before you turn 18). I don't think the police generally get involved with older drop outs unless they do something else to enter the court system.

    31. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      thats because those are the standard scanners designed to work from that distance, that proves nothigmn aobut the capabilities of a more powerfull detector.

      Build a more expensive and powerfull detector you migth beable to put it in a room and read all
      those who are in the room.

      Don't rule that possiblity out just because you tested with the supplied "weak" scanner

    32. Re:Cutting Class by tf23 · · Score: 1

      adults can't stop using their children to cover up their insecurities and shortcomings.

      Those are people who should never have children.

    33. Re:Cutting Class by quarkscat · · Score: 4, Informative

      (Former?) Ed. Secretary Paige's "success" in
      the Houston, TX educational system was based
      upon faked data. Students that did poorly
      were moved to another school district, while
      the majority of dropouts were never designated
      as such. Lies, damn lies, and statistics.

      His "success" in Houston was the premise for
      Bush's "No Child Left Behind" program, which
      has brought little success but much turmoil
      to school districts across the nation. This
      is largely due to it being a Federal, albeit
      woefully underfunded, mandate.

      RFID tags, particularly implanted RFID tags,
      for students is the wave of the future. And
      when many of these students do drop out of
      school, they will feel equally at home with a
      minimum wage job at their local Wal-Mart, which
      eventually will require their employees to be
      RFID-tagged, along with their stock of WMD
      (Wal-Mart Merchandise Dumping).

      In reality, our calenders should be altered
      to reflect that "1984" was the start of a new
      epoch, rather than just a prescient sci-fi
      novel.

    34. Re:Cutting Class by cayenne8 · · Score: 2, Interesting
      "My school instituted mandatory photo ID cards this year and pretty much everyday there's a crowd of 20-100+ teenagers outside the main office waiting for temporary IDs. Personally I havn't worn mine in two weeks and no one has noticed, so~"

      Wow....school has sure changed since I went (I'm assuming high school). We had a photo id card, but, didn't have to 'wear' it...and frankly, I don't remember ever having to use it for anything after we got it...maybe to check books out of the library or something.

      Do they not have 'open campus' out there anymore? We could drive in...and drive out at lunch to go get something. I think the rule for abscenses was like 15 days per class. You got 15 unexcused absenses from a class...you were dropped from that class, dropped from 3 classes...you were kicked out of school for that semester. Tardies counted for half an abscense. So, most everyone kept a good running record.

      But, sure, we'd cut class somedays...first sunny days of spring, we'd get beer, and hang out down by the river throwing frisbee, etc. Good clean fun, no one got hurt...and most everyone I know not only graduated HS...but, went on to college and are successful in life now.

      We came and went as we pleased back then... sure kids got stoned or drunk on occasion before/during school...but, no one got in serious trouble, and grew up to be just fine.

      Man...I'd hate to be a kid today with all the 'rules' , political correctness, tracking....seems they are taking all the fun out of the 'rights of passage' and being a teenager.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    35. Re:Cutting Class by Torontoman · · Score: 1

      Geez - what is this world coming to. It's a fun game students have always played, and will always play. How to cut class and get away with it is a very important part of being a student. I imagine all the world leaders and CEOs of fortune 500 companies skipped class at some point - it's all part of being a kid/teenager.

    36. Re:Cutting Class by kin_korn_karn · · Score: 1

      Yeah, well, just try stopping them :( The most prolific breeders are those who shouldn't, because they're too stupid to understand the concepts of responsibility.

    37. Re:Cutting Class by double-oh+three · · Score: 1

      Yeah, it's a high school.

      If you have 3 unexcused absenses you get an automatic E(new letter for F) for the quarter and three tardies = one unexcused absense. Open campus is only during lunch and only for seniors, the rest of us have to sneak out(which isn't that hard, but if caught it's a suspension) if we've found the cafeteria food to be the sludge it is (the most annoying part is that my school is in an urban area and good resturants/fast food places are less than 2-3 blocks away so we could walk there and back inside of the 45 minutes we get for lunch.

      My school isn't by far the worst, I do learn and the teachers are mostly good. It's the rules and the plain idiocy of most of them that get to me. I'm fairly positive that I could be punished(detention or meeting with principal probably) for changing my password without permission from the instructional technology person. Why? Because kids forgot their passwords too much and apparently was an annoyance for the IT coordinator.

      --
      "For years, I struggled with reality... but I'm happy to say I finally won out over it." -- Elwood P. Dowd
    38. Re:Cutting Class by bleckywelcky · · Score: 1

      How is this an invasion of privacy? The kids are in a public building using public funds to get a free public education. The administrators have every reason to want to know where every kid in the school is located. Kids should have no expectation of privacy in a public school (except for MAYBE their backpack, but even that is debatable).

      Back when I was in highschool we had 6 or 7 minutes to get from one class to the next and attendance from the first bell to the last bell was mandatory. Attendance was taken in every class, and if a kid was in class during periods 1, 2, and 3; missing during period 4; and then showed back up (or maybe not) for periods 5 and 6, administrators wanted to know what was up. School policy stated that you could only be in the halls during passing time, and anything else required a hall pass. In hindsight the system seemed to work well, although I griped about it while I was there. We only had a few fake bomb threats by some moron who wanted the day off of school and left a note in the bathroom.

    39. Re:Cutting Class by wronskyMan · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Umm... students are required to attend public school unless their parents can pony up for private school/homeschooling, so there is no "well you chose to be here so you agreed to give up your privacy" argument.

      --
      --- You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad- Neal (not Cowboy) Boortz
    40. Re:Cutting Class by double-oh+three · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The counterargument is that we shouldn't be teaching teenagers and kids that they are A. always being monitored and have no privacy, B. that they are not trustworthy and C. acclimating them to both of those so they don't put up so much of a fight for them later. We would be better served by a population that got used to it's rights early and had some sense of what they were and more importantly what they should be.

      And I'm not arguing against keeping kids in class during class, I'm arguing against them tracking us via RFIDs and keeping a very tight leash on us. They treat people in High School like they're in Elementary School with the amount of things they entrust to us. A good number of us are able to make our own decisions at this age and we need more flexibility, not less.

      --
      "For years, I struggled with reality... but I'm happy to say I finally won out over it." -- Elwood P. Dowd
    41. Re:Cutting Class by lamona · · Score: 1

      It's not the card that determines the distance from the reader at which it can be read -- the cards are "passive", which means that they have no juice of their own, they just reflect back to the reader. So a more powerful reader can increase the distance that an RFID tag in the card can be read, although the various frequencies of tags (from 125 kilohertz to 2.45 gigahertz) each have their own distance limits. So it's quite possible that your card could be read from 2-3 feet away if a different reader were being used.

      --
      I just read /. for the amusing .sigs
    42. Re:Cutting Class by chainsaw1 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Actually, that excuse is fading fast. Many people are using thermally sensing contact pads, and there are a coupe vendors that actually analyize the sweat from the fingertip (that's what make the fingerprint) to make sure it's a real finger. Next stop will probably be IR scan of finger to make sure it contains protiens or something else attributable to a real finger.

      The other side is to make the reader part of the equasion too (such as those USB/fingerprint combo drives). This means you keep any latent prints on the reader with you--and you'd need a card just to try to fake out the system in the first place.
      Combine the fingerprint reader card with the rotating key sytem (like those on many dial-in access cards) and you shouldn't have to worry about all the fancy stuff I mentioned above anyway :-)

      --
      - Sig
    43. Re:Cutting Class by cayenne8 · · Score: 1
      "If you have 3 unexcused absenses you get an automatic E(new letter for F) "

      Ok....this is a new one on me...a grade of "E"? Seriously, is this to prevent one's self esteem from being degraded by getting an "F"? Please, say it isn't so......

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    44. Re:Cutting Class by chainsaw1 · · Score: 1

      Right, but RFID will only help track tagged assets. You cannot use RFID to track things that are not tagged. It just becomes a nightmare. You have to have total control over position of everything entering and leaving the system area and the mannor in which it moves, which is near impossible with any untrained users. And if they are untagged, 99.999% of the time they're going to be untrained.

      (Trust me, i've tried)

      The closest you can do in your analogy is look for tags leaving the bldg and assume they're being abducted. It won't stop someone from entering the building and going on a killing spree, stalking, or planning an abduction just outside the school

      --
      - Sig
    45. Re:Cutting Class by analog_line · · Score: 1

      The counterargument is that we shouldn't be teaching teenagers and kids that they are A. always being monitored and have no privacy

      We should be teaching them that they are always being monitored and have no privacy BECAUSE THAT IS TRUE.

      What they do with that knowledge is something else we should be teaching them.

    46. Re:Cutting Class by lowrydr310 · · Score: 1

      I can picture some kid trying to be like Harry Potter using his "magic map" to locate every student in the school.

    47. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The first thing the idea of being able to track people is the scene from Harry Potter, where he has the map showing the location of all the teachers when he is sneaking arround the school.
      Or find the RFID's of your school, VP's and the security guards, and you could make a device to warn you when anyone is coming. This makes school's less safe despite efforts to make them more safe.

    48. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Many people are using thermally sensing contact pads

      Useless if the person has a fever, or was outside with no gloves in cold weather.

      and there are a coupe vendors that actually analyize the sweat from the fingertip (that's what make the fingerprint)

      Actually, it is the OIL on your skin that makes the print, not the sweat. All I'd have to do is wipe the gummybear on my palm to pick up some of my natural oils.

    49. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      if they are under 16 and aren't in school thaty are doing a "bad thing"

      Um, sick days? Class trips? Special programs? Parentally approved absences?

    50. Re:Cutting Class by Pantero+Blanco · · Score: 1

      Sounds like the one I went to, except there was no "open campus" at all. In fact, you couldn't leave the cafeteria (and a small enclosed region outside it) once you entered. Kids would sometimes sneak across the street to eat at Zaxby's, so a tall chain-link fence was put up around the campus and all the outward gates and doors were locked. The only person with a key was an armed cop; if someone had to leave, the people in the office made a call to him. IDs were required if you wanted to eat lunch.

      This was a public high school in a rural county, with no record of higher than normal levels of violence.

    51. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Six to seven minutes! When I was in school we only had three to four minutes and if we missed a class got thrashed within an inch of our lives.

      And we were happy!

    52. Re:Cutting Class by a_n_d_e_r_s · · Score: 1

      Tell me how do this 'school' differ from prison ?

      --
      Just saying it like it are.
    53. Re:Cutting Class by flink · · Score: 1

      (Former?) Ed. Secretary Paige's "success" in
      the Houston, TX educational system was based
      upon faked data. Students that did poorly
      were moved to another school district, while
      the majority of dropouts were never designated
      as such. Lies, damn lies, and statistics.


      Wasn't that the plot to "Pump Up the Volume"?

    54. Re:Cutting Class by LilGuy · · Score: 1

      Yeah.. they'll probably have that DNA scanner out of GATTACA before you know it..

      I'll sure be glad I'm not in school when they start making everyone prick their fingers daily.. there were enough pricks in school as it were.

      --

      You're nothing; like me.
    55. Re:Cutting Class by LilGuy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      On the contrary...

      The wave of the future is simply to abandon the idea of school that was dreamed up during the Industrial Revolution. We now have technology that will allow students to excel way beyond anywhere today's schools can get them.

      The problem seems to be that people don't realize what the problem is. We just need to change how we view the education process and what exactly we are trying to accomplish with it, and then overhaul the system. We don't all need to BE somewhere to learn. Many will, many won't.

      Its almost laughable how badly the government and school districts struggle these days with the money issues, drop out rates, and whatnot.

      I like to compare it to this hypothetical (however unlikely) situation : all the major car companies in the world trying to come up with a hydrogen to diesel to unleaded gas engine, instead of just starting anew and creating a hydrogen gas engine.

      --

      You're nothing; like me.
    56. Re:Cutting Class by Ironsides · · Score: 1

      Ok, so there are a couple of exceptions. But playing hookie isn't one of them.

      --
      Fly me to the moon Let me sing among those stars Let me see what spring is like On jupiter and mars
    57. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Great news for the biology nerd who happens to be good with a scalpel.

      Nerd: Hey there Butch.
      Bullie: Cut out my chip or I'll make you life hell.

    58. Re:Cutting Class by jp10558 · · Score: 1

      Actually, the college I go to has a failing grade of E, simply to differentiate between failing a class you take for a grade, and failing a class you take Pass/Fail.

      --
      Opera, Proxomitron-Grypen,GPG 0x0A1C6EE3
    59. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ten years in school doesn't make you look like this

    60. Re:Cutting Class by LWATCDR · · Score: 1

      "Although I don't really agree with the rationale, I think the general idea is that if kids aren't in school and aren't sick, then they must be out doing "bad things"."
      Well in all honesty they are. They are not getting an education. However the truancy laws had other fucntions such as to control child labor. While it does not happen in the US much anymore there was a time when children where forced to work. Making it manditory for them to be in school was one of the methodes to control that.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    61. Re:Cutting Class by Belial6 · · Score: 1

      I don't know about the rest of you, but every elementary school I went to would let you "go home for lunch" with a simple note from your parents. It is sad to think that my child at 18 will have less flexability, responsibility, and trust than I did at 8.

    62. Re:Cutting Class by HiThere · · Score: 1

      Not by *my* definition of "civilized society". By my definition a civilized society has laws that enable people to live and work together.

      To this end it must, e.g., "provide for the common defense", etc. This doesn't give anyone the right to tell me what is right and what is wrong. Certainly not without a sufficiently justified argument.

      Power, however, is something else. When controls becomes centralized those managing it gain the power to do much beyond what they were given the control in order to accomplish. (And frequently they also aren't given sufficient power to do the job they were hired to do. An interesting contrase.) And to me this is an argument AGAINST centralizing power. It *DEFINITELY* isn't an argument that when control is abused it is our duty to follow it, as you seem to be asserting. (If you want to argue that "they haven't yet abused it" I will argue that to institute a system with such potentials for abuse is itself an abuse of power.)

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    63. Re:Cutting Class by Eccles · · Score: 1

      Ok....this is a new one on me...a grade of "E"?

      Maryland's school system has used E instead of F since at least the late 70's.

      --
      Ooh, a sarcasm detector. Oh, that's a real useful invention.
    64. Re:Cutting Class by 87C751 · · Score: 1
      We now have technology that will allow students to excel way beyond anywhere today's schools can get them.
      You apparently accept the Upton Sinclair viewpoint of education. H. L. Mencken had another opinion:
      The state maintains its control of elementary education, not primarily to reduce illiteracy and turn the eyes of the plain people toward the stars, but to make sure that they are not taught anything that is subversive. Public education is thus a police measure. The goal it moves toward is perfect standardization, perfect discipline, perfect imbecility.
      And that was 80 years ago that Mencken said that. The more things change...
      --
      Mail? Put "slashdot" in the subject to pass the spam filters.
    65. Re:Cutting Class by whittrash · · Score: 1

      I can see the NSA administering this stuff, but the school needs a very simple and reliable information system or the administration by the building maintanance guy, who is more skilled at mowing the lawn and fixing the irrigation system, will fail. If the failure rate is high enough you can game the system, you can damage your RFID tag and say, 'look I broke it, see it doesn't work, BTW I have a perfect attendance record. You then talk to your Mom, and she will yell at the admin and the principle, and they will get sick of it and turn the damn thing off. Unless you have a guy with an HK5 and body armor to check people in, NSA tech geeks and a huge IT budget this will fail as an all encompassing system. Although, I have to say it would make going through the lunch line quick and easy.

    66. Re:Cutting Class by Tassach · · Score: 1
      [...]actually analyize the sweat from the fingertip (that's what make the fingerprint) to make sure it's a real finger
      Big hairy deal. So now, as well as a gelatin mold of someone's fingerprints, you also need some salt water to spoof the sensor.
      --
      Why is it that the proponents of "one nation under God" are so eager to get rid of "liberty and justice for all"?
    67. Re:Cutting Class by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      Any insight why an E vs the traditional F? Any reason given for this?

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    68. Re:Cutting Class by Oligonicella · · Score: 1

      "And that was 80 years ago that Mencken said that."

      Thus proving that there were paranoids 80 years ago.

    69. Re:Cutting Class by name773 · · Score: 1

      the school i go to still uses the abcdf system. we have photo id's if we want to use a computer independantly or check out books. if you're marked absent, they give you a slip of paper saying so, and if you get it signed by a teacher saying you were there, they let it slide. nice system, i think. each teacher deals with tardies differently, most give you one free tardy, after that detention. i don't know what unexcused absences do though... i think they call your parents and maybe a detention or something if your parents say you were supposed to be there.
      at lunch, they have teachers at the indoor cafeteria exits, asking for passes, and on the outside, they have a teacher drive a van around and make sure nobody leaves. we are allowed to go out on a large grassy area to play hacky-sack, frisbee, and eat. i think it's fine, although their "zero tolerance" policies are kind of irritating. fighting and drugs/alcohol are _not_ tolerated, and there are some pretty big consequences, i think. i don't know what they are, i threw away the handbook... :) oh, and cheating goes on your permanent record, besides getting an F on the assignment/test.
      how strictly the rules are enforced varies from teacher to teacher, they're typically not as bad as the suggested method, in my experience. and despite the lecture on "be more friendly to your peers", there has been no zero tolerance policy on intolerance.

    70. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's interesting about that?

    71. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is true, and reflected in our judicial system. All of the jurors on a jury have the power of judicial review... That means that not only are they trying a defendent, but they are trying the law under which he may or may not be judged.

      Technically, someone could not be convicted of a crime which they actually did commit, as long as the jurors found in favor of it. Unfortunately, just as is the case with mandatory sentencing laws, it is illegal for the judge to inform the jurors of this prior to passing judgement.

    72. Re:Cutting Class by Anubis350 · · Score: 1

      wow, my HS (which I graduated from last year) was so much open than all these schools I'm reading about. "open campus" was all the time (god, caffeteria food was for when I had 2 mins before class and no time to grab food outside). My friends an I very often ran all over the city (NYC) to get lunch. When we didnt have class we had frees, which meant the school had no claim on our time during that period (we could go out, home, someone elses house, whatever). As for lates.... I dont think I was on time to a first period class since 2nd semester freshman year. In many ways it was more like college than the HS I hear about from other people.

      --
      "goodbye and hello, as always" ~Prince Corwin, from Zelazny's Amber series
    73. Re:Cutting Class by double-oh+three · · Score: 1

      A B C D E F. I think it bothered the english teachers.

      --
      "For years, I struggled with reality... but I'm happy to say I finally won out over it." -- Elwood P. Dowd
    74. Re:Cutting Class by SacredNaCl · · Score: 1

      I see it as "education" to accept any form of totalitarianism starting with the most vulnerable - kids, prison inmates, those in the military, shortly to be followed by the mentally ill and everyone else. Yet another sad day, but they will be trained through things like this to accept it...

      --
      Freedom is merely privilege extended unless enjoyed by one and all.
    75. Re:Cutting Class by Skrybe · · Score: 1

      Be interesting to see the kids all unionize and dump every single RFID though. What does the school do when every single student refuses to use them? If only one or two kids do it they can be punished but how do they punish every student.

    76. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Playing hooky from school, is in no way a "bad thing". Nor is it a "good thing". All it is is not going to school. What that time is used for can be what we call good or bad or even neutral. What this all amounts to is control. We control our children, and as parent's, we should to a large extent, and then less and less as our children learn to make their own decisions. If by 16, a child cannot make a decision, that is a bad thing in my opinion. If my child were to cut class, I wouldn't even mention it. If my child were to be showing signs of extreme stress and cutting class, I would talk to then about it as there as signs that there may be bigger problems a foot.

      I do not agree that the police have the right to know where my children are. Parents should have the privilege to know, and that comes from raising our children to think, and to trust us. The key is guidance, and not control. We live in a world where we think intimidation is the way to foster obedience. I used to be taught to stand up to bullies. I still believe that to be the way to go.

    77. Re:Cutting Class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      heh. just remember that, if those tags are enforced by the government, tinfoil is going to be outlawed.

      people at slashdot, did you hear it? all forms of tinfoil will be outlawed!!!!!. How can this ban be enforced? Metal detectors! The technology is already here!

    78. Re:Cutting Class by bleckywelcky · · Score: 1

      But you are at school to learn, to get an education. You are not at school to mess around with your friends, to skip class and do whatever you want. If you want to mess around, do it after school. Remember, minors do not have the same set of rights that adults do. The only priveleges that minors have are those that their parents choose to give them. I am sure 99% of the parents out there would have no problem with the school administrators tracking the location of every kid in the school. And that is the only voice that matters; the student's voice doesn't matter; non-parents' voices do not matter. Outside of the school is something else, and I don't agree with that; but in school students have a job to do, and parents and administrators should be able to ensure that the job gets done.

    79. Re:Cutting Class by pedrop357 · · Score: 1

      "non-parents' voices do not matter."

      Until they are no longer required to pay taxes for other people's kids education, their voices do most certainly matter.

  3. Insanity by david_594 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If I were still in High School I think i would be scared of this. RFID technology seems great for tracking shippments and such, but to track students like this seem pretty insane.

    1. Re:Insanity by jokumuu · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Well, the thing is, actually tracking anything is with this technology is the scary part. The actual use by a school is just the tip of the iceberg. I am sure that in future every person will be tracked "for their safety". I think that some small town will probably go for something like this at some point "to fight crime"

    2. Re:Insanity by lachlan76 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Being in high school now, I'd have to agree with you.

      You have no idea how fucked up your country looks from down under.

    3. Re:Insanity by tomstdenis · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The bigger problem I see is you can't really force discipline and respect on children anyways. I mean you can show them how their actions have consequences and all but if the child doesn't take it upon themselves to straighten up there isn't much you can.

      For instance, a couple of years ago [ok so roughly 8 or so] the high school I went to started a "10 missed classes and you're suspended". Did that stop skipping? Did that make the students more respectful of the teachers and their peers [specially in grade 9, the first year of high school for us...]? Hell no.

      By contrast the "advanced stream" [basically get >60% in advanced courses] I was in was mostly populated with students who behaved themselves, got through the lectures and participated in class. We chose to act like adults we weren't forced to do so.

      So left to their own devices most children would come around on their own. The ones who don't want to can live exciting lives with a grade 10 education.

      So all this RFID thing is going todo is breed more contempt for "authority" on the part of the students who in my mind are already a bunch of punkagers anyways.

      As for "privacy" concerns... um there are none. You're in PUBLIC while at a PUBLIC SCHOOL. So long as the RFID tag is encrypted or something [e.g. not plaintext stored on it] and it's easy to stow when not on campus I don't see the huge security concern.

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    4. Re:Insanity by RangerRick98 · · Score: 1

      Hey! Just because our water swirls the other way down the drain.... :P

      --
      "You're older than you've ever been, and now you're even older."
    5. Re:Insanity by Grym · · Score: 4, Insightful

      So left to their own devices most children would come around on their own. The ones who don't want to can live exciting lives with a grade 10 education.

      But you do realize that, in this wonderful democracy of ours, their vote will count just as much--maybe more if they're in Ohio--as yours, right? Will you be so flippant with regard to their education and "exciting lives" when you have to pay more in taxes to help pay for their welfare check and/or jail term?

      My point is, our children, including the "dumb" ones, matter. Our FUTURE matters. Children are affected by not only by what we say but also what we do. If we set forth an example that it's OKAY for the authorities to monitor your every movement for our children now, how much easier do you think it will be able to convince them unwarranted searches are similarly okay in the future?

      -Grym

    6. Re:Insanity by calethix · · Score: 1

      If you were in high school? I'm well past that (graduated from college a few years ago) and this still bothers me. I don't like the idea of tracking people like cattle.

      When we were implementing a time clock system here at work a while back, I remember some manager over the facilities people wanted updates to the minute. The idea behind it was so that could track employees to some extent and be alerted if one of the facilities people was injured somewhere and didn't come back on time.

      I could see an initiative to track employees start out with good intentions such as that and then end up being abused.

    7. Re:Insanity by Wolfger · · Score: 1

      Yes I do. Because it looks that way from within, as well.

    8. Re:Insanity by utexaspunk · · Score: 1

      You have no idea how fucked up your country looks from down under

      something just doesn't sound right about that...

    9. Re:Insanity by tomstdenis · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I'll let you in on a little tip. Until your 18 in Canada [at least] you're not actually allowed [by law] to skip classes. The school is responsible for your well being during the day and if you go missing it's them who get looked at [at least initially].

      Ever hear the saying "you can show a horse the water but you can't make him drink?" that's not just clever it's also what the christian right would call "divine". While I'm not a religious type I do swing for "choice".

      It's upto the 14 year old kid to *choose* to act responsibly. It's one thing to show them what responsibility is but it's another for them to actually follow it.

      It's because of people like you that I sit in a college where "easy tests" is a good thing. The students don't actually think of learning as a good thing. It's just something they were told they have to do. So in the end even with college grads we end up with [on average from what I've seen] really stupid, unmotivated greedy induhviduals.

      I still routinely get the "why do you write free software when charging for it can make money" bit from people ranging from students to 52 year old retired HP engineers.

      Hardly anyone does anything [particularly in academia] for the simple pleasure of doing a good job, learning something new and giving back to the community.

      You say "we are doomed if we let the children fail" and I'm saying we're already doomed.

      As for the "unwarranted searches" um well again it's public property. "Your" locker is actually "their" locker. "Your" safety is everyones safety.

      Of course I speak as someone who finished high school without metal detectors on the doors...

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    10. Re:Insanity by Ioldanach · · Score: 1
      I see no problem what so ever using this kind of technology with kids.

      But using the technology also initiates children to the idea that its perfectly normal for an authority to monitor their every movement, so 10 years down the line, when tags like this are required for government business or even just your time tracking, there will be no questions asked.

      Its the implication that what I consider my right to privacy is slowly eroding away in the face of advancing technology.

    11. Re:Insanity by Cafemeister · · Score: 1

      I have to agree. Getting people to accept this kind of tracking technology at such a young age may make it more difficult for them to deal with fighting it later (or for them to realize that they should). It should not become the status-quo that the "authorities" in one's life (aside from one's parents) be able to track them with such ease. What sense of a right to privacy do you think these children will obtain under this circumstance? What is potential gain of this system? and is that potential gain worth what is being sacrificed?

    12. Re:Insanity by Dashing+Leech · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Will you be so flippant with regard to their education and "exciting lives" when you have to pay more in taxes to help pay for their welfare check and/or jail term?

      That's not really a sound argument. The same could be said for anything we do that ends up costing tax payers money. People with bigger cars do more damage to the road. People who eat poorly require more medical attention (more hospitals, more medicare -- and in Canada health care is a direct drain on taxes). Are you saying we should regulate every individual's behaviour if it is going to affect the amount of taxes. Is that consistent with the concept of a free country?

    13. Re:Insanity by AK+Marc · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Well, the thing is, actually tracking anything is with this technology is the scary part.

      It is insane to use RFIDs to track runners in a marathon? This has been done for over 10 years. It makes for a greatly reduced error rate for time reporting. It is cheaper than hiring people to sit at the finish line to record times. It allows immediate results tied to a person. If anything is insane, it is a person with an irrational fear of non-contact tags. They have been used for over 20 years in various implementations and have a near zero rate of illegal duplication, an absolute zero (from the information I have or even the worst posted about them here) rate of misuse of the types of misuses discussed here, and they are effective.

      You haven't expressed a problem with this or any other implementation, but any use of it whatsoever. So my question is, why do you fear a technology itself?

    14. Re:Insanity by mwood · · Score: 1

      What you need is clear rules dividing proper and improper uses of personal location information, and realistic penalties invokable by someone whose information has been used improperly. Then watch forever to make sure the rules aren't changed in an unacceptable manner. Really it's pretty much like any other aspect of being a member of a society.

    15. Re:Insanity by rpj1288 · · Score: 1

      Oh, I have a pretty good idea. We're blindly driving ourselves down a cliff. But there are a few bright spots, especially near Illinois.

      --
      Marvin knew: "Think of a number, any number..."
    16. Re:Insanity by DZign · · Score: 2, Insightful

      and have a near zero rate of illegal duplication, an absolute zero rate of misuse of the types of misuses discussed here, and they are effective.

      And why is there a near-zero rate up to now ?
      Because up they were used in such specific situations where usually nobody could have personal gain from misusing them.

      Once the technology gets more widespread, people may have valid reasons to crack or misuse the system and will find a way around it.

    17. Re:Insanity by Ba3r · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Its hard to seperate government regulation and a free country.

      With less regulation it is more difficult to maintain an orderly society , which consequently puts limits on how much an individual can do because of the massive effort that is needed just to deal with the entropy of daily life.

      A heavily regulated society will provide a baseline of order so that citizens can ignore the basics of day to day life, and concentrate on more complex things. But too much regulation makes a very rapid switch from freedom to oppression.

      An analogy: Given a roadway: without order it would be impossible to go fast, as you would not be able to interpret where people would go. Conversly, with a very orderly system you can make assumptions that people will stop at stop signs, stay in their lanes, and generally follow the traffic patterns. For concrete examples (from my own experience) look at the difference between the Autobahn in Germany, where going 145mph is a common occurence (albeit pushing the limit), as opposed to going 70mph on an Indian highway, which is tempting fate as you dodge ox-carts, absent minded cows (Holy Cow!), flipped-over trucks, and people driving on the wrong side of the road because their lane was blocked by one of the above.

    18. Re:Insanity by jokumuu · · Score: 1
      I do not fear Technology. On the contrary, I am of those people who like new technology.

      But there are many cases where the actual use of the technology is wrong.

      To put it shortly, it is not the fact that you use RFID to track runners on a marathon that is scary. I mean they can just toss the thing immediately after the run. It is when technologies like this are used to track people in sutuations where they have no practical opportunity to say no, that scares me.

      I see next step to be a town adapting this, by majority vote. Thus everyone who is against it is obviously a criminal. Next step is a nation. Next step is 1984.

    19. Re:Insanity by kabocox · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If we set forth an example that it's OKAY for the authorities to monitor your every movement for our children now, how much easier do you think it will be able to convince them unwarranted searches are similarly okay in the future?

      School childern are already trained not to put up a fuss about school wide locker searches or searching of persons. Now they are being taught that have any concealing containers on you is wrong. How much longer until all school clothing is see through for a security measure?

    20. Re:Insanity by Rasvar · · Score: 2, Interesting

      But using the technology also initiates children to the idea that its perfectly normal for an authority to monitor their every movement, so 10 years down the line, when tags like this are required for government business or even just your time tracking, there will be no questions asked

      Where is this different from taking attendence? This is just an electronic way of doing it. Doing it on the bus is just another cover for the schools in our lawyer/litigation happy society.

      As long as these are only on busses or at the entrances to schools, I have no problem with them. If they are used for internal tracking, that is going a bit overboard.

      This is a reasonable use of the technology.

      I am not trolling on this as some clodhoppers think by the moderation. The legal enviroment has created this morass. However, you know what? My office has the same system. I can not get into the building without my electronic pass key. My company does not go as far as to use it as a time clock. However, what is the difference between this and punching a card in a time clock? It is just a newer version of the technology.

      As far as the idea that this will lead to "embedded chips", that is something that will lead to a huge fight. There are fights worth fighting. This is not one of them.

    21. Re:Insanity by chialea · · Score: 2, Interesting

      >It's because of people like you that I sit in a college where "easy tests" is a good thing.

      *cough*

      I thought "easy tests" were a good thing. on the other hand, that was becasue I thought preparing for tests wa a waste of time. if I can't walk in an do very well, I don't know the material well enough, or the test is badly written.

      example: multivariate calculus. 6-problem exams, where each problem was quite trivial if you knew the material and pretty much impossible if you didn't. now that is a good test. it's also an easy test, assuming you're where you need to be on the material.

      > Hardly anyone does anything [particularly in academia] for the simple pleasure of doing a good job, learning something new and giving back to the community.

      well, I am in academia, but I'd have to say that pretty much anyone in academia does it because they're highly motivated, since grad school can be pretty miserable and demanding. (perhaps we have different definitions of academia. I'm thinking grad students and profs, basically) what you're citing as a rate event I'd have to say is the norm. sure, publishing a paper helps me out, since it makes getting a job easier, and I want to get people to pay me. however, the reason I want people to pay me is so I can do interesting things, learn interesting things, and teach interesting things. it's incredibly fun to go to someone with something new and interesting you did and say "look! cool!"

      Lea

    22. Re:Insanity by tomstdenis · · Score: 1

      There is a difference between a test which you prepared for [by attending class, doing labs, etc] and you found easy and a test purposefully dumbed down as to ensure the vast majority of the class passes.

      I mean when I went from high school to college [well it's community college] I actually bumped my average from 65% to around 90% for the first three semesters. It was so ridiculously beneath myself that I simply lost interest [and hence my downward spiral after fourth semester].

      In high school I never walked into a test [outside of computer science] thinking "in and out in 15 mins or the next one's free!".

      I literally recently wrote a communication midterm in 18 minutes [you're given an hour] and I scored around 15% above the class average!!! And I haven't studied for a class since my O.A.C year in high school!

      As for your schooling it sounds like your exactly not the type I'm talking about. You should hang out with undergrads or community college students and ask them "hey anyone here want to dedicate thousands of hours to a cool open source project, take flames from asshats, compliments from users and not get paid a dime for it?". ... ;-o

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    23. Re:Insanity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You have no idea how fucked up your country looks from down under.

      I'm not so sure that you should be breathing a sigh of relief. Firstly, Australia sticks its head up the US's ass even more the the UK. Secondly, Australia has the "let's follow the yanks" syndrome on many accounts... have you checked to see who YOU guys just elected recently?

    24. Re:Insanity by HeghmoH · · Score: 2, Insightful

      There is a huge difference between a marathon and a school.

      The participants in a marathon are all consenting adults. They are able to refuse to participate. The students in a school are children who have no choice about attending.

      RFID is different from all previous forms of identification because it's the only one which can be reliably read from a distance without your consent. Remember that the short range of these devices is simply due to the power and sensitivity of the detector. Bluetooth isn't supposed to work from the next room down, but people have made it work over more than a kilometer away. Forcing people (not to mention children!) to carry identifying information that can be read involuntarily from a distance is evil. I'm not normally a tin-foil hatter, but I'm already thinking about countermeasures to use when my passport expires in seven years and I get a shiny new one with an RFID tag in it.

      --
      Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
    25. Re:Insanity by newend · · Score: 1

      I've never actually ran in a Marathon, but I'm sure if I wanted to, but didn't want to have the tag I could. I'd just sacrifice being able to know my time at each check point. That is, unless I bought a watch with a lap timer... I must say though, some friends of my families did a marathon, and it was pretty cool being able to see where they were on the course from a website. The key to this is the concent a person must give to be tracked.

    26. Re:Insanity by Moderatbastard · · Score: 1
      actually tracking anything is with this technology is the scary part
      It's insightful to have nightmares about buying something by mail order, and FedEx knowing where the holy heck your parcel is?

      I think not. Kindly metamoderate accordingly.

      --
      1/3 of jokes get modded OT. If you get the joke, mod 1 in 3 insightful/interesting/underrated to restore karma balance.
    27. Re:Insanity by Frobnicator · · Score: 2, Insightful
      I agree with your comments about kids NOT consenting. As their parent, I wouldn't consent to my kids being tracked, and having their info sent to the police.

      Just like I wouldn't consent to my boss installing a tracker for when I arrive at work. Although they already use electronic door keycards to unlock the outside door, usually enough people arrive at the same time that only one or two people get scanned for the large group. And there's always people who forgot their cards and nobody knows.

      I'm not normally a tin-foil hatter, but I'm already thinking about countermeasures to use when my passport expires in seven years and I get a shiny new one with an RFID tag in it.
      Put it in the microwave.
      --
      //TODO: Think of witty sig statement
    28. Re:Insanity by HeghmoH · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure how microwaving it will help. I don't think a half-burned passport will get me through any borders, and if I don't care about that then I can simply not renew my passport at all.

      --
      Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
    29. Re:Insanity by theboy24 · · Score: 1

      Quote: The students don't actually think of learning as a good thing. It's just something they were told they have to do. So in the end even with college grads we end up with [on average from what I've seen] really stupid, unmotivated greedy induhviduals.

      I really think that you have hit on a good point. A large part of the the problem in American Education is that Students are expected to act responsibly and make decisions for themsleves but are given very little chance to actually do that. Requirements in most schools are set up as to do most, if not all of the curriculum selection for the student.

      Also, if you are trying to teach a person responisbility, but you keep that person under lockdown and try to make every important decision that relates to them and their schooling, then you are not giving them a chance to act responsibility on their own. People are unmotivated and lost because they have had nearly their entire life scholastically, and behaviorially dictated to them .
      My solution? I think that High school should function more like college, You should have basic requirements but give students a freer hand in determining their education. Also let them set their own time schedule for the day. It would mean that some need more advising, but it would let students have a better unerstanding of why they are in school, and give them a more enjoyable time doing it. If they dont come to class then they accept the consequenses for it, they do poorly in class or fail.

      If schools are going to contiue to be treated as day care facilities, is it any surprise that the people in the schools get as much out of it as being in day care?

      --
      I must bid you farewell....... "walks out amid the gunfire"
    30. Re:Insanity by judo_badger · · Score: 1

      "I'll let you in on a little tip. Until your 18 in Canada [at least] you're not actually allowed [by law] to skip classes. The school is responsible for your well being during the day and if you go missing it's them who get looked at [at least initially]."

      I don't know what part of Canada you're from, but here ( BC ) you can leave school at age 16.

    31. Re:Insanity by Frobnicator · · Score: 1

      It only burnt the money because they had a whole stack of it. Usually RFID chips just have a single spark, or a flash of light, or something not really noticible as they short out.

      --
      //TODO: Think of witty sig statement
    32. Re:Insanity by twiddlingbits · · Score: 1

      Insightful? You gotta be kidding? When you are on PUBLIC property, such as a school you right to privacy (which is actually never stated explictly in the US Constitution) is very limited. That horse has been beat to death by the courts. Yes, having concealing containers is a concern. There has to be some suspicion the container has something illegal inside. That's the normal way it is handled in fact, you are just being alarmist. At many schools students already pass thru metal detectors to prevent guns and knives from entering school. Or is it OK to bring those into school since other wise is violating your rights? See thru clothing for skrool kids? Sure you aren't a pedophile? Remember, the FBI reads /.!!!!! ;)

    33. Re:Insanity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As a hormone-driven highschool student... I'm ok with that!

    34. Re:Insanity by tomstdenis · · Score: 1

      You have to actually drop out of school though. If you are enrolled in classes you are expected to be actually in the class. In Ontario [where I'm from at least] once you hit 18 you're safety is your own responsibility.

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    35. Re:Insanity by kurzweilfreak · · Score: 1

      How much longer until all school clothing is see through for a security measure?

      I don't think I would've minded that in high school. We had some hottie cheerleaders and danceteam members.
      Is there a mod for +1 Perv? =P

      --

      kurzweil_freak

      5th Kyu Genbukan Ninpo/KJJR student

      Be the darkness that allows the light to shine.

    36. Re:Insanity by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 1
      In between you have America, where you have to be driving 70 because "that's what everyone else is doing." I'm not kidding. At least on average.

      In truth you are always stuck in a balancing act between a old fart with his cruise control set to 45 in front of you, in the left lane, a truck that does 120 mph down hill but is so overloaded he's back to 45 up hill, and speed demons who, no matter what speed you are traveling, insist on riding so close they could clean their teeth in your rear view mirror.

      "Order" only seems to arrive on an open road in the middle of the night, when a cop catches you for going over the posted limit after the speed drops 20 mph at a state line.

      --
      "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
      --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
    37. Re:Insanity by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 1

      I'm glad I wasn't the only one thinking that.

      --
      "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
      --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
    38. Re:Insanity by DM9290 · · Score: 1

      As for "privacy" concerns... um there are none. You're in PUBLIC while at a PUBLIC SCHOOL.

      Being in PUBLIC does not waive your rights as a human being.

      Do you believe that teachers have the right to rape and murder their students, or take away their lunch money (but only while at Public school)?

      The right to privacy did not suddenly begin to exist when we started to demarcate the earth into plots of land and assign ownership.

      The right to "privacy" is a fundamental human right. It is not contingent on your private property.

      You would seem to believe that you have MORE right to own a tract of land, than you have over your own body.

      Your position that privacy rights do not exist in "public" is the same as taking the position that privacy rights do not exist at all. The vast majority of the human race owns NO PROPERTY and would thus be infringed.

      You don't need to PAY anyone for the exclusive right to monitor and supervise your own person.

      The only right you implicitly waive in a public area is the right to be noticed and seen by other people in that area (because they can't but help notice and see what is going on around them), so you can't possibly reasonably expect them to not notice and see you.

      However there is also an implied exhange occuring. You can see and notice anyone else who is also present in that public area. This is fair.

      Once you introduce security camera's and one way mirrors into the mix, you change the equation.
      But we didn't automatically agree to such monitoring by virtue of the place being labeled "PUBLIC". Every place is morally public in respect of other people who are present in the same location.

      The mere existence of surveilance technology does not make its usage moral. (any more than does the mere existance of military technology make it moral for me to kill people with it).

      The "owner" of the land DOES NOT dictate what human rights people have.

      If you follow me around without my consent, I would feel personally assaulted by you. I am no less assaulted because you do it with hidden cameras or tracking devices. And I am no less assaulted if you do it on PUBLIC property or in a shopping mall. You don't have a right to follow me around. And I do have a right to be left alone.

      I would appreciate it, if you want to surrender your rights you don't presume to surrender mine as well.

      --
      No one has a right to their *own* opinion. They have a right to the TRUTH.
    39. Re:Insanity by necro2607 · · Score: 1

      I'll "fight crime" with the full size machete I bought last night for $10 from the local thrift shop, if neccesary... no one's putting a damned thing on me for my "safety".. fuck that.

    40. Re:Insanity by sadler121 · · Score: 1

      ...to track students like this seem pretty insane.

      students in High School are MINORS, meaning that they are in the custody of someone else. Normally this is their parents, and while at school, they are in the custody of the state. I have no problem with the tracking of KIDS (grade school to high school) to ensure that they are safe and secure from possible outside threats. RFID is not the only method we should rely on to keep kids safe and prevent such things as kidnappings, and such. It is an additional tool.

      That being said, once a child turns 18, and is out of high school, that is when RFID tracking would begin to become worrisome to me, but until them I'm fine with it...

    41. Re:Insanity by tomstdenis · · Score: 1

      "Being in PUBLIC does not waive your rights as a human being."

      You're in public. You have no right to privacy in terms of where you are, who you are, etc while your at skule.

      Sure you still have a right to keep things like your medical records, things at home, etc private.

      All the RFID tag should have is an encrypted student number which fed back to a server [which holds the AES key for instance] can then decrypt and compare.

      Anyone who reads the RFID tag otherwise won't get your student number or name.

      I'd say a school staffer has a right to know who you are for shear safety reasons.

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    42. Re:Insanity by Ba3r · · Score: 1

      well, i'm American, and to continue my pummeled-pile-of-horse-flesh analogy...

      I would say that the US is an interesting case where there is a relative amount of order, and thus freedom on the road to go a decent speed, but there is a pervasive culture that releases the common American from responsiblity for his/her actions. Because of this childlike interaction with the surrounding environment, Americans are stiffly patrolled despite being more than capable of self-regulation, at around 70 mph. And due to the rare oppurtunity for self-determination, when confronted with 'no speed limit', many Americans thus conclude they should go as fast as possible, rather than cruising at a speed that accurately matches the conditions.

      Thus when someone does do something irresponsible and injures themself, a pack of ravenous injury lawyers swarm and begin to investigate to see if there is anyway to blame this person's irresponsible actions on someone else (preferrably with deep pockets).

    43. Re:Insanity by Hognoxious · · Score: 1
      Being in PUBLIC does not waive your rights as a human being. Do you believe that teachers have the right to rape and murder their students, or take away their lunch money (but only while at Public school)?
      Sequitur. Non.

      Rearrange the above words to make a well-known logical fallacy.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    44. Re:Insanity by PedanticSpellingTrol · · Score: 1

      Nah, the US is stiffly patrolled because traffic tickets are a good revenue center for small towns.

    45. Re:Insanity by Reziac · · Score: 1

      The difference is, running a marathon is completely voluntary. If a runner doesn't like being RFID'd, they need not run the marathon.

      Going to school is mandatory. If the student doesn't like being RFID'd, tough shit for them.

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    46. Re:Insanity by Reziac · · Score: 1

      "...but there is a pervasive culture that releases the common American from responsiblity for his/her
      actions."

      Bingo!!

      And that's why we have feelgood solutions like RFID tags for kids.

      Gods forbid that parents should be responsible for teaching their kids to be responsible, or that kids should be self-responsible for going to class or letting their parents know if they'll be late. THAT would put the onus of failure on the individual, and we can't have THAT!

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    47. Re:Insanity by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      There is a huge difference between a marathon and a school.

      Yes. The person I responded to said, "Well, the thing is, actually tracking anything is with this technology is the scary part."

      So, everyone responding to me agrees that RFIDs have been used for years, they haven't yet been misused, and that there are valid uses for them.

      So, I don't understand why so many people are replying to me with a contrary tone, only to agree with everything I said.

    48. Re:Insanity by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      Of course. But if it were as trivial as I've seen asserted here, it would have been done by now. Instead, many places (including secure military installations) use non-contact security measures, including RFID. There has never been a case I've heard of where someone successfully duplicated a card after reading it without touching it (the trivial scenario touted here). Sure, it is theoretically possible. But it has never happened in the years that the cards have been used, and there is much more to gain that caring what some /. reader has in his pockets.

      I'm not saying it can't be done. It can be done. I'm saying it has never been done, and there is no indication that there will be readers out there created to read tags without the permission of the holder.

      For those that keep complaining about the children, this isn't about the children. This is about whether there will be misuse. There won't be. The malls won't track the kids. The police won't have scanners installed in the cars to detect the presence of high school kids and give their identities. The misuse of the tags won't happen.

      The question of whether it is wrong to track children's attendance and manners in which to do it is a separate discussion.

    49. Re:Insanity by DM9290 · · Score: 1

      You're in public. You have no right to privacy in terms of where you are, who you are, etc while your at skule.

      Can you please define "PUBLIC". Because your argument is circular. You are in PUBLIC whenever you are not in private. And (by your definition) the right to privacy seems to only exist when you are in private. But if you are in private then you are alone and the right to privacy is irrelevant because when you are alone you *already have privacy* regardless of whether it is a right or not a right. So it seems to me that your position is that the right to privacy actually does not exist. It is waived whenever anyone can view or monitor us.

      Sure you still have a right to keep things like your medical records, things at home, etc private.

      Why do you relinquish the right to privacy in regards to your identity but preserve your right to privacy in regards to medical records?

      Is that simply because your medical records are inconvenient to access? What if you are carrying your medical records with you?

      Why would you have a right to privacy in regards to "things at home" but not "things on your person".

      What if you do not "own" your home.

      All the RFID tag should have is an encrypted student number which fed back to a server [which holds the AES key for instance] can then decrypt and compare.

      Anyone who reads the RFID tag otherwise won't get your student number or name.


      If I can track your whereabouts constantly. I hardly need your name to cause you serious harm.

      The phrase "We know where you are and we know where you live" sounds so threatening because it *is* threatening. Whenever I collect information about you without your consent I am gaining power over you. And you (and I) have a right not to be subjected to that form of oppression without consent.

      When you are compelled to carry an RFID you would not even know when you are being tracked or by who. When did you suddenly lose your rights in regards to these things?

      I'd say a school staffer has a right to know who you are for shear safety reasons.

      If they are so concerned, they can simply ASK you.
      The low probability of RFID's actually saving anyone needs to be balanced against the harm done by the violation of the rights of all students who BELONG in the school.

      History has demonstrated that students are in most danger from one another or themselves. This is purely anecdotal, but far more of my childhood friends hurt or even killed themselves doing stupid things, than were ever harmed by the lack of an RFID.

      How many children are killed each year in accidents. Absolutely nothing an RFID can do. However, if you really want to do something helpful, for about the same price, forcing kids to wear HELMETS while in public is more likely to do good than forcing them to wear RFIDs.

      It is naive to presume that just because you have a valid RFID that you are "SAFE".

      RFID manufacturers have great marketing departments to think up all the wonderful things that this type of invasive technology will do.

      What it will mostly do, is teach children that being under constant surveilance is normal.

      --
      No one has a right to their *own* opinion. They have a right to the TRUTH.
    50. Re:Insanity by kabocox · · Score: 1

      When you are on PUBLIC property, such as a school you right to privacy (which is actually never stated explictly in the US Constitution) is very limited. That horse has been beat to death by the courts. Yes, having concealing containers is a concern. There has to be some suspicion the container has something illegal inside.

      I'm going to make my case for see though clothing even stronger now. How much property do you own? I don't fully own my own home yet. But given that, I'm paying for the piece of land that my house sits on and my fenced in backyard. By your logic, on any public property we have no expections of any privacy. Um, the moment I leave my home, I'm on a public road. Do you advocate that all vehicles need to be made entirely transparent to prevent transport of contraband? After I'm off of the road, I'm in a parking lot. Do you mean that because it hasn't been spelled out in a document over 200 years old, that I can't expect this right to exist? Well, now I'm back to needing transparent clothing so that you can make sure that I'm not a security threat to you. (If I walked anywhere instead of driving, I'd be wearing transparent clothing so each property own could see that I'm not a threat.

      Maybe it really wasn't a bad idea for highschool students, but I've found that I like clothing for myself. I'm not nearly as fit as I once was. It would be terrible if we had to give up what little privacy we have left so that you can be secure.

      I think it has be /. approved to have a pilot project of females 15 - 20 yrs. try out the transparent clothing to make sure that they are durable and provide protection from the elements.

    51. Re:Insanity by tomstdenis · · Score: 1

      ok, shut the fuck up already.

      WHO you are is not "private" information while you are in public is ALL i was saying.

      I'm not saying that schools should also keep ALL of your private info with it.

      Holy crap motherfucker learn to differentiate concepts here.

      When you are in a public place your identity isn't private, at best it's obscure.

      I mean ever use a credit card? Leave your wallet open for a second? Make a call and say "this is XYZ calling?" etc?

      I'd expect things like your bank account numbers, SSN, etc to be not publicly disclosed by a RFID student ID system. Those are private information that the school doesn't really need to know.

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    52. Re:Insanity by Jardine · · Score: 1

      School childern are already trained not to put up a fuss about school wide locker searches or searching of persons.

      They don't put up a fuss about locker searches because the lockers are owned by the school. They're just allowing you to use them to store your supplies. Where I live, the cops cannot search people without reasonable cause. In the case of police dogs searching lockers for drugs, the only good reason is if they find drugs in your locker. If they don't find anything there, they can't search you.

      The law is most likely different in countries which have laws like the Patriot Act.

    53. Re:Insanity by ErikZ · · Score: 1

      "RFID is different from all previous forms of identification because it's the only one which can be reliably read from a distance without your consent."

      Except visual identification. Which has been used since the dawn of mankind.

      Gasp! It's still being used today! When will we ever learn!?

      --
      Democrats or Republicans. They are both taking us to the same place and they are not afraid of us anymore.
    54. Re:Insanity by HeghmoH · · Score: 1

      Visual identification can be read from a distance without your consent, but it's not reliable in any way, either with human observers or computers.

      --
      Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
    55. Re:Insanity by chialea · · Score: 1

      >You should hang out with undergrads or community college students and ask them "hey anyone here want to dedicate thousands of hours to a cool open source project, take flames from asshats, compliments from users and not get paid a dime for it?". ... ;-o

      Be careful about tarring "academics" with a brush like that, that's all I'm saying. At least in the definition of the word I'm used to, you're talking about people who have chosen to spend their lives making and giving away cool and interesting things, and explaining those things to others.

      I personally believe that it's very important to help students find a passion. Most won't be the same as mine, but the more I say "look! isn't this cool and interesting", the more people I might inspire to put that sort of dedication into something.

      Lea

    56. Re:Insanity by kabocox · · Score: 1

      They don't put up a fuss about locker searches because the lockers are owned by the school. They're just allowing you to use them to store your supplies.

      We had to pay fees for the usage of them. I'd call that rental. Do you have laws that basically say that the owner of any rental unit can open up all rental units to police at random times for searches? How about taking one step farther? Apartment are rental units that house people. Do you believe that apartment owners have the right to open up all the apartments that they own to the police for searches at random times for the good of the community?

    57. Re:Insanity by Jardine · · Score: 1

      We had to pay fees for the usage of them. I'd call that rental. Do you have laws that basically say that the owner of any rental unit can open up all rental units to police at random times for searches?

      Not that I know of. But then, we also didn't pay fees for our lockers in high school.

    58. Re:Insanity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You'd be surprised how many times the staff at a school needs to find out exactly where a kid is for the benefit of a parent. It certainly happens more often than, say, someone calling FedEx with a tracking number to find out where their package is.

  4. Sorry, this is good.... by REBloomfield · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I'm an admin in a school, and for the pupils, this is actually a benefit. The closest thing we've come to a seamless registration is using swipe cards, which get lost, traded, broken, etc. This system gives the students the freedom to come and go as they please, and in the event of a fire, for example, we know exactly where students are at any time, without having to hope that when they signed out, they remembered to swipe out.... I can imagine the majority of tin foil hat replies to this post, but just for once, if you're not in the position to be affected by this, shut the hell up.....

    1. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful
      if you're not in the position to be affected by this, shut the hell up.....

      Yeah -- and do the same thing when they come for the Jews, right?

      Fuckwit.

    2. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No numbnutz you don't know where the kids are in a fire - you know where alll the goddamn rfid chips are - thats all..
      Don't worry though we can just give them the implant chips! much more reliable!
      Well how about we stick one of those digital angel chips in your ass then too dude? Its for your saftey! Oh and while we're at it how about a gps embedded tracker and cameras to watch you too? Its for your saftey!

      Idiot.

    3. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by not_a_product_id · · Score: 1

      You do get all those advantages and I'm certainly willing to accept that this might be a good thing for school pupils. Trouble is, that get's people used to accepting this sort of thing. Next stop - your workplace? Your home?

      --

      ---
      We spoke for about a half an hour. I don't recall a thing we said. - Colorblind James Experience

    4. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by mumblestheclown · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I agree with your assessment that it's a good thing and I also share your dread at the predictable tin foil hat replies. However, "in you're not in a position to be affected by this.." is exactly the wrong attitude.

    5. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by eclectro · · Score: 5, Insightful

      if you're not in the position to be affected by this, shut the hell up.....

      Let me guess, if we don't that would make us unpatriotic as well???

      --
      Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
    6. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by REBloomfield · · Score: 0, Troll

      The difference being, we are required by law to know where our pupils are at all times, i can't see a reason for knowing when you're in your house at all times, although I'm sure a few of the anonymous cowards will think of a reason.

    7. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      I'm in high school. And somehow I feel that making me carry a radio transmitter around, and sharing that information with the admins/police isn't the kind of thing people should do.

      The closest thing we've come to a seamless registration is using swipe cards, which get lost, traded, broken, etc.

      Explain why these things can't happen to an RFID tag? Or are you planning to implant them?

      If it's not on my balls, I'd gladly get my hunting knife and cut it out.

    8. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by REBloomfield · · Score: 1

      okay, fair enough I can see from the responses that i may have overstepped the mark, but the majority of responses to this come from people who are long out of school, don't have kids in one, but still think they should be able to dictate how schools are run. Pisses me off, is all. I apologise :)

    9. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Ralph+Yarro · · Score: 2

      but the majority of responses to this come from people who are long out of school, don't have kids in one, but still think they should be able to dictate how schools are run.

      Does the fact that despite all that I still have to PAY for them give me any voice at all in your world?

      --

      The real Ralph Yarro posts as Anonymous Coward. Anyone else is an impostor.
    10. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you're a high school student with a hunting knife?
      do you wear a long leather trenchcoat??

      do the proper authorities know?

    11. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by kfg · · Score: 1

      . . .if you're not in the position to be affected by this, shut the hell up.....

      You sir, represent the trackers.

      Would you bother to ask the trackees, the ones actually most affected by this, how they feel about it, or would you 'explain' the benefits to them and tell any who objected because they 'didn't get it' to shut the hell up?

      KFG

    12. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by achilstone · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Unless the RFID tags are embedded in their skulls, then they can also be "lost, traded, broken, etc".
      The real convenience is that the student doesn't have to make any effort to register in or out but to just ensure that they remember to carry their tag.
      What happens with a faulty tag?
      Will a student suffer a poor attendance record without recourse?
      After all they might not find out until the end of year school report.
      "...it must be true because the computer says so."

    13. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by not_a_product_id · · Score: 2, Insightful
      "we are required by law to know where our pupils are at all times"

      probably another reason why this could be a good thing. The danger here comes when governments try to extend this and that's where this is the thin end of the wedge. It may be a good thing but we'd be stupid to ignore the dangers it also brings.

      --

      ---
      We spoke for about a half an hour. I don't recall a thing we said. - Colorblind James Experience

    14. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Explain why these things can't happen to an RFID tag? Or are you planning to implant them? If it's not on my balls, I'd gladly get my hunting knife and cut it out.

      Now now, don't give them any stupid ideas of where exactly to implant them..

    15. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by jokumuu · · Score: 1
      To put this in perspective. I do not have kids and I am out of school a long time ago.

      But.. Why does that disqualify me from having opinins about schools or educational systems?

      For one I know of many things what were wrong with the system when I was there, and listening to the arguments used currently, some of those things seem still wrong and some even worse, though some are apparently better too.

      Your experience during school years is an importan part of your personality, as you form so much of who you are during those years.

      So schoolis are important for the whole society and not only those that are directly affected.

    16. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Ralph+Yarro · · Score: 1

      You do get all those advantages

      Does he?. He said the problem with swipe cards was that they get lost, traded, broken etc. and he implied that RFID tags magically fix that. He doesn't explain how. Even if we assume an implant, there's nobody on the planet stupid enough to think we've come up with a technology that can't go wrong. After a few years of use we might be able to say that they don't go wrong often, but that's about it.

      --

      The real Ralph Yarro posts as Anonymous Coward. Anyone else is an impostor.
    17. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by erroneus · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I was going to mod this as interesting but I think I would rather reply to it.

      I think it's important to recognize that students (children, minors) are being entrusted to the public school system to make sure that while under their care, nothing bad happens to any student. They are, in essence, the largest daycare provider in any given area and they have a huge responsibility in keeping tracking and accounting of other people's children.

      Now I can't say that it's a good thing that the information is fed to the local law enforcement agency unless there is a particular student they wish to keep track of and in that event, there should be some sort of formality associated with "I need to know when 'Johnny' came and went for the past two weeks and for the next two weeks from now." But to have that information fed to them on a regular basis feels kinda wrong.

      But one thing to keep in mind -- while a person is a minor, there are no rights to privacy to speak of. The "rights" they might enjoy are whatever has been granted by their parents and/or the school system. I liken this to the same problem that students have with their "freedom of the press" rights in school newspapers -- while it's all well and good to want to exercise those rights, the fact remains that a school newspaper is a SCHOOL newspaper and as such is actually under the control and supervision of the school system, so guess who is in control of "freedom of the press" in that little world? Absolutely.

      It just might be a good thing... I'd be interested to see what pitfalls are to be revealed by any of this.

    18. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by REBloomfield · · Score: 0

      erm, the students are affected by this, so i would welcome their responses. I never said I would tell anyone who objected to shut up.

    19. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "... I can imagine the majority of tin foil hat replies to this post, but just for once, if you're not in the position to be affected by this, shut the hell up....."

      Watch you language, kid or I'm taking you to the principal.

    20. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by jokumuu · · Score: 1
      I violently disagree with this

      The schools job should be to Teach, not to be daycare.

    21. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by REBloomfield · · Score: 1

      i just don't understand why people are convinced that because RFID tags are acccepted in some areas, means that they'll be forced upon them as citizens. It really is over reaching.... they're great for warehouse stock tracking, and this is another useful application. I will, however, accept an "i told you so" in ten years ;)

    22. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by a+whoabot · · Score: 1

      For criminal investigations. There could be a criminal or even a terrorist on the loose and the authorities may wish to contact you because you may have some information that will help them solve the case. Actual human eyes will only see your transmitted location when the authorties look it up when they feel the need to contact you in these rare occasions. If you're doing nothing wrong there won't be any reason to fear this.

    23. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by REBloomfield · · Score: 2
      You send your child to school. Nay, you drop you child at the school gates. You see them walk through the doors.

      Four hours later, the police knock on your door, saying they were called to the mall where your child was caught shoplifting on CCTV.

      Are you going to blame the school for not ensuring that your child was under their supervision? I can probably guarentee that you'll say you won't, but the vast majority of parents will.

    24. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, I'm sure its great, until pedos start using their RFID readers to figure out which students walk home without their friends.

      Encrypted or not, all you need is to be able to "hear" the RFID response, and then its just like sonar for kids.

    25. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      i just don't understand why people are convinced that because RFID tags are acccepted in some areas, means that they'll be forced upon them as citizens.

      I know! I know! Is it because of the terrorists?

    26. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by EvilSS · · Score: 1

      Not sure about where you work, but most places I go require either a) that you sign in and out with a guard or receptionist or b) have a door code or HIID (rf) card that is unique to each person and required to enter or leave.

      I don't see how this would be any different. Nor do I see how it would be any more of an invasion of privacy than having students sign in and out at the entrances with a swipe card or even pen and paper, with a monitor present. I agree that there are some scary possibilities when it comes to RFID technology, but don't go all tinfoil hat JUST BECAUSE RFID is mentioned.

      --
      I browse on +1 so AC's need not respond, I won't see it.
    27. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      Yes, yes, and no. Scared yet ;)

      It's had it's uses over the years. Especially when I got metal pieces stuck under my skin.

      Long story there.

    28. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Fatchap · · Score: 1

      The primary job should be to teach but they must have a concept of in loco parentis surely? Otherwise why have any rules other than you have to go to class, shut up and pay attention?

      There is no getting away from the duty of care that they must have. Without it who is at fault when a 6 year old is electrocuted due to faulty wiring

      --
      The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
    29. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by jokumuu · · Score: 1
      Very easy, I would talk with the kid and the teachers to find out what the problem is. (That is what my parents did when I had my inevitable problems)

      Schools are not supposed to be Daycare or Prisons.

      If you treat the kids in your care as Prisoners or Infants, no wonder there are more problems than needed.

      So I pity the students and parents who might have thought that the idea of the school was to teach, not to "contain".

    30. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      the majority of responses to this come from people who are long out of school, don't have kids in one, but still think they should be able to dictate how schools are run. Pisses me off, is all.

      Are we talking about public schools here? Because yes, I do think I should get a say in the way they're run just like I think I should get a say in the way the public roads are maintained or laws are passed or courts are run or prisons are governed. Who the hell do you think you are to get pissed off by me taking an interest in the community I live in?

    31. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm an admin in a school, and for the pupils, this is actually a benefit.

      I guess this is the same kind of benefit like say the copy-protection on CDs or the mandatory I.D. you need for boarding an airplane??

    32. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by drbrooks · · Score: 1

      I agree, however you need to explain that to the School Boards. As the responder earlier stated, he is REQUIRED BY LAW TO KNOW WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE. There are way too many parents who don't realize that their High School student is more mature than their Grade School student, and should be treated the same by both them and the School System. The problem comes in when a student is lost (kidnapped) or injured while at school. Guess who is at fault? Guess who gets sued?

    33. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by avgjoe62 · · Score: 1
      And if you read this article you''' see that the story begins with the local chief of police tracking a student.

      No, pardon my paranoia, but why do the police need to track anyone without probable cause? Notice that the district has never had a kidnapping incident.

      And I can't imagine that these are any better than any other technology designed to track students. These are ID badges with RFID chips in them that have to be swiped against a reader. This means they can still be lost, the reader can malfunction or Little Johnny can give his card to a friend and have an airtight alibi while he cherry bombs the toilets. And this is the type of system the police are using? The potential for abuse boggles the mind. Just read in the article about the problems they are experiencing already...

      --

      How come Slashdot never gets Slashdotted?

    34. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by cluckshot · · Score: 1

      Isn't if funny how school adminstrators want to do anything they can to avoid actually having to know their students and to actually watch what is going on in their schools?

      --
      Never Politically Correct ~ I prefer the facts If you don't like what I say, get a life, or comment yourself.
    35. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and that is the solution... tinfoil.

      they have that here at work, I keep my badge in a tinfoil pouch so it can NOT be read without my explicit permission.

      The overlords whined about it when I ran around the office and collected everyone's badge for about 10 minutes... I then ran through the hallways with all 30 badges from the department. Scared the hell out of security as they thought there was an angry mob of employees running around the building.

      Cince then the system is pretty much abandonded except for door unlock at key security areas.

      Kids are more clever than I, so I know this will be subverted and become a giant headache for the school admins.

      I'm fine with proper uses of the information, but the admin that has a running data stream of who is where is the person that needs to have his access to the system removed and not allowed access to it.

      so are you such a person?

    36. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      we know exactly where students are at any time

      Assuming they have their card on them. I recommend implanting them under the skin; otherwise you'll have the same problems are a swipe card, because it will still get lost, traded and broken.

    37. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by jokumuu · · Score: 1

      I did read that, but my commentary was on the fact that if the laws are written in the way that the schools primary activity becomes to track students and to make sure that they do not get into trouble instead of the basica idea of the school, teaching, then the schoolsystem as whole has definitely taken a wrong turn somewhere.

    38. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree that there are some scary possibilities when it comes to RFID technology, but don't go all tinfoil hat JUST BECAUSE RFID is mentioned.

      I agree, there's nothing inherently scary about this. On the other hand, the fact that someone apparently involved in administering schools is claiming that these won't get lost, traded or broken without any explanation of how is pretty worrying. It sounds like a case of "but the salesman said it was really great!"

    39. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by REBloomfield · · Score: 1

      sorry, i'm missing why ID to travel on an airplane is bad? or are you referring to interstate?

    40. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by kfg · · Score: 1

      erm, the students are affected by this, so i would welcome their responses.

      So your use of swipe cards is a voluntary system? If the students staged a swipe card boycott your administrative response would be, "Oh, well, if you don't like them we won't use them anymore"?

      I might also point out that the people affected by this might be a wider slice of the populace than you expect, like the fireman who loses his life trying to rescuse what turns out to be a loose RFID tag. All security measures that are ostensibly designed to protect also have equal capacity to destroy in this manner. Risk, like energy, is immutable. You can shift it, but you can't make it go away. There even comes a time when security measures bog the system so much it can no longer produce work, so there you are, still insecure on the whole, but at least you have the advantage of not getting anything for your risk to fall back on.

      Every parent is also affected, of course. Many of the people who simply interact with the students are affected. The entire law enforcement community is affected. Anyone who holds to the Old Testament is affected, like, oh, say, Orthodox Jews (and do you tag them by tagging them against their religion, or do you tag them by excusing them. "Ok, everyone without a tag come to the locker room.") Of course if I'm not a Jew maybe I should just shut up because it doesn't affect me?

      Sir, this sort of thing ends up affecting everyone.

      KFG

    41. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by drbrooks · · Score: 1

      The only purpose behind showing your ID to board an airplane is to ensure to the airline that you didn't sell your (discount) ticket to someone else. It does absolutely nothing to improve security. All of the Sept 11'th terrorists had legitimate IDs.

    42. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Tim+C · · Score: 1

      if you're not in the position to be affected by this, shut the hell up

      Well, if you take the view that this represents a first step in an erosion of essential freedom, then it affects everyone, whether they're kids now, plan to have kids in the future, or are parents now.

      Hell, it potentially even affects me, here in the UK. We tend to follow your lead in a lot of things; if this takes off in the States, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that it'll beused as justification for a similar scheme here. I fall into the "have kids now" catergory, by the way.

    43. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      If it's all for the "duty of care", why do they feel the need to push the uniform against anything popular? Sandshoes were banned when I arrived. This year went the miniskirts/skirts/anything other that doesn't go down past the knees. What's next? We can't wear anything that shows arms?

      If all the rules they made were for safety, or at least some other logical reason I would agree with you. "Because the old people across the street are embarrased to see legs above the knees" is not a valid reason.

    44. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by REBloomfield · · Score: 1

      Well, long skirts are banned because kids stand on them and fall down the stairs. Short skirts are banned because if a male teacher gets caught copping a look, he gets fired.....

    45. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by sk8king · · Score: 1

      The problem is that when the kids graduate school, they'll accept the fact that there have been RFID tags used to track them the past 4-5 years and they won't really think twice when they are then asked to use them at work or somewhere else.

      *start story*
      In university, our school's basketball team was called the Nor'Westers [because of the mountains near us]. All good. In my last year, the Nor'Westers got a wolf for a mascot. My friend nailed it right there. "They have this mascot and in 4 years people will change the name and no-one will notice". Sure enough, a few years later a vote to change the name came up and all the newer students voted yes to change the name to the Thunderwolves. What the heck is a Thunderwolf.

      Just an example of how things can be changed so simply.

    46. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by johnpaul191 · · Score: 1

      are you suggesting the school kids might be as clever as to cut out their chips and glue them to the back of a rat?

      actually the visual that comes to mind is from Aliens where they track all the lost people and find them all lumped in one area of the base. not that the tracking chips helped them any........

    47. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Rares+Marian · · Score: 1

      RFID's must be programmed with the features you need. Scanning who is out of the building will not tell you where they are in the building during a fire. It's technology, not magic. You Have To Care and Be Involved.

      Well, just know that maybe if you administrators would take an interest in realizing that school has been dumbed down and turned into trend hell, students might have some respect because they seem to be able to notice these things.

      Your none of your business attitude is telling. Did it ever occur to you that if you are using a technology so that you don't have to work as hard, you are not as involved therefore your assessment of any situation will be overly monopolized by what the computer says and you do not deserve the paycheck you are receiving?

      I can almost see one of your species administrator buddies caring more about the fact a student was late to class than the fact they were getting beaten. In one case a little girl brought a metal knife and fork in her lunch box from home. Mind you, this was a child, so keep your anti-dissident radar down, it's a false alarm. This child did the responsible thing to go to a teacher and ask if it were all right to bring those to school. The teacher promptly called for her to be suspended. Now does it need to be in the school rules that a child asking a question responsibly is exempt from such punishment for teachers to use the limited IQ that they have? and where were your administrator buddies to set this straight?

      You need to know intimately from actually caring about students whether they're in school or not.
      The only thing an RFID should do is know that someone is in a room, not necessarily who. All that crap about knowing if someone is in the building during a fire is going to mean little if all you do is scan at the gates.

      Scenario 1
      RFID: Suzy's about to be burned alive.
      Teacher: Where's Suzy?
      RFID: Not part of my programming, not part of my responsibility.

      Scenario 2
      RFID: Someone is about to be burned alive.
      Teacher: Who?
      RFID: I do not know.
      teacher: Tell me now who?
      RFID: Look, dumbass, that's irrelevant. Go to the third floor in the chemistry lab where there was a nitroglycerine experiment done.
      RFID: To get there in time, here's an incentive: The lab is going to blow if no one stops the fire. The cost will probably come out of your paycheck. Now do you care? and on the way out don't forget to save the kid, dumbass.

      I'm sorry but you people are out of touch and the only technology I would want to see in my kid's school is such that makes teachers care MORE not LESS!

      --
      The message on the other side of this sig is false.
    48. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      One of them did get caught at my school actually.....they said if it happens again he's gone.

      From what I heard the chick (who is a D-cup btw, no, don't ask how I know), had had him ask her to take her top off. She screamed at him for a while, and then just left. Still got suspended though.

      And no, I don't know why he is still working here.

      And when did I say long skirts are banned? For some things they are required uniform. Just the thing to give me a visible shudder.

    49. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by atriusofbricia · · Score: 1
      That's okay... when they want to require by law that you have one implanted for all transactions and everything else, that will be for your "benefit" too, won't it? I understand what you're saying about the students safety. However, real time tracking of a person's location, which is the next step as oppose to this near real time tracking, isn't worth that benefit. I know you see benefits here, but they aren't worth the cost in personal privacy.

      In this case, if you look back over the history so far of RFIDs... you can watch the slip down the slope as they are used more and more for people tracking and not just shipment tracking. I'm sorry, this is a bad idea not for what it represents today, but what it represents for tomorrow.

      --
      I was raised on the command line, bitch

      "Nemo me impune lacesset"

    50. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Hatta · · Score: 2

      the majority of responses to this come from people who are long out of school, don't have kids in one, but still think they should be able to dictate how schools are run.

      These are the best people to run a school, next to the children themselves. They obviously remember what it felt like being a child with no rights and no power in an educational system that treats them like a cog in a giant conformity machine. When people have kids, they get a little irrational.Why do you think so many bad laws are passed because someone says "Won't somebody please think of the children!" They become overprotective, and send their kids off to what's essentially a day prison. What everyone forgets is that children are people too and have rights.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    51. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by REBloomfield · · Score: 1

      you didn't, i was just giving a summary of uniform policy. Health and safety reasons are also applied to foot wear.

    52. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Hey, this guy's tag is the same guy who cut me off this morning. Let's add 'cuts up squirrels' and some drug offenses to the history file, then when I shoot him and plant a gun people will believe me!"

      This is Texas we're talking about. This shit goes on all the time here, and recently one cop was too fucking stupid to pull it off. Killed someone in a car claiming they pulled a gun on him, but forgot to put the plant in the guy's hands - no prints on the gun at all. Nice work, pig!

    53. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by steve.m · · Score: 1

      erosion of essential freedom?

      9 years ago I had a summer job at a semi-conductor factory, midway through my education. They issued everyone with a keyfob sized tag that you had to wave past a sensor before the gate from the car park would open to let you on/off site.

      All i thought it did was erode the possibility of skiving off an hour early on a friday...

      Take note, US school kids - when you get a job you'll probably have some sort of similar system to monitor when you 'punch in/punch out'

      Also, seeing as you lot seem to take guns to school and kill each other from time to time, I'm not surprised the cops want to keep tabs...

    54. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Rasvar · · Score: 1

      I think many workplaces have had a lower tech version of this for years, it is called a time clock.

    55. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Qzukk · · Score: 1

      the vast majority of parents will.

      And THAT is exactly whats wrong with the world today. RFID is merely a tiny band-aid on a gaping wound of idiot parents who believe they are so holy that their kid's deviations from perfection could not possibly be THEIR fault (for the deviation, or for holding them to an impossible ideal).

      --
      If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
    56. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by neal+n+bob · · Score: 0

      the same reason the NRA opposes so-called "reasonable" gun restrictions. Because once those are in place, it is just a downward spiral to an outright ban on guns despite the 2nd amendment in their mind. The problem is that most of the hippie assholes here would be the first to support such a ban, while screaming about something like this. Meanwhile, NRA gun lovers might have no problem with something like this.

    57. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by The_Mr_Flibble · · Score: 1

      Well all I can say is

      We should take off and nuke the site from orbit. Its the only way to be sure.

    58. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by REBloomfield · · Score: 1

      erm, kids don't have rights. thats why we don't let them vote....

    59. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by stanmann · · Score: 1

      True enough, when instead they should be looking in the mirror for the one to blame.

      --
      Food not Bombs is a nice platitude but it breaks down when you notice that the Bombees are usually well fed
    60. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by veraction · · Score: 1

      /agree I just graduated from high school this year, and am at college now. The idea of tracking people like this sickens me. I don't know what I'd do if I attended that school; if I messed with the card somehow, they'd probably charge tons of money for a replacement. This RFID idea is going to make the situation much worse, rather than better..

    61. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by mwood · · Score: 1

      There's a thousand students in my kid's school. How many *additional* people would they have to hire in order to do a visual check every hour on every student? Remember, the admin.s there now have work to do in the office...*administration*, you know.

      Imagine the howls if your idea were adopted, and people figured out that the school is now swarming with *guards* checking up on everyone all the time.

      Some stuff that works in a school of 50 does not work in a school of 1000. (However I agree that if printed IDs are not working, RFIDs won't work any better for mostly the same reasons.)

    62. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Hatta · · Score: 5, Insightful

      erm, kids don't have rights. thats why we don't let them vote....

      Blacks don't have rights, that's why we don't let them vote

      Women don't have rights, that's why we don't let them vote.

      Of course children have rights. Rights are not granted by the state, but innate. Nothing really dramatic happens to a person on their 18th birthday suddenly endowing them with rights. They've had them all along, it's just the state finally recognizes them. It seriously troubles me that people like you, who apparently find children morally equivalent to livestock are responsible for their education.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    63. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by IL-CSIXTY4 · · Score: 1
      What the heck is a Thunderwolf.
      The latest browser from Mozilla?
    64. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by mwood · · Score: 1

      There should indeed be a sort of formality. It's called a "subpoena" and it comes from a judge, not the police. If the cops don't have one, they shouldn't be assumed to have the privilege of demanding that information.

    65. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by mwood · · Score: 1

      "the police knock on your door, saying they were called to the mall where your child was caught shoplifting on CCTV."

      I fear that the vast majority of /.ers will blame the shop owner, since he is the one who had the CCTV installed. When someone gets caught doing wrong, the blame must always be attached to the one who caught him, yes?

    66. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by warkda+rrior · · Score: 2, Insightful
      First, in reply to
      if you're not in the position to be affected by this, shut the hell up
      with apologies to Rev. Martin Niemoeller:
      "First they tagged the highschool students, but I was not a highschool student so I did not speak out. Then they tagged the policemen and the firefighters, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they tagged the immigrants, but I was not an immigrant so I did not speak out. And when they tagged me, there was no one left to speak out for me."
      Fear the trend.

      Second, in reply to
      for the pupils, this is actually a benefit
      I think this is a benefit to the people who want to track the students, not the students. These RFID badges can be lost just like any other swipe card, so they do not benefit students more than a swipe card.
      --
      You need to install an RTFM interface.
    67. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey, I want to know where the President is at all times. Put one of these tags in his [any body part] and set up a website so We the People of the United States can monitor what he's doing for us today.

    68. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      > Yeah -- and do the same thing when they come for the Jews, right?

      Naw, because they'll come for the trite first.

      But when they come for the snarky, well, then I'm fucked.

    69. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Hexzero · · Score: 0

      *(Laugh)* Leave it to an administrator to be so shortsighted. Every bad idea starts somewhere and eventually becomes an accepted standard based on those with narrow minds.
      While there are some benefits to RFID, the problems it will cause will be far worse. Just like every system, the RFID will be misused even at a public school system. Singling out students on a query to find out if they are in the right class is just a small-scale beta form of what Big Brother is all about. Think twice before you decide to back this system.
      If you want to know what it feels like, then cameras need to be installed in the classrooms, so that parents can monitor teacher/student interactions and check in on how the students are being taught.
      I helped install the systems at a local University around the corner. The professors do not like the idea of their lectures being critiqued by anyone and everyone.....24 hours a day. (Everything is on a loop when live programming is not available)

      There are other ways to keep track of students in the event of fire...

      Whats next...Yellow Stars on certain students, Black stars on others....Orange stars for those that are known trouble makers? Now when they are monitored, they show up on your displays as groups? All easy to do...
      While the students may not be wearing true stars, the computer will have them in groups before you know it.

    70. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by MoneyT · · Score: 1

      As was stated, schools are required by law to know where their students are at all times while they are under the jurisdiction of the school. This includes until and where they get off the bus. Why do you think there are assigned bus routes for children?

      --
      T Money
      World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
    71. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by MoneyT · · Score: 1

      Hmm, most of the students I knew, including myself, went out of their way to avoid having the administration know us. Personaly, I would have rathered the RFID tags than seeing the administration everyday.

      --
      T Money
      World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
    72. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      OK. A reply from someone with 2 small kids who WILL be affected by this. This is not a 'benefit'. This is, at best, a very false sense of security. School administrators need to spend the money on better materials and/or more teachers instead of this crap. What happens when, in about 10 years time, when everyone is so used to these tags that they consider them infalible, there's a computer glitch and nobody notices that little Johnny is gone? The computer won't no or care that the actual student is gone as long as his 'tag' is there and everyone else is so used to depending on the computer, that they don't notice either.

      As a parent I have all the usual paranoia's about kidnappings, but I combat those by teaching my 2-year-old to know our address and watching both him & my 1-year-old like a hawk when they're in a vulnerable place. But if they never have the freedom to 'escape' from my view (or at least THINK they have), then they will never learn to act responsibly on their own. I don't want them to behave themselves because they think I'll catch them. I want them to behave themselves because they know they SHOULD.

    73. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by OverlordQ · · Score: 1

      That's not Federally mandated, knowing where the Students are is

      --
      Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
    74. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting
      "[W]e are required by law...." is not a sufficient reason. Your legal requirements are your problem, not mine or anyone elses.

      Arguably, this system will account for student attendance. Factually, it will account for RFID presence.

      Realistically, it is a crutch to relieve your administration of the effort required to meet your legal obligation. Once so relieved, will any administrator or teacher actually know where Johnny is unless a report tells them? Roll call will end, being redundantly unneccessary. Teachers may miss Johnny Goodstudent in the front row or Johnny Troublemaker in the back corner, or they may not, trusting the system to do its job.

      The nice thing about human systems is that they make zero tolerance become an active choice. With this system, good students and bad who make a mistake or suffer outrageous fortune must hope for an active choice for clemency. Even if the system works perfectly, where is the opportunity to learn to be responsible when you are compelled to be?

      Kids, resist! This is one more step toward a totalitarian dystopia for the convenience of our 'betters.' Fight the system by making it unworkable and expensive. Fake your Photo ID, even (especially!) if you do nothing else wrong (you might want to carry the real one concealed in case they notice you're not "Winston Smith"). Conceal your RFID in an RF bag. Fry your RFID in your school's microwave (only a few seconds should do). Study the system, what are its costs in money and labor, what it assumes, and how it fails. Then attack its weaknesses.

      Then be prepared to resist the "American Communities Survey". Google it. It's even worse than this, and is excused with the same bogus reasoning.

      All free persons are affected by this erosion of privacy and personal accountability. Sometimes those goals are in conflict. That's a good thing. You, REBloomfield, are the one who should, please, shut the hell up.

    75. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by avgjoe62 · · Score: 1
      As was stated, schools are required by law to know where their students are at all times while they are under the jurisdiction of the school. This includes until and where they get off the bus. Why do you think there are assigned bus routes for children?

      Certainly not so that they can report the student's whereabouts to the police when there is absolutely no problem. Why do the police have to know that a child's ID badge has entered a school?

      BTW, I'm sure you know that requirement varies from state to state. And also, where does that jurisdiction end? What about the bus stops? Or the path from the kid's front door to the bus stop? Just how much do we need to track people to protect them?

      --

      How come Slashdot never gets Slashdotted?

    76. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry, but I accept your thesis, but not your numbers.

      There were about 1000 students in my school. It's quite a manageable population. No additional persons are required. Teachers did roll call, usually silently. We rarely had truancies.

      Beyond some point, though, I do see it becoming unmanageable, and that is precisely the problem with American education. Schools have become too large, and administrations too topheavy with *administration* and paperwork burdens from the unconstitutional federal Department of Education.

    77. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by advocate_one · · Score: 1

      I think barbed wire fences, CCTV, thermal motion sensors, and tripwires would be a cheaper, more effective way of keeping the children inside the school grounds... heck, chain them to their desks and move them from class to class in guarded groups... else they'll have to ring the school with the RFID sensors anyway to catch them bunking off after having checked in.

      --
      Donald 'Duck' Dunn: We had a band powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.
    78. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by MoneyT · · Score: 1

      . Why do the police have to know that a child's ID badge has entered a school?

      Because in most districts, if a child does not show up for school and their whereabouts can't be accounted for, the police are the ones responsible for tracking them down.

      And also, where does that jurisdiction end?

      When the child is no longer on school property. Hence the reader on the bus.

      --
      T Money
      World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
    79. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by BK425 · · Score: 1

      No system that "ensures that nothing bad happens to..." you can allow personal responsbility or the freedom that properly flows from it. More to the point actually ensuring this safety can only (logically) be the individuals job not the (insert name of beuracracy here) system. Just as society cannot have police everywhere, no school system can have hall monitors every where at all times. This is an important lesson of adulthood, something that our schools should be -teaching- -to- our children. But instead they offer the (ineffective and dangerous) all encompassing blanket of beuracracy. That's not a good thing, it's harming those children and it's an attitude that harms us.
      (Yes, I expect schools to take appropriate safety measures. That is definetly and radically different then ensuring that "nothing bad happens to any student".)

    80. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by cluckshot · · Score: 1

      Ahhh! Somebody who understands!

      --
      Never Politically Correct ~ I prefer the facts If you don't like what I say, get a life, or comment yourself.
    81. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by erroneus · · Score: 1

      I agree that ideally things should be that way... that kids should want to go to school and attend class and not be forced into it.

      If schools were absolved from responsibility of tracking the attendance of the students, (which I am sure they'd be happy to give up the responsibility if the opportunity were given) then I think the RFID thing wouldn't be brought into schools ever.

      I'm sure all they are after is something better than a swipe card for students checking in to school... and RFID suits that need nicely.

      And as for police being notified without a subpoena? Of course I disagree though I might have misworded the idea a bit... the formality of going through a judge was as assumption I made in that the formalities should clearly document that the information was requested, by whom and how it was used. It's standard accountability crap that law enforcement wants to avoid at every turn.

      And as another mentioned, I am also sick-to-death of holy-parents who put the system in place as it is today. That's how we got where we are -- how do we get out?

    82. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Delita · · Score: 1


      But one thing to keep in mind -- while a person is a minor, there are no rights to privacy to speak of.

      I disagree. Being a minor does not deny you rights to privacy, or any freedoms. The only rights a minor lacks are those that are specifically outlined by whatever state law applies to that child, and specifically reserves those rights to a person of majority. Privacy is not one of them.

    83. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Hognoxious · · Score: 1
      Rights are not granted by the state, but innate.
      So how come some people in some states don't have any?
      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    84. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by NeedleSurfer · · Score: 1

      Because you fucking morons just don't want to work or actually try to this is what we have to deal with!

      Tag your child, watching them is too hard for us. At least if they were tagged a machine would do it, it would be far more usefull than us actually watching them! Pfff, like I have to work or somethin'!

      Moron utter moron, freedom is not a luxury or something you bypass to ease the job of some lazy fuckwit.

    85. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Reziac · · Score: 1

      Somewhere up above, I ranted about how I swear there's a Stupid Gene that gets turned on when people become parents, that makes them forget how much it sucked to be a kid.

      About the time their kids grow up and have kids of their own, the Stupid Gene usually goes back into remission. At that point people again become capable of sane decisions wrt how to handle kids without causing kids undue stress (such as happens when kids have NO privacy or trust from adults).

      So yes, I agree -- PARENTS are not the best ones to decide how schools should be run; they're too prone to emotional reactions that have nothing to do with safety or education. KIDS aren't either, because they don't have enough world experience to know what's necessary or not.

      Children don't have the same legal rights as adults, and for good reason (if you think they should have such rights, it's time to reread LORD OF THE FLIES) but that is no reason to treat kids like *criminals*.

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    86. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Hatta · · Score: 1

      if you think they should have such rights, it's time to reread LORD OF THE FLIES

      Lord of the Flies was one mans fantasy philosophically based on the horrible fallacy ridden work of Thomas Hobbes. It's worse than worthless for any kind of serious discussion.

      Even so, you missed the point. The island in the book was a microcosm. What the children did is what we adults have done with the world. That is, factionalize and wage war against one another. So the book is more of a comment on the human nature, not the nature of children.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    87. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Animals don't have the same legal rights as humans, and for good reason (if you think they should have such rights, it's time to reread ANIMAL FARM)
    88. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Reziac · · Score: 1

      Oh, it works very well as a predictor of how unsupervised (that is, fully rights-enabled) children behave, too...

      Better yet, view either of the made-for-TV versions (especially the 2nd one). Very, very scary.

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    89. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Reziac · · Score: 1

      Actually, that's a good point. Perhaps it should be required reading for PETA wannabes.

      Sometimes satire is more real than reality.

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    90. Re:Sorry, this is good.... by Domo-Sun · · Score: 1

      erm, kids don't have rights. thats why we don't let them vote.

      Oh, man! What a Nazi with an ax to grind. Hey, why stop at RFID tags? Why not chain gang the children and make school a prison. It's for the children!

  5. Funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How prejudice and invasive technologies always attack those who cannot defend themselves first. I give it 5 years and you'll see rfid on vehicles or national id's. I mean you have a license plate now, whats the dif between that and rfid. right, right, nudge nudge.

    Thank you idiot america.

    1. Re:Funny by jokumuu · · Score: 2, Insightful

      the difference: no rfid YET. Just wait for the new and improved "Crime fighting Lisence plate"

    2. Re:Funny by woodsrunner · · Score: 1

      Actually, they do this now. In Illinois they have the IPass for motorists' "convenience" on the tollways to avoid waiting in line. They are planning on doubling the cost for people who don't use the radio cards.

      Additionally they are setting up radio readers on freeways to track vehicles. I think it's going to be mandatory for trucks. Sure for now you can opt by paying more... but freedom has its price -- for now it'll be double tolls.

    3. Re:Funny by Idarubicin · · Score: 1
      I mean you have a license plate now, whats the dif between that and rfid. right, right, nudge nudge.

      Uh--yeah...what is the difference between a government-issued RFID tag for automobiles and a license plate?

      I suppose the RFID tag is easier to read at night, and it won't get covered with mud. What did I miss?

      It's already possible to use automated cameras to record and identify passing license plates by visual means. It's done on a large scale on Ontario's highway 407 right now, in order to charge tolls without making people stop. RFID license tags would make the system quite a bit more robust, and be no more invasive. You give up your right to anonymity once you want to use a public road; deal with it.

      --
      ~Idarubicin
    4. Re:Funny by jokumuu · · Score: 1
      Sure for now you can opt by paying more

      You forgot the "For now" part.

    5. Re:Funny by Lordrashmi · · Score: 2, Interesting

      They already have that here in Texas. You get a 25% discount by using the radio tag and all major freeways have tag readers to monitor speed. That is how they come up with the nifty speed map.

      http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/layers/

  6. Tin foil hat by Xeo+024 · · Score: 4, Funny

    They won't be able to scan me as long as I hvae my tin foil hat on, right?

    1. Re:Tin foil hat by eclectro · · Score: 1

      Actually, if you put the RFID card under the tinfoil hat there is a good chance that they will not be able to scan you.

      However the computer will show you as not showing up for the day, which may cause problems for you if happens enough times.

      Because the RFID scanner might be "tricked" by your buddy carrying the card for you, I suspect that they will start to have RFID implants in the hand for kids.

      And the sheeple will do nothing to stop it.

      --
      Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
    2. Re:Tin foil hat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There you have it:

      1) Check in
      2) Cover RFID tag in tinfoil
      3) Leave

    3. Re:Tin foil hat by Paraplex · · Score: 1

      I guess you were being facetious, but for the benefit of anyone else reading this... erm... No, they won't be able to scan you so long as you wear your tin foil hat :) http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,61264,00. html 'plex

    4. Re:Tin foil hat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      1) Check in
      2) Cover RFID tag in tinfoil
      3) Leave

      though you'd have to go back at the end of the day with tinfoil covering the RFID tag, and then leave again w/o the tinfoil, or they'll think you live at the school.

    5. Re:Tin foil hat by Rick+the+Red · · Score: 1

      I do live at the school, you insenstive clod!

      --
      If all this should have a reason, we would be the last to know.
    6. Re:Tin foil hat by Chrontius · · Score: 1

      Actualy, try a tinfoil wallet :)

    7. Re:Tin foil hat by Karl+the+Pagan · · Score: 1

      My thoughts exactly:
      http://www.rsasecurity.com/rsalabs/staff /bios/ajue ls/publications/blocker/blocker_slides.pdf

    8. Re:Tin foil hat by i_want_you_to_throw_ · · Score: 1

      You mean tin foil or ALUMINUM foil? Tin and aluminum are distinctly different. I can't believe so many geeks never get this right.

  7. Mark of the Beast by cuteseal · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Hm... I wonder if this is coming closer to the Mark of the Beast that the bible talks about?

    In Australia, they use now swipe cards to check attendance at schools. Swiping at a terminal brings up a mugshot of the student on the screen, so the staff member can perform a visual check to see why Abdul Habib has blue eyes and long blonde hair...

    1. Re:Mark of the Beast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As a red state Christian in the US, I am excited. I can't wait for the world to end, because that means I get to go to heaven to be with Jesus and Busch. We'll be up there laughing our a$$es off at all you Kerry voters in hell.

    2. Re:Mark of the Beast by mkswap-notwar · · Score: 1

      Well, as long as they don't ever want to implant them in our foreheads, or in our hands, I think we're OK. Initially people said the same thing about Social Security Numbers, but that didn't quite pan out.

      --
      "I reject your reality, and substitute my own!"
    3. Re:Mark of the Beast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      of course not, but considering that the ORIGINAL hallmark of the social security number was that it was NOT TO BE USED for TRACKING people yet today you ARE your social security number... people who have it can and will know anything they want about you given a proper credit check (which for YOU costs money, for an outside company pretending to wish to extend you credit... is basically free) odd ?? SSoc is more abused than almost any system except the USPTO and the US legal system. Don't argue too much, I've owned 2 companies to date, and I've seen a LOT of legal battles. I'd rant longer but sadly I've work to get done.

    4. Re:Mark of the Beast by Takashi · · Score: 1

      Umm, where in Australia? Being a resident of said country and having never encoutered such a system, let alone heard of it. Even our very own Federal Government employees are not subjected to such tracking and recording. Please reference your claim.

    5. Re:Mark of the Beast by Mant · · Score: 4, Informative

      I wonder if this is coming closer to the Mark of the Beast that the bible talks about?

      How can it be? Revaltions it was an apocalyptic writing (one of many) about the state of the Christian church at that time, under threat from both overt source (persecution) and more subtle ones (people lured to other faiths, such as worship of the Roman emporer).

      Whatever the Mark of the Beast was supposed to be, it was something that existed then, not now. So it can't be RFID tags. Revelations was never a prophecey or prediction.

      A quick Google turned up this which looks like a good starting point for finding out about apocalyptic writings.

    6. Re:Mark of the Beast by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      Ummmm....where exactly in Australia? At my school, (~1200 students, + part time), they don't do this. I don't know anyone at any other schools where this is done.

      I haven't needed to use my swipe card since I started high school, all it's done for me so far is let me get books at the library. And there, I use a barcode anyway.

    7. Re:Mark of the Beast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It was implemented at my school when i was in year 12 and it was excellent. It just replaces roll call so you get 20 minutes less school... AND we got the ability to leave school grounds during free periods provided we swiped off (thus relieving the school of insurance).

      This was at Lithgow High in NSW. There wasn't any photos attached since the system was pretty basic (it looked homemade) but it was very cool and loved by all who used it.

      The swipe card itself WAS the library card which had a barcode on it. So there was no need to get another ID card..

    8. Re:Mark of the Beast by Paladin144 · · Score: 0, Offtopic
      Whatever the Mark of the Beast was supposed to be, it was something that existed then, not now.

      Wow, good thing you're here to tell us what Revelation (no "s") means. People have struggled with its meaning for centuries, but you're here to tell us that it has no meaning in this modern age. Well, that's a relief.

      Dude, have you read Revelation? It can mean anything. The imagery is so insanely weird it can be interpreted pretty much however you want. Personally, I believe it is as relevant now as it was then, if not moreso.

      One of the major portions relating to the mark of the beast is the fact that those who do not have it will be unable to buy or sell. That would imply that the antichrist would have complete mastery over the economic system of the time. If we were to store and access our bank accounts on an RFID / verichip hybrid, we'd be one step closer to a psuedo-capitalist, totalitarian economic system. That would suck.

    9. Re:Mark of the Beast by Mant · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      but you're here to tell us that it has no meaning in this modern age

      That isn't what I said, at all. I said that what it was written about was contemporary to the writer, that is what apocalyptic texts writers were doing. Of course, something written hundreds or thousands of years can have meaning now. There is plenty of modern relavance in meaning in, say, the writings of the Greek Philosphers. It wasn't written for us, or about out time, but it can still be relevant.

      However, in the same way an ancient Greek text discussing democracy isn't talking about the US Electoral College, Revelation isn't talking about RFID tags, and for the same reason.

      To understand what is being spoken about you have to understand context. One reason much of the imagery is weird is most readers (me included) don't share the cultural references of the writer. Revelation isn't just something at the back of the bible, it is one of a whole set of apocalyptic texts, deliberately cryptic works addressing contemporary issues.

      The cryptic nature means, yes, you can re-interpret it in many was if you wish, and the interpretation may well have meaning or relevance for you, now. You may even choose to use something never written as a prophecy or predicition as one, your choice.

      Of course, I'm looking it as a historical document. If as a matter of faith you think it is prophetic, despite the historical evidence of how apocalytic writing was used at the time, then you are going to have a very different view.

    10. Re:Mark of the Beast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry man, itl'l just be you and Jesus... Killing innocents isnt a "Good Thing(tm)."

    11. Re:Mark of the Beast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      A quick Google turned up this which looks like a good starting point for finding out about apocalyptic writings.

      That Worldwide Church of god link presents just one of many perspectives, and is far from normative. Balance it with a look at this take on the Beast of Revelation.

    12. Re:Mark of the Beast by frishack · · Score: 1

      The revelation given to John by God was a vision of the future. READ the first two verses:

      "1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2who testifies to everything he saw--that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near."

      The bible says this is a prophecy, so either you believe the bible or you don't, just don't make stupid shit up.

      -tical-

    13. Re:Mark of the Beast by raider_red · · Score: 1

      There's actually three major interpretations of the Book of Revelation which are espoused in the modern Church. Pre-millenialism is the belief that the Revelation to St. John represents a prophetic vision of the end of the world, and that it hasn't happened yet. Post-millenialism is the idea that the Revelation was a prophecy of the Church's persecution by Rome, the fall of Jerusalem, and the eventual rise of Christian Rome. Amillenialism is the belief that Revelation is an allegorical writing about the kingdom of heaven and the conditions which have existed for most of history on earth.

      Pre-millenialism tends to get most of the attention, mainly because its sensational and sells lots of books.

      Personally, I lean to the idea of Revelation as allegorical. However, I'd be opposed to the idea of putting a chip anywhere in my body just in case the pre-millenialists are right.

      --
      It's good to use your head, but not as a battering ram.
    14. Re:Mark of the Beast by CptNerd · · Score: 1
      Personally, I lean to the idea of Revelation as allegorical. However, I'd be opposed to the idea of putting a chip anywhere in my body just in case the pre-millenialists are right.

      Which may be a good thing, if it means that people think about the repercussions of some entity (personal, governmental, religious) being able to control an individual's personal property and livelyhood to the extent as the Beast in Revelation.

      --
      By the taping of my glasses, something geeky this way passes
    15. Re:Mark of the Beast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dude, there is some seriously freaky shit in that document. If I understood them correctly, observing the Sabbath on Sunday is the mark of the Beast. WTF??

    16. Re:Mark of the Beast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Revaltions it was an apocalyptic writing (one of many) about the state of the Christian church at that time, under threat from both overt source (persecution) and more subtle ones (people lured to other faiths, such as worship of the Roman emporer).


      Spoken with an authoritative tone - but I can't believe a word you say if you can't even get the name of the book right...

    17. Re:Mark of the Beast by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 1
      So, am I the only one who thinks that we are living in a post-apocalptic world. Think about the visions of John, then think about the events of WWII. The Children of Judah DID have numbers on their hands. (Concentration camp prisoners had a tattoed ID number.) The end of the "world" did come by fire. (With the advent of nuclear weaponry, Total War(tm) has largely been eliminated. The world John wrote about was ruled by conquerors.) And in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, you literally did have people who were standing one second, and gone the next. They were evaporated by the X-Ray bursts.

      I could go further in my little analysis. But our world sufferes from a giant case of "what do we do now?"

      --
      "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
      --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
    18. Re:Mark of the Beast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Revelations was never a prophecey or prediction.


      If this is true, then why did the link you include state the following:

      John's work is also a prophecy as well as a revelation (1:3; 22:7, 10, 18-19). He even calls his book a prophetical work and tells us the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (19:10). Thus, it is the word of God--given through John--to the church.

      Sounds like you don't know what the heck you're talking about!
    19. Re:Mark of the Beast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2who testifies to everything he saw--that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near."

      It certainly says it's a prophecy, but also says it will take place soon after it was given. That's some time ago, now.

    20. Re:Mark of the Beast by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      At mine you can leave anyway, providing that you're in year 11/12, in the frees.

    21. Re:Mark of the Beast by darkstar949 · · Score: 1

      Sounds to me like you could go as far as to say that money itself is the "mark of the beast". Think about it - without money you are largely unable to buy or sell anything.

  8. oi by fizze · · Score: 1

    omg Im so glad that I dont have to attend a school. *sigh*

    Curious though how/when/if this will be adpoted in Europe....

    --
    Powerful is he who overpowers his temptations.
  9. to the police?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    transmitted to both the school administrators, as well as city police

    Don't the police have better things to do instead of tracking students? Like maybe fighting crime?

    1. Re:to the police?? by foxhound01 · · Score: 0

      yeah, like the ones being committed by students skipping school?

      --


      Linux is to the internet as Duct Tape is to the Universe.
    2. Re:to the police?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not that I agree with the practice, but it's illegal to skip school.

    3. Re:to the police?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, in a choice between tackling hardened criminals and dealing with petty crime, the petty crime will always come first; perhaps the hardened criminals will go away if you ignore them....

    4. Re:to the police?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      no.

      they do not. Crime is completely gone, and the streets are now safe to drive on. the police needs something else to do cince the ATF will not let them shake down toy stores that may be carrying a patent infringing product, and the thoughtcrime devisions have not been built yet.

    5. Re:to the police?? by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 1
      Evidently, not in this town. According to the article, it is a very low key, middle class suburb. Not a lot happening.

      So they invent something. "My child might be kidnapped!" (has never, ever happened in this town, but it might)

      At the Spring district, where no student has ever been kidnapped, the system is expected to be used for more pedestrian purposes, Chief Bragg said: to reassure frantic parents, for example, calling because their child, rather than coming home as expected, went to a friend's house, an extracurricular activity or a Girl Scout meeting.

      You can call the police, and find out if Janey went to Mary's house after school. (Instead of you teaching Janey to call and tell you where she is)

    6. Re:to the police?? by ultranova · · Score: 1

      You can call the police, and find out if Janey went to Mary's house after school. (Instead of you teaching Janey to call and tell you where she is)

      Maybe I'm just stupid, but I can't figure out how an RFID tag that simply lets the school know when/if you arrive and leave let police know where you went after you left. Of course, I didn't read TFA, so maybe I missed them fitting RFID tags at every lamppost and every door/window of everyone's houses...

      --

      Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

    7. Re:to the police?? by HeghmoH · · Score: 1

      Tracking truant students is, theoretically, one of the jobs of the police. However, I get the feeling this information will be piped directly to /dev/null, or at the very least nobody is ever going to look at it.

      --
      Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
    8. Re:to the police?? by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 1

      Well, no, it won't (currently) let them know exactly where she went, but it does let them know she got on a different bus, and where she got off.
      Mobile RFID receivers, mounted on the buses. No need for one on every lamppost.

    9. Re:to the police?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Don't the police have better things to do instead of tracking students? Like maybe fighting crime?"

      It's a slippery slope -- one minute you're allowing children a little bit of freedom, and the next, adults will start wanting it too...

  10. Cutting class not possible? by messiuh · · Score: 0

    Sure it is.. if there is a signal being transferred, there is a way to Jam it. [insert Spaceballs reference here]

  11. Debian Troll's Best, wherefore art thou? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Debian Troll's Best would have an apt-get themed solution to the problem!

    1. Re:Debian Troll's Best, wherefore art thou? by hplasm · · Score: 0

      apt-get install rfidfkoff

      --
      ...and he grinned, like a fox eating shit out of a wire brush.
  12. Sorry, you are wrong.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    but just for once, if you're not in the position to be affected by this, shut the hell up

    Attitudes such as this are very dangerous, sir. I pity your students.

  13. RFID circumvention by shadowmas · · Score: 5, Insightful

    soon we'll be learning tons of ways to circumvent RFIDs. kids are very good at finding out ways to circumvent stuff like this. nomatter how good a system might be when it goes against lots of kids with a lot of time on there hands and new ways of thinking i wonder how long it will take b4 kids find away around this.

    1. Re:RFID circumvention by lachlan76 · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Disclaimer: I am 15

      • Aluminium foil
      • Coming to school and leaving it in my locker
      • Hack the computer system
      • Buying a similar model, reprogramming it, and getting someone to take it to your classes, if need be


      And finally, if they eventually decide to implant:
      • Knife...most people won't go this fat to get out of class, but I don't feel much pain anyway



      Thos are just the things I thought of in the last two minutes. I could probably think of more more.
    2. Re:RFID circumvention by jhuggart · · Score: 1

      I agree completely. Just as there will never be a secure network, there will never be a fool-proof method to force kids to do what you want them to do.

    3. Re:RFID circumvention by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      * Knife...most people won't go this fat to get out of class, but I don't feel much pain anyway

      dude, if you need to lose weight, you don't have to go under the knife, just get to the gym! sreb.

    4. Re:RFID circumvention by Silver+Sloth · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If it's anything like his bus pass it will be 15 mins before my 15 yr old son loses his - and they'll implant one over my dead body.

      --
      init 11 - for when you need that edge.
    5. Re:RFID circumvention by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      > they'll implant one over my dead body.

      "As you wish, Citizen." *click-click*
      - Your Neighborhood Compliance Officer

    6. Re:RFID circumvention by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What if you don't know you have 'it'.

      Wasn't there a school that was giving away ipods recently ?

    7. Re:RFID circumvention by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I prefer "they'll implant one over THEIR dead body"...

    8. Re:RFID circumvention by Fulcrum+of+Evil · · Score: 1

      Aluminium foil

      Putting the foil directly behind the tag should cut its range drastically without being very obvious.

      --
      "We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
    9. Re:RFID circumvention by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Water, such as in the human body, absorbs radio waves of RFID frequencies. Implantation doesn't work too well, or just wear a watery heat pad over the thing.

    10. Re:RFID circumvention by matt-fu · · Score: 1
      soon we'll be learning tons of ways to circumvent RFIDs.

      Two words: home schooling.

    11. Re:RFID circumvention by gCGBD · · Score: 1

      There already are numerous RFID tricks you can play. These things are not designed for security at all.

      You can even make up your own RFID tags.

      Even embedded in the flesh, you could still make up a few that return your buddies ID code.

      Worst case you can build a jammer. Set it up to turn on and off intermittantly. School officials will think something is wrong with their system. After the 20th time in a week they call for tech support they'll just shut the system down, the taxpayers will be out a truckload of cash, and some sales guy somewhere will be driving home in a new Porsche.

      Google for an RFID Jammer, or for the RFID reader wrist watch, or RFID Hacker.

      --

      O=='=++
    12. Re:RFID circumvention by puckylunk · · Score: 1

      I don't know enough about the technology to speak from any perspective of expertise, but if the RFID technology is similar to the EZ-Pass I used in the tolls up in NYC... Well, the EZ-Pass comes with a little anti-static bag you can keep the tag in when you don't want it to be read. If it's something you carry, you could just slip it into something like this and that's that. Now that I think of it, I wonder if that would also work for the security tags that are supposed to stop shoplifters. Not that anyone ever reacts when those alarms go off any more, but it's a curiosity.

    13. Re:RFID circumvention by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      If it can break through the skin, it's strong enough.

  14. Ah the prisoner by pklong · · Score: 5, Funny

    Where am I?
    In the School

    What do you want?
    Information

    Whose side are you on?
    That would be telling . . .

    We want Information
    You won't get it

    By hook or by crook . . .
    We will

    Who are you?
    The new Number Two

    Who is Number One?
    You are Number Six

    I am not a number . . .
    I'm a free man!
    (Mocking laughter)

    --

    Philip

    Signatures are broken

    1. Re:Ah the prisoner by the_duke_of_hazzard · · Score: 0

      Journo: "What do you stand for?" No. 6: "No comment" Journo: "Freedom and democracy, very good sir!"

    2. Re:Ah the prisoner by AnswerIs42 · · Score: 2, Funny

      And if you cut class and try to get away... a giant bouncing ball comes and hunts you down...

    3. Re:Ah the prisoner by Hatta · · Score: 1

      If this is making anyone nostalgic, or piques your curiosity, there are torrents for the whole series at digitaldistractions.org

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    4. Re:Ah the prisoner by edanshekar · · Score: 1

      Or you could order the 17 episode DVD set from Amazon and watch the whole thing in one marathon weekend!

    5. Re:Ah the prisoner by Reziac · · Score: 1

      Too late, I already bought the boxed set of DVDs... oh dear. Maybe I should check 'em for hidden RFID chips. ;)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
  15. Freedom to monitor by Homology · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Upon being scanned, the data are transmitted to both the school administrators, as well as city police.

    The official USA propaganda is that the rest of the world envy USA because of it's freedom. Well, I don't envy the freedom US authorities has to continously monitoring anyone for no reason at all.

    1. Re:Freedom to monitor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      1 school district in TX != everyone.

      I agree that it's a bad idea, but hyperbole like that only makes you look foolish.

    2. Re:Freedom to monitor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Something tells me they need to bump up RFID enforcement in the English grammar studies department of school.

    3. Re:Freedom to monitor by rongten · · Score: 2, Insightful

      When Thomas Jefferson said The price of freedom is eternal vigilance some of you think he meant this?
      Why should we limit our civil liberties in trade of "security"?
      Why it is easy of letting something go, but hard and strenous to conquer it back?
      Some things we are hearing around start making 1984 sound like a bed time history.

      --
      Zed: Nothing is ever easy
    4. Re:Freedom to monitor by Homology · · Score: 1
      1 school district in TX != everyone. I agree that it's a bad idea, but hyperbole like that only makes you look foolish.

      Of course I'm aware that this is just one school district in Texas. However, this monitoring crops up just about everywhere in USA, and appears not to meet much opposition. Just witness the speed of the introduction of the PATRIOT act. As if the powers given by the PATRIOT act was not enough, they even have a draft of PATRIOT II. I'm sure you can find some other examples.

    5. Re:Freedom to monitor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They'll literally beat the shit out of you? I'm getting the picture that police officers in small towns induce rectal prolapses in suspects.

      Of course, I've met someone who was on a football in a small town in Texas who could attest to the accuracy of Varsity Blues. I guess that's the current workaround.

    6. Re:Freedom to monitor by Kidbro · · Score: 4, Insightful

      1 school district in TX != everyone.

      The interesting thing is that you're so "free" that this gross invasion of privacy is allowed. While in a "less free" country this would be completely against all laws.

      I'm not really trying to judge, but it's not clear which of the systems that is best at protecting individual freedom.

    7. Re:Freedom to monitor by ifwm · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Ok, where? YOU give examples please, since they seem to be so abundant.

      As far as the PATRIOT act, it's getting dialed back bit by bit, which is how our system here works. Someone does something foolish in the heat of the moment, and cooler heads eventually prevail.

    8. Re:Freedom to monitor by ifwm · · Score: 1

      See, the problem is that you are talking about children. Children are not afforded the same privacy "rights" that adults get. In schools here children can be searched, their belongings can be searched, and their lockers can be searched, all without cause. Yes it has been affirmed over and over, because children ARE NOT citizens. Spout on all you want about "gross invasion of privacy" but it's not. These children simply don't have the same privacy rights as adults.

    9. Re:Freedom to monitor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem is that the US Constitution/Bill of Rights is the most free document/government foundation in the world. Unfortunately, people as a whole are becoming stupider, more complacent and less educated. This leads them to stupid philosophies (which I actually hear people SAY repeatedly all the time) such as "I value our liberties, but we have to give some of them up if we want to be safe".

      The ideals, idea and original aspirations of America are incredible and unequaled. It's too bad today's people are too selfish and narrow-minded to keep it that way.

      And "as well as city police"... What the fuck?! What do the police have to do with it?! That is really bizarre. That's like "If you miss a day of work, we're going to report it to your local police station"....?!

    10. Re:Freedom to monitor by Troed · · Score: 1

      ... in the USA. In other countries children do have more rights.

      You're not free. We're just wondering when you're going to realise it.

    11. Re:Freedom to monitor by enjo13 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Freedom is sometimes about doing the wrong thing, just as much as doing the right. In this case the people of this town decided (of their own volition) that this was what they wanted to do. This wasn't imposed by the faceless government, but by the people themselves (through their elected school board I'm assuming). That's freedom and democracy in action...

      That said, this is a really sad indication of the neo-conservative movement sweeping through America (particularly in the southern states such as Texas). This is the next logical step from the same people that brought you teen curfews.. The same people up in arms over the intro. to Monday Night football. The same people who become outraged at this slightest hint of sexuality... in short, in their (well founded IMHO) desire to protect their children and themselves, they've lost all semblance of reason. On the surface making sure kids stay in school and learn gives them the best chance for success as adults.. that's a noble cause. However, they've taken a shotgun approach here. Now they're teaching kids that humiliation and bold invasions of privacy should be expected... This doesn't create a society of good adults, but wildly disenfranchised and angry ones.

      --
      Turn s60 photos into awesome videos with mScrapbook for all S60 3rd edition phones!
    12. Re:Freedom to monitor by macaulay805 · · Score: 0

      "All it takes is a match to start a forest fire."

    13. Re:Freedom to monitor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I dunno, sounds to me like the school district is being pretty vigilant regarding the whereabouts of the kids....

    14. Re:Freedom to monitor by Hatta · · Score: 1

      These children simply don't have the same privacy rights as adults.

      And that's ok with you? Don't you remember what it was like to be 15 and treated like shit? Shouldn't we be fighting for the rights of the disenfranchised youth?

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    15. Re:Freedom to monitor by geoffspear · · Score: 1

      Children are not citizens now? Guess they'd better start throwing all the ones with passports in jail for falsifying government documents, then.

      --
      Don't blame me; I'm never given mod points.
    16. Re:Freedom to monitor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow. I don't live in the USA, so I didn't know this. But WTF? Have international children human rights reached your country yet?

      Here in Europe (Belgium), the only thing that can legally be searched is probably a locker (since it's school property). Everything else is private. And it damn well should stay that way.

      Children are individuals, just like adults. It's not because they happen to be a bit younger they shouldn't have the same rights as everyone.

      "the land of the free" never seizes to amaze me...

    17. Re:Freedom to monitor by BgJonson79 · · Score: 1

      I'd guess most of the Slashdotters from out of town are not familiar with the federal system of government, as intended by the Constitution.

      --

      There are four boxes used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order.

    18. Re:Freedom to monitor by rongten · · Score: 1
      Yes.
      Absolutely.

      In the same way the child of today growns considering pretty normal carrying a RFID tag with him, the grownup of tomorrow will find normal having the govern listen to his phone calls.

      I guess it is a new policy between software makers, drug dealers and legislators alike:

      Take them when they are young.
      --
      Zed: Nothing is ever easy
    19. Re:Freedom to monitor by Facekhan · · Score: 1

      And "as well as city police"... What the fuck?! What do the police have to do with it?! That is really bizarre. That's like "If you miss a day of work, we're going to report it to your local police station"....?!

      This is the real issue. School is for training obedient workers/consumers who don't care to think for themselves. Good workers never miss work. Good students never miss school. School children are taught that the quality/safety/usefullness of the school is secondary to their obedience to its demands including attendence. Just think of all those useless days with a substitute where you literally did nothing but had to be there.

    20. Re:Freedom to monitor by ViolentGreen · · Score: 1

      This doesn't create a society of good adults, but wildly disenfranchised and angry ones.

      I take issue with this. Who's to say who is a "good adult?" Is a "good adult" simply someone who agrees with you?

      This is not a government mandate; this is a decision by a local school district. If enough people complain, this will not happen. No comment on it is assumed a pro-vote. If the parents in this district are OK with this than so be it. As this is, this is no more of a bold invasion of privacy than a "Present" during roll call.

      --
      Not everything is analogous to cars. Car analogies rarely work.
    21. Re:Freedom to monitor by stanmann · · Score: 1

      What makes you think they don't listen to your phone calls?? you are most likely broadcasting over public airwaves via either cellular or 900/2.4 cordless.

      --
      Food not Bombs is a nice platitude but it breaks down when you notice that the Bombees are usually well fed
    22. Re:Freedom to monitor by rongten · · Score: 1

      This is very well possible, but the fact is, I would recognize this as a violation of my privacy, but would a child who has been subjected to control from a relative young age have the same response?

      For the mobile story, a friend working in the field told me the old ETACS were completely analoc, so easy to tap into.

      GSM should provide the necessary privacy, since the comunications are encrypted and there is the active need for the teleco to help the tapper.

      If this is true, I guess we will need to have dsa keys for the 3rd generation mobiles..

      --
      Zed: Nothing is ever easy
    23. Re:Freedom to monitor by karmatic · · Score: 1

      That's not entirely accurate. They may demand to search your person or backpack, but you may refuse. Your parents can consent to a backpack search.

      If there is a really good reason to search you, they can call the cops, who call a judge, and try to convince him there is probable cause for a search warrant.

      (Had it happen to me. I didn't have what they were looking for - I just didn't want to be searched.)

    24. Re:Freedom to monitor by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 1


      As this is, this is no more of a bold invasion of privacy than a "Present" during roll call.


      When I was in highschool, attendance was taken at the beginning of each class. Not every second of my being on or within range of school property. It's a subtle, but distinct difference.
    25. Re:Freedom to monitor by tf23 · · Score: 1

      And that's ok with you?

      Yep. Sure is.

      Look, you seem to equate "being checked up upon" as "being treated like shit".

      They're not one in the same.

      Youths need to be raised. They need guidance. You can't very well do that, and do it well, without constantly checking up on what your kids are doing, where they're doing it, and whom they're doing it with.

      I didn't fully understand this (and thought it was all BS) until I had kids, btw.

    26. Re:Freedom to monitor by ViolentGreen · · Score: 1

      It's a minor difference. So attendance is taken at the beginning of the class. When I was in highschool iit was this way as well. Then the teacher would close the door and know whether anyone leaves the room. It's the same thing, this method just adds an additional 5 minutes at the beginning of the class for instruction.

      --
      Not everything is analogous to cars. Car analogies rarely work.
    27. Re:Freedom to monitor by tf23 · · Score: 1

      That said, this is a really sad indication of the neo-conservative movement sweeping through America

      I don't agree with you there. I'm not conservative, I don't live in the South. I'd love it if our local school system had this.

      The reason that I would love it is that we've dealt with one of our teenagers skipping school. Everything from faking parental calls, to fake #'s, to friend's cell phone numbers.

      It would be nice to see that the kids are there, and are where they are supposed to be at the click of a mouse.

      Now they're teaching kids that humiliation and bold invasions of privacy should be expected

      humiliation? How is it humiliating for your parents to be able to check up on where you are?

      bold face invasions? That's BS. Most students are never searched, lockers never searched, cars never searched. Those that are, from what I've seen, whatever contraband they're looking for is found.

      Just my $.02, from a parent in Ohio.

    28. Re:Freedom to monitor by tf23 · · Score: 1

      Missing school is generally against the law in most states. Age depends on the state, I believe.

      This is the real issue. School is for training obedient workers/consumers who don't care to think for themselves.

      What a bunch of BS. School are intended to educate. Parents should be teaching their kids work ethics and how to be a common-sense consumer. Parents should definitely be teaching their children how to think before any school does!!!

      Yes, schooling should, and hopefully does, promote all that and help further it.

      But it's not a school district's job to raise the kids.

      School children are taught that the quality/safety/usefullness of the school is secondary to their obedience to its demands including attendence

      Look, rules are rules. Local cities generally get to make the rules up for their school district. But I can't imagine a district that doesn't have a "must attend" high on their rules-list. It seems fairly obvious to me that rule needs to be there, and must be abided. If they're not attending they have no chance to learn what that city (and state, and no-child-left-behind...ugh) has deemed they need to learn.

      ...all those useless days with a substitute where you literally did nothing but had to be there.

      What school district were you in? Sounds pretty shitty to me.

    29. Re:Freedom to monitor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm glad to live in Canada, eh?

    30. Re:Freedom to monitor by blueg3 · · Score: 1

      As per our Constitution and system of government, states and local jurisdictions (in this case one school district) are free to make their own laws, as long as they do not conflict with federal laws.

      We would, in a sense, be no more free if we had many strict federal laws that prevented, say, the use of RFID tags in tracking people.

      I swear, one school district adopts a new system and a lot of people who don't even live there (or in this country) get in an uproar about OMG THEY'RE GOING TO TRACK OUR EVERY MOVEMENT WITH CHIPS IMBEDDED IN OUR FLESH WTF US SUCKS.

    31. Re:Freedom to monitor by DaFallus · · Score: 1

      I spent the first half of my high school career in California, and the 2nd half in Katy, a suburb of Houston. I can tell you right now that Texas high schools have more things in common with a Nazi prison camp than they do with most other high schools. My school had no windows, it was always 70 degrees, and everyone always wore the same thing: Polo shirt and jeans. This wasn't mandatory, everyone just liked to wear the exact same thing. Kind of reminded me of that movie, Disturbing Behavior.

      Spring is a suburb of Houston, sort of. I went to a high school in a different suburb and all I have to say is that I'm not surprised. My sister is a senior at the same high school that I graduated from in 2000. There are always police in the cafeteria watching everyone and now they have implemented a new policy which allows them to "randomly" drug test anyone who decides to park their cars on campus.

      Schools in most of Texas are very strict about attendance, as well as dress code and a variety of other things. The more students that attend, the more funding the school district gets. They tried to raise attendance rates by offering exemptions for finals. If you have an A in the class you were allowed 3 absences, 2 with a B, and 1 with a C. If you met those requirements, you didn't have to take the final. Either this wasn't working or they have just gotten more greedy.

      --
      No one cares what your captcha was

      Houston TX, USA
    32. Re:Freedom to monitor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is *not* a minor difference. We're talking RFID tags here. What's to stop anyone else from tracking them once they've left the school?

      Also, the next logical step once this one becomes the norm is for the tags to be placed subdermally. Once they're subdermal there's no reason (unless you're a tin-foil hat wearing lunatic) to take them out once you're an adult.

      Ever play hide and go seek when the guy that's "it" has you tagged with a transponder?

      But then again, if you've got nothing, no reason, or sense enough to hide ...

    33. Re:Freedom to monitor by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

      Drip, drip, drip...

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    34. Re:Freedom to monitor by npsimons · · Score: 1

      On the surface making sure kids stay in school and learn gives them the best chance for success as adults..

      Anyone who thinks that schools are anything other than conditioning camps to keep kids from making trouble while their parents slave away just to survive should read this
    35. Re:Freedom to monitor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > rules are rules.

      in other words "Befehl ist Befehl", a reasoning that got widly recognized as incorrect after WWII.

      rules are a means, not an end.

      When I was in highschool there were times when a teacher was sick/got called away for some emergency when we just got send to study hall. If that happened to be in the morning or around lunch break I'd go home (and, gasp, I did not get in trouble, even though the rules said you had to be there, and several teachers knew I wasn't)

    36. Re:Freedom to monitor by ifwm · · Score: 1

      Don't be a dumbass, you know very well that simply having a passport does not make you a citizen. Why say something so stupid? Children become citizens (in the US) when they turn 18, and are legally allowed to determine, through their vote, the future of the country.

    37. Re:Freedom to monitor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't know what kind of parent your are but it sounds to me that you failed as a parent (at least about school) so you would like to pass the reposniblity to someone else. Why not you try to change your kids behavior. Stop looking for the easy way out and do your part as a parent.

    38. Re:Freedom to monitor by Pantero+Blanco · · Score: 1

      "Children become citizens (in the US) when they turn 18"

      Actually, no...A child born in America to American citizens is born with citizenship.

    39. Re:Freedom to monitor by geoffspear · · Score: 1
      Actually, I know that to get a passport, you have to fill out a form that states that you're a US citizen, and sign a statement acknowledging that you understand that any false statements on that form constitute perjury, and also explaining the punishments for perjury.

      I also know very well that Title 8 of the US Code states that a person born in the United States is a citizen at birth. Dumbass.

      --
      Don't blame me; I'm never given mod points.
    40. Re:Freedom to monitor by Fulcrum+of+Evil · · Score: 1

      Youths need to be raised. They need guidance.

      That's what parents are for. The school has no business raising my kids.

      --
      "We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
    41. Re:Freedom to monitor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What if the people chose to kill all the elderly because they just consume resources? Would that be freedom?

    42. Re:Freedom to monitor by chgros · · Score: 1

      This wasn't imposed by the faceless government, but by the people themselves (through their elected school board I'm assuming)
      You mean the faceless elected government? This isn't a really good argument...

    43. Re:Freedom to monitor by Anhaedra · · Score: 0

      Well, I live in a small town, (We most interesting thing we have is Wal-Mart) and the police don't do anything that you are describing. Or at least I've never witnessed or heard of it.

      --
      Please flee in terror in an orderly manner.
    44. Re:Freedom to monitor by HiThere · · Score: 1

      Yes, but the Feds have laws in place REQUIRING the telco to help them. So fat lot of good making it difficult to tap does. If you want privacy, get those old "voice scramblers" used in spy shows. I dont' know that they really exist, but they certainly COULD exist. (I mean, with VOIP they'd be a cinch, but even without it they aren't THAT difficult.)

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    45. Re:Freedom to monitor by HiThere · · Score: 1

      The problem is that government is about power, with reference made to the rules (Constitution & laws) only when someone is able to force a challenge. And the judges (referees) aren't as neutral as they like to pretend.

      If the government does something criminal, it's quite difficult for anyone except a DA, or perhaps a Chief of Police, to complain. And if it's the government doing the illegality, they are quite unlikely to complain.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    46. Re:Freedom to monitor by Reziac · · Score: 1

      You're correct in that children haven't got the same legal rights as adults do. However, the best way to teach a kid to sneak, is to never give that kid any privacy. The best way to teach a kid to lie, is to demonstrate that you don't trust him.

      RFID'ing kids demonstrates to a kid that he has no privacy, and is not trusted.

      So it's not a matter of rights. It's a matter of how kids react negatively to having no privacy or trust from adults. To teach a child to be self-responsible, and to not abuse privileges of privacy and personal trust, adults must demonstrate some level of trust that he CAN be responsible. Yes, it's not the same level as you'd give another adult -- kids don't have the world-experience to cope with that. But if you restrict it totally, the kid either winds up emotionally crippled, or rebels.

      Besides, the whole idea is to raise kids into adults, not to keep them children forever. How are they ever going to become self-responsible adults, capable of making sane decisions about privacy and trust, if not given a chance to grow into it?

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    47. Re:Freedom to monitor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I spent the first half of my high school career in California, and the 2nd half in Katy, a suburb of Houston. I can tell you right now that Texas high schools have more things in common with a Nazi prison camp than they do with most other high schools.
      I'm from the Klein ISD school district that is in Spring, Texas and can definitely agree that the schools are pretty close to something the nazis would have been proud to mastermind.
      I was forcefully expunged from my "educational experience" about 6 months after the great Columbine scare, and was only half way through the 10'th grade (minus the fact that most of my school time was spent in In School Suspension where I got absolutely no education other then learning the fine skill of sleeping sitting up for about 7 hours a day.)
      We had to carry an ID hanging around our neck during the whole time we were on campus so everyone knew who we were so we were more deterred to use violence against each other or some other equally crap explanation. The bad thing about the ID was you could get away with not wearing or having one, you were just denied to right to use educational resources like the library. I lost mine rather quickly and was denied the right to have another made until I would make myself look more like a fine upstanding individual. (I was a serious dress code disciplinary problem among other things.)
      Eventually I was just kicked out after organizing a number of creative protests on campus for student civil rights and against the authoritarian policies mandated by the faculty.
    48. Re:Freedom to monitor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can't buy anything you say because you call Texas a "southern" state. I was born in Tennessee and I live in Texas. Texas is not southern.

      I have two kids in public schools, and one in college. All are doing great. How about you?

      I do agree on one thing. This was decided by local government, which of course is much closer to the people; i.e. it was not mandated by the feds. If they decide they don't like it, they can eliminate it.

      JET

    49. Re:Freedom to monitor by Hatta · · Score: 1

      Look, you seem to equate "being checked up upon" as "being treated like shit".

      They're not one in the same.


      They're pretty close to equivalent. Firstly, privacy is a fundmental right. Secondly, consider why this information is not volunteered by the child. Because they expect to be treated like shit if they do.

      If instead you respect the rights of children to make their own decisions, they'll trust you enough to open up to you. Then you can be there and provide the guidance that we both agree is necessary.

      I didn't fully understand this (and thought it was all BS) until I had kids, btw.

      Of course not. Oppressors always think they're doing the oppressed a favor. With parents there seems to be some additional genetic component that makes them completely irrational when it comes to their children. Consider that you may be more concerned with your own interests than that of your children.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    50. Re:Freedom to monitor by tf23 · · Score: 1

      Privacy may be a fundamental right to an adult, but not a child. Not where the parents are concerned.

      My parents had the right to meddle in my life as much as they liked. Looking back, they didn't as much as they could have. But the fact that they did bugged the hell out of me at the time. Now I look back and realize it was just them caring, and it was good parenting to be asking, who, when, where, what and why.

      A kid may equate "being checked up on" at the time with "being treated like shit", but more often then not, that's really not the case. When most kids grow up, and have kids of their own, they realize this. It's hard to admit.

      Oppressors always think they're doing the oppressed a favor

      I suppose that's true. It makes sense.

      makes them completely irrational when it comes to their children

      Yeah, my mom had that. I think it was called "over-worrying" because of this thing called "love".

      Consider that you may be more concerned with your own interests than that of your children.

      No, that's not the case. However, you bring up a valid point. In the US, until a child is 18, the parent is legally responsible for that child, and for that child's actions. So would I not want my kids to go on a rampage and throw some rocks threw some store windows only to be caught and myself sued to fix the store?

      hell no.

      So you'd be correct. I do worry about us being responsible for them. But that's the way things are, and I hope they don't screw up that bad.

    51. Re:Freedom to monitor by tf23 · · Score: 1

      Exactly!

      The problem, however, is that most people don't have enough common sense to know this. So the school's end up with a large chunk of the responsibility of raising them.

      And if you really want to see this first hand, volunteer at any lower-income school district. It's sad.

    52. Re:Freedom to monitor by zanderredux · · Score: 1

      while I agree that 1 district != all districts, the whole point is that this lone district has the power to set precedent. in the future, someone might try to do the same and will be told that it is ok to do that because it worked for 1 district back in TX.

    53. Re:Freedom to monitor by ifwm · · Score: 1

      "Actually, I know that to get a passport, you have to fill out a form that states that you're a US citizen"

      Liar. No child has ever legally filled out any form for a passport, because YOUR PARENTS MUST DO IT FOR YOU. You cannot get a passport without your parents pernmission, nor can you legally sign a contract.

      Dumbass.

    54. Re:Freedom to monitor by ifwm · · Score: 1

      "Actually, no...A child born in America to American citizens is born with citizenship"

      Actually, pedant, they don't have to be born to US citizens.

      Thank you for obscuring the point. Can you vote as a child? Then what influence do you have over any of the policies of the government that runs your life?

      None, that's right. Hence, they aren't citizens. Technically they are, but you can keep your technicalities, I'm talking about reality.

    55. Re:Freedom to monitor by geoffspear · · Score: 1
      Fine. Send the parents to prison for perjury.


      I notice that you conveniently don't mention the other half of my comment, where I point to the law that says you're completely and utterly wrong. Have a nice day.

      --
      Don't blame me; I'm never given mod points.
    56. Re:Freedom to monitor by geoffspear · · Score: 1
      "Citizen" does not mean "one who can vote". Felons aren't (usually) stripped of their citizenship, and they can't vote. Citizens who didn't own land, or have the right color skin, or a penis also in the past couldn't vote. They were still citizens.

      You have to be a real idiot to expect that you can define terms however you want to and that anyone will accept arguments based on those terms.

      --
      Don't blame me; I'm never given mod points.
    57. Re:Freedom to monitor by ifwm · · Score: 1

      "You have to be a real idiot to expect that you can define terms however you want to and that anyone will accept arguments based on those terms"

      And yet, that's exactly what you did. Strange...

    58. Re:Freedom to monitor by Kidbro · · Score: 1

      While this sub thread is completely irrelevant, I have a hard time coping with arguments based on what is factually incorrect. You can not take an existing , well defined term and redefine it to suit your argument. Period.

      If you want to know more about what the USA, as a country, means my "citizen", check with USCIS. Please.

    59. Re:Freedom to monitor by enjo13 · · Score: 1

      You are.. by definition a conservative. You may not VOTE conservative (although I suspect you do), but on this issue you are most definitely conservative.

      Having been a teenager in the 90's (I'm 25 now), I've been subject to searches and no contraband was EVER found because I never had it.

      I can promise you that curfews and these bold invasions of privacy ARE humiliating. I was stopped 25 times in 2 years (I moved to Arkansas at age 16) for teen curfew violations. I thought the law was stupid, and simply ignored it. I wasn't doing anything wrong, but my presence outside was against the law. Simply because I was under some arbitrary age limit. That experience has shaped me as an adult.. It's hard to look at America and everything surrounding it in the same light when you've lived in an America that had no respect for you or your basic rights.

      This is no different. Tagging our children does more to destroy their faith in the system than doing THEM any good. It may make you feel better, but it will chip away at the very foundation of your childs sense of self. There are better ways to deal with these issues, and destroying the faith of the majority because your kid can't stay in school is stupid, destructive, and (I would argue) absolutely un-american.

      --
      Turn s60 photos into awesome videos with mScrapbook for all S60 3rd edition phones!
  16. It Moved! by Zeb-9000 · · Score: 1

    From the mapquest link, Texas has moved, or we need to put an RFID tag on it so we can keep better track of Texas

  17. Beating up nerds? by exeme · · Score: 3, Funny

    Pretty freaky "Big Brother" stuff, but I guess its a good way to track students. But then I remember school being better when the trouble makers wern't there beating up us nerds..

    1. Re:Beating up nerds? by Chemisor · · Score: 1

      > But then I remember school being better when the
      > trouble makers wern't there beating up us nerds..

      You must have went to a girls' school...

    2. Re:Beating up nerds? by Darthmalt · · Score: 1

      Dude this will give the nerds even more power.

      1. Figure out how to circumvent RFID
      2. Loudly proclaim that you dont know how
      3. miss class and dont get caught
      4. Continue denying it
      5. ?????
      6. profit

    3. Re:Beating up nerds? by Frank+T.+Lofaro+Jr. · · Score: 1

      Jocks will offer to not beat up nerds if they'll hack the system to allow them to cut school.

      Popular girls will offer to date nerds for the same reason.

      Tbis could really help the nerds. :)

      --
      Just because it CAN be done, doesn't mean it should!
  18. Social engineering RFID into the children by WCMI92 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Something tells me the black market in RFID jammers and duplicators is going to be rampant...

    This is totally wrong. You are compelled by law to attend school. Most can't afford to NOT go to government school. Now the government is tagging people like animals.

    Be VERY afraid of the first RFID generation, ones who grow up with this commonplace, who never knew an age without it. Who will thing we are a bunch of kooks for opposing it.

    That is why those who want to social engineer people ALWAYS want to start with the schools...

    --
    Corporatism != Free Market
    1. Re:Social engineering RFID into the children by sckeener · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Be VERY afraid of the first RFID generation, ones who grow up with this commonplace, who never knew an age without it. Who will think we are a bunch of kooks for opposing it.

      That is why those who want to social engineer people ALWAYS want to start with the schools...


      I've always wondered how we can expect our kids to fight for liberty later when we gave them none.

      How can you miss something you never had?

      --
      "Only one thing, is impossible for god: to find any sense in any copyright law on the planet." Mark Twain
    2. Re:Social engineering RFID into the children by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 1

      Something tells me the black market in RFID jammers and duplicators is going to be rampant...

      Let me be very clear:

      * PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT * PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT *

      NEVER purchase or borrow somebody elses RFID jammer, you can't be sure of its origins or whether it has got any covert snooping devices installed.

      You should always make your own RFID Jammers and Tin Foil Beanies.

      * PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT * PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT *

      --
      liqbase :: faster than paper
    3. Re:Social engineering RFID into the children by Pragmatix · · Score: 1
      Exactly, you are dead one with this comment. This is a perfect way to condition a generation of people into thinking that being tracked by RFID is normal.

      Once they become adults, it will be no big deal if the program is continued--for your safety of course.

    4. Re:Social engineering RFID into the children by kabocox · · Score: 1

      You are compelled by law to attend school. Most can't afford to NOT go to government school. Now the government is tagging people like animals.

      I don't see a huge demand by "the people" to repeal mandated education. If the government didn't do it, the odds are most of the country wouldn't bother. Sad but true.

      Actually, I wouldn't mind having public schools be a simple fee based system and every sealth tax "for education" repealed. If education costs X, I want to know how much X is. I don't want X to be some random percentage of my Y salary that I have no I idea how much it is. Do you know how much of your sales tax, federal taxes, state taxes, and local taxes go into "education" of either yourself, your spouse, or your childern? I certainly don't.

    5. Re:Social engineering RFID into the children by ajs · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I've always wondered how we can expect our kids to fight for liberty later when we gave them none.

      If you mean "fight" in the sense of soldiering, don't worry that's the easy part. The mental conditioning that is employed in the military (any military) is designed to enhance the bonds that men (mostly men, though women take to it, the bonds are different, as they provoke more of a defensive than offensive FoF reflex) form in small social groups. The end result is that to a soldier "freedom" is like a team name. You might as well say "Red Sox". If you think that can't be the case because soldiers are willing to die "for freedom", think about what would happen if you killed a member of a baseball team. The other players would be willing to kill and/or die to either prevent or avenge that killing, even though they probably never knew each other before joining the team. Such is the power of the team instinct in humans.

      So, you could call an opressive dictatorship "freedom", just as long as your soldiers are indoctrinated to defend it.

      The real question is a much more frightening one: how can we expect our kids to defend freedom as our future leaders when we didn't given them any as children? To what depths will our future judges, congresspersons and presidents sink when they have been treated like this growing up?

      That one keeps me up at night.

    6. Re:Social engineering RFID into the children by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why do you think we have public education at all?

    7. Re:Social engineering RFID into the children by Kehvarl · · Score: 1

      Exactly, you are dead one with this comment

      Don't go giving Big Brother any ideas, they have enough of their own.

      Computer is your friend citizen; are you happy?

    8. Re:Social engineering RFID into the children by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 1
      "Something tells me the black market in RFID jammers and duplicators is going to be rampant... "

      That made me wonder, does anybody out there currently sell short range RFID jammers?

      --
      Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
    9. Re:Social engineering RFID into the children by HiThere · · Score: 1

      There's a big difference between fighting for the government and fighting for freedom. Often they are opposites.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
  19. As long as it's voluntary by sabri · · Score: 1

    I don't see any problem with it. Only advantages. In case of accidents you know where people are. In case of criminal investigations you can proove where you were. Just make it voluntary.

    --
    I'm not a complete idiot... Some parts are missing.
    1. Re:As long as it's voluntary by soccerisgod · · Score: 1

      Yeah, and if you refuse, you're under general suspicion. Since when do people have to prove their innocense? Last time I checked,it was the other way around!

      --
      If a train station is a place where a train stops, what's a workstation?
    2. Re:As long as it's voluntary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't see how you could possibly know where people are with that.
      All you know is that the RFID in question passed a sensor at a certain time.
      I fail to see how this invasive, expensive tool is going to help in alomost any situation.

    3. Re:As long as it's voluntary by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      But do the _STUDENTS_ need to volunteer, or the parents?

      I'm in high school now, and there is no chance in hell that I would ever put my signature on a permission form. I value not being tracked everywhere I go. Why give it up for slightly more safety, when I know that I'm gonna die younger than most anyway?

    4. Re:As long as it's voluntary by Soldrinero · · Score: 1
      You shouldn't have to prove where you were in a criminal investigation. You should be innocent until proven guilty. But I guess that's a quaint idea now...

      Also, if you're going somewhere or doing something where you could be injured, tell someone! That's just a good habit. There's no reason to let Big Brother follow you around for safety when a simple "I'm going hiking on trail X today" would suffice.

      --
      I would rather be killed by a terrorist than enslaved by my government.
    5. Re:As long as it's voluntary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If there is only positives aspects, why we dont tag every americans.

      Another example of privilege granted by student ID.

      Students, you lucky bastard.

    6. Re:As long as it's voluntary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you crazy. I hope you are a troll or you have a difficult life ahead, then again if you are a troll you will probably have a tough life anyway. Never heard of peodophiles/stalkers?

      Personally I will risk not knowing where 'Little Timmy' is when he grazes his knee, or where Bob 'the badman' Butcher is when he is selling the classmates some 'evil' weed. Sorry but the invasion of privacy along with the personal dangers outweigh any advantages, of which the main one seems to be less admin work for the school- hardly vital.

      I can say this from experience in my area. In the UK an expose in the 'News of the World' (a uk daily newspaper) was published revealing several peodophiles which shocked me as I saw a man (full page spread mug-shot) who lived two doors from a friend of mine and even worse, right next to a school for ages 7-11. After a little research by my friend he discovered a path leading from his back garden to the playground fence of the school (this man has multiple convictions including assault on a disabled 14 year old boy).

      I cannot speak with certainty about the US gov with regards to how closely these people are watched but I can say for sure that it is no where near enough in all countries.

      We cannot be soo quick to jump on these technologies just so that the police and schools jobs are easier. I recognise some good points but it is simply not worth it. There are enough sick people doing sick things in the world without allowing them to easily track any victim. What the hell are these people thinking?

      (On a side note around two weeks after the article a car pulled up next to me as I trudged home from work. It was dark so it was not clear who they were. A man approached me and asked if I had heard about the article from the paper. Upon closer inspection I saw he was wearing a bomber jacket with several crosses and badges stitched to it as were the other three in the car. I quickly realised that it was the 'National Front', a right wing racist and pretty much any other predjudice group in the UK. Now dont get me wrong I hate racists and biggots but this was different. They were actually doing something right for a change. So I decided to supply them with the information they needed - his address. Unfortunately I had given them the adress of the house next door. My friend told me about all this noise and shouting that night, oops. In the end the people in that house did tell them it was the guy next door, so he did get his 'just desserts'. True story)

  20. Maybe this is a case by antifoidulus · · Score: 4, Interesting

    of law suits gone too far. It seems recently the trend has been to blame the school for whatever trouble a kid causes, and since the school may have difficulty tracking down individual students and whether or not they were on campus, the school may very well end up being responsible. At least this way the schools can say definitievely whether or not someone came(provided they actually still have their rfid, w hich may be a big assumption)

    1. Re:Maybe this is a case by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Pick your scapegoat, but the only people you can really blame are those that chose to implement the system, and the citizens that didn't fight it.

      Stop scapegoating lawyers and lawsuits, because it's really getting old.

    2. Re:Maybe this is a case by b1scuit · · Score: 1

      But the lawyers! For god's sake, won't anyone think of the lawyers?!?

  21. Your not as smart as you're brain thinks it is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Obviously, you already skip class.

    1. Re:Your not as smart as you're brain thinks it is by plog · · Score: 2, Funny

      The AC, in its exuberant urge to aid the flailing grammarian, doesn't have a grasp on basic comma usage, forsooth, as the AC itself left out a necessary comma, and demands the removal of a comma that is nestled snugly into its proper syntax. Go read Faulkner, sheesh.

  22. Wonder why by chennes · · Score: 5, Interesting

    In an age when parents are suing schools for not keeping adequate track of their children (see http://www.overlawyered.com/archives/001699.html) is this any wonder?

    1. Re:Wonder why by Peyna · · Score: 1

      The key word in your post is "suing." Doesn't mean the courts will recognize their claim or want to put such a burden on schools.

      Similar lawsuits that have failed are along the lines of parents suing for a school's scoliosis program failing to notify them of a condition that the parents did not discover it until a later date and the kid suffered serious disability.

      I highly suspect the court will not want to place such a burden on the state, when they have refused to do so to schools in so many other cases.

      --
      What?
    2. Re:Wonder why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A program like this would be more likely to be seen as schools admitting they have a responsibility for the whereabouts of their students, and lead to more liability.

    3. Re:Wonder why by npsimons · · Score: 2, Insightful

      In an age when parents are suing schools for not keeping adequate track of their children (see http://www.overlawyered.com/archives/001699.html) is this any wonder?

      Am I the only one who thinks that the solution to this is not more invasions of privacy (via tags), but less legal bullshit (via less lawyers, more personal responsibility, and less stupid laws)?
    4. Re:Wonder why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      legal bullshit? I'm sorry, but because of your slandering of our profession, I'm going to have to sue you.

  23. Not the student, the badge by jamesl · · Score: 1, Funny

    RFID as a way to track students' arrival and departure.

    RFID is a way to track students' ID badge arrival and departure. Imagine the possibilities: Send security! The whole football team just walked into the girls' locker room. Again.

  24. Administrators are trustworthy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can imagine the majority of tin foil hat replies to this post, but just for once, if you're not in the position to be affected by this, shut the hell up.....

    I agree. And Ashcroft is the one to give the best assessment of US-wide deployment, and citizens who have not yet been tagged should shut the hell up (those who have been tagged, we will deal with you).

    That is the new efficiency of dialog in Americagrad. Love it or lump it.

    1. Re:Administrators are trustworthy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But just think how much easier it will be to get through airport security once everyone is properly tagged. A few readers scattered around town, and solving crimes will become so much easier. Of course, knowing the tags of known drug dealers and prostitutes will help when others are near them. Pretty soon, we'll have all crime handled.

      Just think of the savings. No more need for those pesky tax measures to pay for the police, either. They can easily make plenty with "data base error" payments from grateful members of the public.

      Of course, most importantly, the system will pay for itself in the first six months of use. Perhaps our elected officials can enact this without even a need for a vote if the RFID companies provide free test equipment up front so the cost is covered before any tax money needs to be spent. Or maybe they can use a contingency system like those red light camera systems.

      Just think of all the safety we'll enjoy. And of course, unless you're a criminal, there's NO reason not to want such a fantastic system. The line for your own personal implanted tag can be opened at a Wal-Mart near you almost immediately.

      Gotta admit, it's a good idea to start testing on people with no rights like children. Perhaps next we can take it just to criminals and the mentally handicapped. Next, like the DNA database in California, just move it to those arrested whether or not charged with a crime. Volunteers like air travelers who prefer the 5 minute line to the two hour one can also help to build the database. From there, "completing the database" whenever someone gets a driver's license or social security card should be a cakewalk.

  25. This is the wrong approach. by RandoX · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If the student to teacher ratio is so large that the instructor can't even accurately take role, what is the level of education going to be like?

    1. Re:This is the wrong approach. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If the student to teacher ratio is so large that the instructor can't even accurately take role, what is the level of education going to be like?

      Hopefully good enough so that students understand the difference between "roll" and "role."

    2. Re:This is the wrong approach. by Reziac · · Score: 1

      When I was in public school in MT and MN (1960-1972), our nationally top-rated schools had uniformly "oversized" classes, 30 to 32 students -- clearly, class size didn't negatively impact performance. And we had a near-zero dropout rate.

      "Smaller classes" isn't going to fix anything if the whole system is broken, and in my experience makes absolutely no difference regardless.

      Or maybe teachers nowadays aren't as competent as they used to be (d'oh!) Ours certainly had no trouble teaching 30+ students.

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    3. Re:This is the wrong approach. by Roguelazer · · Score: 1

      A class of 30 attentive, happy students is fine. But where I live, about half the students don't speak English. Most of the non-English speakers speak Portugese, the rest various Asian dialects. Nobody wants to learn. The teachers get paid slightly more than minimum wage, meaning that we have the worst of the crop- the least qualified, the least happy to teach. "Teaching to the test" (MCAS) is the standard, is required. All teachers need to have MCAS standards on the walls, and need to teach towards an MCAS standard every day. This is not a conducive environment for learning. Moreover, it is an impossible environment for a large student-to-teacher ratio. I imagine the situation is not much better elsewhere...

    4. Re:This is the wrong approach. by Reziac · · Score: 1

      Yes, and classrooms such as you describe are an impossible situation whether large or small, tho a larger class gives discipline problems more opportunity to get out of hand (and kids being sheep as much as adults, what one gets away with, the rest will usually follow). The worse when the teacher isn't really clueful to begin with.

      But larger classes are not themselves to blame for the situation. Nor do smaller classes fix it, far as I've seen.

      My previous tenant was a 9th grade teacher; she'd bitch about her classes being too large -- at a mere 16 to 20 students. But when pressed, she allowed as how the REAL problem is kids who have absolutely no respect for learning, let alone for teachers. She also said the issue was worse among children of illegal immigrants, as they completely lack respect for authority, particuarly if that authority is a woman.

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
  26. Children of the free world by Zemran · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This is the sort of thing we would have screamed about if China had done it a few years ago and now we just accept it. The East is moving West as quickly as the West is moving East. Soon they will occupy the moral high ground.

    --
    I love stacking my barbecues in the shed at the end of summer - you can't beat a bit of grill on grill action.
  27. What is the problem?? by Fatchap · · Score: 1

    So rather than have someone who is underpaid, overworked and likely to have low motivation carry out a labour intensive task like taking a rollcall, we automate it.

    Someone tell me the problem (other than it uses the paranoid's current bête noire of RFID)

    --
    The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
    1. Re:What is the problem?? by Oddly_Drac · · Score: 1

      "Someone tell me the problem"

      +1 on the unemployment line?

      That might be nullified by said underpaid, overworked and badly motivated person going postal, but I suspect that can be put down to Marilyn Manson.

      More seriously, the airport and passport system is supposed to be the most high security set of information around, y'know, to stop people hijacking them with boxcutters, but it turns out that Sen. Kennedy can be stopped from flying because he's using an known alias of a terrorist. Kennedy. Senator Kennedy. Who engaged their brain in dealing with that faux pas? Likewise if you have a tracking system that someone considers infallible, how the hell are you, as an individual who lies, going to argue against a computer that never lies?

      The 'problem' per se is this slavish idea that technology will solve everything. It can't, especially when there is reliance on it.

      --
      Oddly Draconis
      Too cynical to live, too stubborn to die.
  28. Serious problems! by MavEtJu · · Score: 1

    Hoping to prevent the loss of a child through kidnapping

    Somebody got some statistics(*) on how often this happens?

    (*) Feel free to make up :-)

    --
    bash$ :(){ :|:&};:
    1. Re:Serious problems! by horrens · · Score: 1

      I can't see any way this preventing kidnapping, you only know the time when the kid passed the last chekpoint
      to prevent kidnappings you need system where your location is tracked by the goverment/police 24/7

      to me this seems like a crappy solution to a problem that really did not exist, they go on and on abot kidnappings and say that there haven't been any, and if someone really wants to kidnap then there is nothing stopping him

    2. Re:Serious problems! by drsmithy · · Score: 1
      Somebody got some statistics(*) on how often this happens?

      I don't have any hard numbers, but in general child "kidnappings" are quite rare, and child "kidnappings" by _strangers_ practically nonexistant.

      That sad truth is children are most likely to be harmed by someone they know very well.

    3. Re:Serious problems! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      > > Hoping to prevent the loss of a child through kidnapping
      >
      > Somebody got some statistics(*) on how often this happens?
      >
      > (*) Feel free to make up :-)

      *sob* B-b-but d-don't you s-see? *sniff*

      If tracking everybody, 24/7/365, and reporting their locations to the police at every ch-checkpoint s-ssaves Just One Chyyyyuld's Liiiiife, it's WORTH IT!

      PLEASE! *blubber* Won't SOMEBODY think of the CHYLLLLLLLLDRUN! *sobsobsob*

      (How's that? Hell, I didn't even have to make up a percentage or a number out of a thousand. Remember, Citizens, the magic word! "Just One Chyuld's Life" is all it takes!)

  29. Anyone with kids in school should know... by HomerJayS · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ... that the RFID plan is fatally flawed. On any given day, the RFID system will be reporting a 50% absentee rate. The typical high school student is lucky enough to remember to bring his/her bookbag to school every day, much less a small, easily misplaced RFID card.

    1. Re:Anyone with kids in school should know... by Fatchap · · Score: 1

      Subdural implants will solve this minor issue!!

      --
      The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
  30. Ferris Bueller by Jumbo+Jimbo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    We can all watch Matthew Broderick skip class and reminisce about the days when this used to be possible - it'll become a period piece of a bygone age, along with Remains of the Day and Little Women.

    1. Re:Ferris Bueller by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Even Ferris had to hack the school computer to skip school.

  31. Only criminals have to fear by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    The Founding Fathers were duped into passing the 4th, 5th, and 6th amendments, which only serve to weaken our freedom-loving society and allow the terrorists to win. Obviously, only people who have something to hide need be afraid of the government.

    Thank -o- for our wise leaders like John Ashcroft who want to ensure our continued safety! -o- bless America! -o- damn everyone else!!!!1

  32. Students are *not* cattle by joelparker · · Score: 4, Insightful
    From the article:
    • a few schools have begun monitoring student arrivals and departures using technology similar to that used to track livestock and pallets of retail shipments.
    And adults wonder why our kids aren't learning important ideas like responsibility...
    1. Re:Students are *not* cattle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If we hold their hand all the way from house to school, through school, and back home, from the age of Kindergarden through Senior in High School, how well will they be prepared for a place that doesn't?

    2. Re:Students are *not* cattle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      > > a few schools have begun monitoring student arrivals and departures using technology similar to that used to track livestock and pallets of retail shipments.
      >
      >And adults wonder why our kids aren't learning important ideas like responsibility...

      Sure they are. You're responsible for reporting your location to your handler on an hourly basis, suspicious behavior on sight, and suspicious speech from your parents to the Gauleiter within 24 hours.

      Those may not have been your responsibilities when you were growing up, but at least your kids are bein' brung up right.

    3. Re:Students are *not* cattle by tf23 · · Score: 1

      Well the kids would have to take their badge to school day in and day out and not misplace it - that'll teach them responsibility.

    4. Re:Students are *not* cattle by tf23 · · Score: 1

      I fail to see whether or not the location of a youth is being monitored with RFID, or not, how that directly would impeed on a child learning responsibility.

      Maybe you can be more specific?

      Generally, for my kids, we'd set small goals, give them something they would need to be responsible with (say, a house key, and ID card). Then as they progess, you give them rewards and eventually additional responsibility. When they screw up you take some of that away, only to try again soon enough.

      And if you're lucky enough they'll grow up to become responsible adults.

  33. The Slippery Slope.. by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Are these guys trying to piss off the volcano!?

    Seriously, most proponents of RFID technology site its benefits in stock and supply line management only, and keep assurring us that RFID tags embedded in products will never be used to track people.
    And yet we're now seeing instances of the middleman, i.e the product tag, being bypassed altogether and people being tagged outright. Is this really what RFID was developed for in the first place? Tracking people?

    OK, these people are children. But that doesn't make this any less wrong. First criminals, then kids. They'll start on employees next, move it up to registered drivers, you'll see.

    Of course tagging children has nothing to do with their safety. Anyone who says so is a liar or an idiot. As has been mentioned numerous times, the legions of pedophiles that lurk outside scholl gates every day will simply take off the tag, as will the kids when they want to leave for that matter. Of course the response from RFIDphiles is "Let's implant the tag subdermally!!!! FOREVER!!!! What a great(completeely consistent with a free society) idea!!!". *Sigh*. Why can't so many people think past their next meal?

    The purpose of RFID tracking people is to cause a chilling effect. This is denied in the case of children and the public, but is the primary reason given for tagging criminals. Bit of a contridiction there. Effectively tagging children is a form of control, and an extreamly invasive one at that. I don't care what age I am, or who you are. No-one should know and have a documented record of my exact movements. Period. You want to protect your kids? Sit down and talk with them once in a while. Find out where they go rather than right clicking on a toolbar icon to see where they are. Don't squash their, or my, freedoms just because your too busy watching fear factor to look after your own kids.

    And of course when I start using by blocker tag, I'll be accused of aiding pedophiles and endangering the children. Won't someone please think of the children!!? I am!

    I'm ready for people to start with the tinfoil hat cracks, but to them I say, this is the exact kind of thing you said would never happen!! Well it's happening right now! What are you going to do about it.

    RFID tracking is data rape.

    --
    May the Maths Be with you!
    1. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by Tim+C · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Seriously, most proponents of RFID technology site its benefits in stock and supply line management only, and keep assurring us that RFID tags embedded in products will never be used to track people.
      And yet we're now seeing instances of the middleman, i.e the product tag, being bypassed altogether and people being tagged outright. Is this really what RFID was developed for in the first place? Tracking people?


      Hhhhmmmmmm, odd that - that there's a product that most people think would be really useful for this one particular (benign) use, but that a minority want to use for bad things. Can't see how that could ever happen with any other technology.

      You're right, this is wrong, and no I would not submit my daughter to this sort of treatment (and yes, I do actually have a daughter). But you seem to be implying that

      a) this was an inevitable (ab)use of RFID technology
      b) this one dubious use should see the tech banned/shunned despite all other legitimate uses

      As with all things, don't blame the technology itself for the use to which some people put it. Do that, and you'll end up banning all tech, including sharp sticks and fire.

      RFID tracking is data rape.

      That makes you sound like an extremist; I'd suggest that if you're serious about fighting things like this that you avoid such emotive language. You'll piss off more people than you sway with it.

    2. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Well, here's the problem. I've heard public school described as babysitting for the masses. Well, for trailer trash Joe, having your kid implanted and tracked isn't a problem. It's one less thing he don't have to care about, because "the man's doin' it for me, and I don't have to pay for no damn babysiter". You think beer-swizziling Texas Joe is going to care about the privacy rights of his kids? "Hell, no, as long as they'r safer," he drawls.

      Well, for those of us that have read 1984, this is starting to look at lot like it. But, then again, a lot of people in the world (non-Slashdotters, and there's a LOT more of them) haven't read it, and couldn't care less that that RFID tag is helping them be tracked, as long as they get their cigarretes faster, get on that plane quicker. Personally, I'd just microwave the damn thing out of my arm, or leg, or wherever. Even though that's really painful.

    3. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

      Sounds to me like it's time to pull out the license agreement on 1984 and make a summer blockbuster. Anybody have two hundred mil they'd like to lend me?

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    4. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by kabocox · · Score: 1

      First criminals, then kids. They'll start on employees next, move it up to registered drivers, you'll see.

      I have no problem with criminal being taged. I find it funny that people are even thinking that public shool childern have any rights of their own. I went to public school. Did I have the right to freely speak to those I wanted to? Nope. Did I have the right to associate with those I wanted to? Nope. Did I get to decide any of the classes or subject matter that I was going to learn? Not until high school. K through junior high you didn't get any choices in the matter. (Opps, I was slightly wrong. You could chose to be in band or a sports program in junior high.) Did I have the right to bear arms? Nope. Did they at a minium teach arms safety classes? Nope. Did they know where I was at any given time of the day? Yes, between 7:30 - 4:00 they had an excellent idea of where 90%-95% of the student population was. I'm supposed to be worried that the government knows where I am? Give me a break. College I was given slightly more freedom. But I was still a slave to routine. I had to be in my dorm to sleep, at the classes that I picked though half the course load was general requirements that seemed like a rehash of highschool. I had limited movement. I either could ride to Walmart with friends or return home on the weekend with friends. The only other spots in college that I was were: the 3 computer labs and the food court. I could have easily been tracked without my knowing about it. Or with my knowledge. My dorm actually had keys. Most had ID scanners, the food court had ID scanner, the lib. had ID scanners. So college the one place most of the populace may be given the chance to learn concepts that may make it want to oppose the government. I was tracked more often.

      Lets see. Get out of college and get regular employment. I have a home now. 90% of my time could be tracked by me coming from home to work and then at the end of the day going from work to home. My wife picks up most of the food. I go to maybe 5 different places for lunch. I am very easily tracked. Oh, I forgot to mention that now I have an ID card that is required to open most doors at the office. The funny part is my office has a lock and I have a key. I don't have to swipe an ID going through the main entrance. They still know where I'm at through. Cameras in the elevators and at the entrance.

      Why should I be worried? They could easily already be tracking me. I don't take random paths to places and any way I only have a handful of places that I'd be.

    5. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by Kombat · · Score: 1

      They'll start on employees next, move it up to registered drivers, you'll see.

      What the hell are you talking about? "Drivers" are already tracked! Are you nutcase zealots oblivous to the giant steal plates affixed to the front/rear of your vehicles, broadcasting a unique ID to every mugger, thief, rapist and cop within visual range? "No special readers needed!"

      Why don't you privacy nutcases ever complain about license plates? If I'm stalking a woman, and no nothing else about other than what she looks like, I can follow her to her car, note her license plate, then look up all the personal info I need on her on the state/provincial registry (usually for a nominal fee of $10 or so). How does THAT not infuriate you zealots? You drive around, and everyone within eyesight can look you up and learn your name, your birthday, your address, and a bunch of other stuff.

      And yet, I don't hear anyone - not one single person - arguing for the abolition of visible license plates on vehicles.

      Odd.

      --
      Like woodworking? Build your own picture frames.
    6. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      So, as I understand it, your post was a really longwinded way of simply saying "If you don't have anything to hide, you have nothing to fear."

    7. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    8. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by tf23 · · Score: 1

      They'll start on employees next, move it up to registered drivers, you'll see.

      Where've you been? Onstar? Truck drivers. Employee ID tags - that you swipe whenever you come and go. It's all been done for years.

      Of course tagging children has nothing to do with their safety. Anyone who says so is a liar or an idiot.

      Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

      Effectively tagging children is a form of control, and an extreamly invasive one at that.

      How is this much different from fingerprinting children? Yes, I realize RFID would yield much more instantaneous results. But in essence they're unique identifiers on each child.

      I don't care what age I am, or who you are. No-one should know and have a documented record of my exact movements. Period.

      If you're a adult, I agree with you. If you're not, your parents certainly *should* know where you are, what you're doing, etc.

      Sit down and talk with them once in a while. Find out where they go rather than right clicking on a toolbar icon to see where they are.

      I wish this wouldn't need to be said. It's sad that it does. But kids lie, so therein the RFID helps.

    9. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 1

      Tagging children has nothing to do with their safety.

      It is a means control them. And I don't mean control like, "Get that delinquient child under control". I mean control like "I own you child. You will not breath without my sayso."

      Parent's don't _own_ their children. They're given a mandate by the society around them to raise that child to the best of their abilites(this can be revoked). Subjecting a child to invasive surveillance does not sound like good parenting.

      Children have a right to privacy, just like everyone else.

      --
      May the Maths Be with you!
    10. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by bucket74 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      As a strong privacy advocate, regular supporter of the EFF and a tech in the RFID industry I would like to comment on some of the false assumptions that are being made (here and elsewhere) about RFID.

      People are assuming RFID technology has a whole lot more capability than it actually does. Let's look at the issue of sensing range/proximity. The most common (and least expensive) type of tags are passive RFID tags. Passive RFID tags have no battery or on-chip power source. They are powered via current induction by (typically) 13.56MHz RF. Because they have no internal power source their read/write range is very limited (read: 2-8 inches from an RFID antenna/reader combination). Greater read distances can be achieve by using an active (battery powered) tag but even then you're looking at a range of a few feet. It is not a very realistic speculation that active tags would be used on any scale for human implants because of cost *and* the need to replace the implant when the battery dies.

      I also think it's rather funny that a lot of people in this forum have "joked" about getting out aluminum foil or tinfoil hats to hide from the RFID gestapo. What many people don't realize is foil (or any metal) does a magnificent job of blocking RFID. There is no need for the mythical RFID blocker tag. Not that I encourage thisbut all anyone would have to do to circumvent RFID retail security for example would be to put all the items you'd like to shoplift in a foil lined bag. RFID's not that strong - no need for a Faraday cage here. You may joke, but this is a case where tinfoil hats would actually work (bring on more jokes).

      I will not argue over the benfits or detriments of using RFID. I work with the stuff every day, and I'm still not convinced. What I will argue over is unrealistic paranoia. If I have to hold an RFID antenna so close to you that I can physically touch you, just to read the tag - what is the real concern? I can track you more effectively using my eyes and you're license plate. There's sure to be plenty of bullshit RFID implementations from here on out but worry about how illogical the implementation is, not that the technology is inherently evil.

    11. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

      Never heard of it, and I was in HS in 1984.

      No, I'm taking big-budget, only-movie-you-have-to-see summer blockbuster with so much advertising and paid endorsements from critics ("Two Thumbs Up!") that eveyone has to see it. Might even need to invent a controvery around it to catch the folks who wouldn't otheriwse go.

      Yeah...more like that.

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    12. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
      The purpose of RFID tracking people is to cause a chilling effect. This is denied in the case of children and the public, but is the primary reason given for tagging criminals
      I have never seen much difference in the way that criminals and children are treated...
    13. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by RabidMonkey · · Score: 1

      This is a similar line with gun control (god, another flame war)

      As with all things, don't blame the technology itself for the use to which some people put it

      Don't blame the guns, they don't kill people.

      Thats like saying 'don't blame the nukes, they don't kill people, it's the people that push the button'

      not that I'm against the use of RFID in some cases, i mean, they're handy on my work pass so I don't have to swipe a card, but when it comes to tracking people, I draw the line.

      I'm with you, but your argument isn't great.

      --
      We emerge from our mother's womb an unformatted diskette; our culture formats us. - Douglas Coupland
    14. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by Reziac · · Score: 2, Insightful

      See my post above about how if you SHOW that you don't trust your children, it works against you. Trustworthyness is itself largely generated by showing that you trust your child to do the right thing.

      I swear there's a Stupid Gene that gets turned on when people have kids, that makes them forget how much it sucked to be a kid -- to have NO privacy, to have NOTHING of your own, the sense of being OWNED by your parents, the sense that NO ONE TRUSTS YOU, and that YOU DON'T MATTER.

      The most important thing you can give your kids isn't love, or security, or a good life, or even an education. It's PRIVACY. The sense that they are a REAL PERSON, with their own inviolate "space", and with needs that matter -- everything else good in a kid's life follows from that, as it tells a kid they are a real person in their parents' eyes, not just property.

      And if a kid doesn't get that critical need from their home life, they'll go looking for it elsewhere, usually in all the wrong ways.

      Tracking your kid 24 hours a day tells the kid in no uncertain terms that he is both property and untrusted. And nothing you TELL your kid can counteract that. To a kid, actions speak louder than words.

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    15. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by CAIMLAS · · Score: 1

      RFID tracking is data rape.

      How about:

      RFID tracking is freedom rape.

      ^ my new sig

      --
      ~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
    16. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by bearwayne · · Score: 1

      You want to protect your kids? Sit down and talk with them once in a while. Find out where they go rather than right clicking on a toolbar icon to see where they are.
      You mean that parents should actually excercise the responsiblity they accepted when they had kids?!? Nah, that's too inconvenient! It's so much easier to let everyone else (the government, schools, the neighbors, etc) take care of the kids, then you can just ignore them! These obliviates are the parents who wonder why their darlings turn into monsters!

    17. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by dvdeug · · Score: 1

      Because they have no internal power source their read/write range is very limited (read: 2-8 inches from an RFID antenna/reader combination).

      And what happens when you crank up that power on that RFID antenna/reader? The tag doesn't know distances, it responds to a sufficent amount of radio energy, and its response goes to the end of the universe. Even if it's infeasible to activate the tag at a certain distance, some with a sufficently large enough antenna can read it at that distance.

      So most of the RFID that's being proposed is battery operated? This would have to be, since getting within 2-8 inches isn't enough for even Wal-Mart to read you as you exit the store.

      According to Bruce Schnider (sp? the cryptology guy) unpowered RFIDs have been read at much greater distances than they were designed for with the right equipment.

    18. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by Bob9113 · · Score: 1

      Seriously, most proponents of RFID technology site its benefits in stock and supply line management only, and keep assurring us that RFID tags embedded in products will never be used to track people. And yet we're now seeing instances of the middleman, i.e the product tag, being bypassed altogether and people being tagged outright.

      Good morning, nice to see you're awake. Did you sleep well? Good. Now join us in yelling, "WAKE UP!" at the other 99% of America that still think we're wearing tin-foil hats.

    19. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm all for the removal of license plates. Why aren't VIN's good enough for said purposes? they actually have a barcode on them. in any instance where a police officer neds to check [stolen car, detained driver] they can simply scan them. or would that be too much work for those poor overworked meatheads?

    20. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      it isn't really the same at all.

      rfid can have benign uses.

      guns and nuclear warheads can have none.

    21. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by bucket74 · · Score: 1

      And what happens when you crank up that power on that RFID antenna/reader? The tag doesn't know distances, it responds to a sufficent amount of radio energy, and its response goes to the end of the universe. Even if it's infeasible to activate the tag at a certain distance, some with a sufficently large enough antenna can read it at that distance.

      That's not entirely accurate...first, the tag isn't just "responding" to the RF energy - it uses it to transmit. That response does not extend infinitely. Rather, it is limited by the strength of the induced current (which, for legal implementations (in the US) is FCC regulated).

      So most of the RFID that's being proposed is battery operated? This would have to be, since getting within 2-8 inches isn't enough for even Wal-Mart to read you as you exit the store.

      No, it's a mixed bag really. For shipping & inventory applications active RFID tags are typically used (at the pallet/shipping container level). At the per-item level, passive tags are normally used - this is simply a cost/performance issue. In shipping applications I have seen, even with active tags, an "RFID tunnel" is usually needed (antennae on top, bottom, left and right) to ensure successful tag reads at significant distances. This is because the amount of current induced is very dependent on tag orientation (think right-hand rule of E&M) - if the induction circuit is not perpendicular to the RF field, no current will be induced. The way that WalMart and others used passive tags for security typically involves burst detection of a single EAS, or theft bit. This is *much* easier to detect than reading the entire byte required to store the item id and allows greater detection ranges (~15-25 inches). This is combined with the fact that two security gates that are in alignment with each other produce a coupling (Josette) effect that can amplify the signal. Also, bear in mind that when someone steals something from WalMart and the security gates detect the theft and sound the alarm, it does not know that "Item X" was just stolen, it simply knows that an item with security still turned on just went by.

      According to Bruce Schnider (sp? the cryptology guy) unpowered RFIDs have been read at much greater distances than they were designed for with the right equipment.

      You're right about that. Human innovation will always push the continuous improvement cycle, often quite dramatically (look at what you can do for WiFi with a coffee can and some coax). For the most part I think we need to demand proper regulation of the technology.

    22. Re:The Slippery Slope.. by notcreative · · Score: 1
      Of course tagging children has nothing to do with their safety. Anyone who says so is a liar or an idiot.
      I consider this to be one of the more refreshingly honest things I've read on Slashdot recently. It seems that everyone believes this, more or less, but only Obsessive has been frank enough to come out and say it.
  34. Under the skin is better! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Advocates of the technology said they did not plan to go that far. But, they said, they do see broader possibilities, such as implanting RFID tags under the skin of children to avoid problems with lost or forgotten tags.

    Yeah right.

    You really should get rid of those Nazies while it's still time.

    1. Re:Under the skin is better! by Fire+Dragon · · Score: 1

      You really should get rid of those Nazies while it's still time.

      You have to wait 4 more years to do that.

  35. private schools by kardar · · Score: 2, Informative

    Again, if you send your kid to a private school of your liking you don't have to deal with this crap - and you'll get them a better education while you're at it. This will mean an easier time getting accepted at a better college, will lead to a more fulfilling career, a better quality of life, so on and so forth.

    The RFID is probably one of the more minor problems the students at many of our public schools face.

    1. Re:private schools by fizze · · Score: 1

      Well, in the US, this may be the case. Here in good ol' europe, the vast majority of kids attend public schools.

      The more priviledged your parents are, the more advantages children have. Now why doesnt this sound nice to me....

      When I went to school, people were missing classes on purpose, and were fulyl backed up by their parents in most cases, so this RFID or whatever fancy technology wouldnt help anyway.

      --
      Powerful is he who overpowers his temptations.
    2. Re:private schools by Jucius+Maximus · · Score: 1
      "Again, if you send your kid to a private school of your liking you don't have to deal with this crap - and you'll get them a better education while you're at it. This will mean an easier time getting accepted at a better college, will lead to a more fulfilling career, a better quality of life, so on and so forth."

      I actually liked high school, but if I had to bring up a kid today with this kind of stuff going on, I would seriously consider homeschooling.

    3. Re:private schools by Politburo · · Score: 1

      The answer of 'Just attend private school' to any public school problem is simply unacceptable. Millions of kids do not have the opportunity to attend private school. What you're saying to those kids is "Bend over!"

    4. Re:private schools by mutterc · · Score: 1
      The problem with "just send your kids to private school" is that it doesn't help the underlying problem. Perhaps trying to fix the problems with public schools might be better for all concerned. (As others have pointed out, the better-educated the society is as a whole, the better off everyone is in lower taxes for jails, etc.) Just imagine, if public schools taught enough and effectively enough about rhetoric that people weren't swayed by the political ads typical of today, how much better off we would all be!

      If everyone who recognizes the problems with public schools (and has the means to) just opts out of the system, then the public school system is left only with those with no motivation to fix the problems, and/or those who can't afford any better. The growth in the gap between haves and have-nots just accelerates.

      Sure, if YOU send YOUR kid to private school, it fixes the problem neatly for YOU. This is a great example to illustrate that a group of people, all acting in their own self-interest, does not necessarily converge on an ideal solution for society.

  36. Just Imagine by Hoplite3 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What if they had spent that money on making kids want to go to school? I went to Texas public schools. No, I survived them. The one I attended was divided neatly into honors and regular classes. In the regulars classes, you learned how to take the TAAS (this test was required for graduation and pushed as a part of school accountability under the last federal administration). If you were in honors, you learned how to take the AP exam.

    Needless to say, not many people were really turned on to learn. Because nothing of substance was being taught.

    Personally, I think that large school reforms are in order. Let's divide students into classes with the type of instruction that suits them best. Let's not teach college prep to everyone, they'll resent it. Few people really connect with the idea of liberal arts anyway (even in college, I was a bit surprised) and it forms the basis for most highschool course requirements. Articles I've seen recently say that boys are doing poorly in American schools. It looks like all girls schools in England do significantly better than comparable coed schools, especially in math and science. Maybe gender segregation would help. Girls seem to be intimidated by boys in these subjects, and boys need more structure and encouragement. There's a lack of adolescent-to-adult ritual in our country. Maybe this could help provide what truant students are missing.

    It would be preferable to humiliation like this RFID crap.

    --
    Use the Firehose to mod down Second Life stories!
    1. Re:Just Imagine by Tryfen · · Score: 4, Interesting

      A study was done at my old school (UK).

      Turns out the girls do far better in single-sex class rooms.

      But boys do better in mixed set class room!

      Quite how you solve that, I don't know.

      --
      If a square is really a rhombus, why aren't all triangles purple?
    2. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 4, Informative

      "What if they had spent that money on making kids want to go to school?"

      Ok, let's hear some ideas. I'm a teacher, so I'll be ecstatic to get some help in this area. Before you begin though, understand that we're state mandated to provide instruction on specific topics in a specific timeframe. We also have to make sure that no one is left out of activities, or if they are, develop an alernative activity. We also have to make sure that Susie who takes one day to learn plate tectonics doesn't get too far ahead of Johnny who takes 4 days. We also...

      I hope you see the point. School simply isn't fun most of the time. No matter how you slice it, some things are boring to teach and boring to learn. Couple this with restrictions on teaching techniques, budget problems, and over protective parents, and I'm amazed anything get's taught.

    3. Re:Just Imagine by geekpuppySEA · · Score: 1
      How dare you suggest that males and females are in any way unequal?!

      Kidding. Gender segregation in public schools (puberty onward) could be successful. I don't think students of either gender are intimidated or need more structure, but I certainly think that they're distracted by the opposite gender (except for 10% of course.)

      That said, if there were gender separation there should also be planned social situations... let's face it, high school as it is now is a social sphere and not an educational one. Teenagers are going to drink and hump anyway, we might as well give them outlets to do it in besides their trig class.

      --
      Intelligent Design: because MATH is HARD.
    4. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Personally, I think that large school reforms are in order.?

      this is why many people strain themselves hard and pay $300-$500 per child a month for private school.

      they do not pull shit like this and actually teach the children.

      my daughter, in 7th grade is in her 2nd year of computer technology. They start programming the beginning of next year. ALL students are requuired to learn a 2nd language and to learn basic computer programming at this school (she is also in algebra classes with geometry starting next year ending with most of her college required courses taken and accounted for by the time she graduates high school.)

      Public school computer class? how to use outlook, excel and power point...

      kids that are doomed to public schools are doomed to be 5 to 10 stepds behind those that get to go to private school.

      hey parents, what is more important to you, the payment on t hat escalade or sending your 2 kids to private school?

      I drive old cars and ensure that my kids are going to succeed.

      morons drive new SUV's.

    5. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

      I'm amaized that a teacher would use a possive version of get (get's) instead of the proper version (gets).

    6. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Does anything get taught? I just remember trying not to fall asleep. For me school impeded my education and made it harder to learn later since I had gotten into the pattern of remembering a small set of facts for a test then promptly forgetting it without ever having to actually learn anything. How about having the students choose a set of topics that they find interesting with few to no restrictions on what they can do as long as they show they are doing something. Then have them teach the other students their topics. You can spend your time assisting each student or small group of students in their research.

    7. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > I drive old cars and ensure that my kids are going to succeed.

      To succeed in driving old cars, I guess...

    8. Re:Just Imagine by Kiryat+Malachi · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Before you begin though, understand that we're state mandated to provide instruction on specific topics in a specific timeframe.

      I know it's a lot of text and all, but read the comment.

      Personally, I got a lot out of our 'state-mandated' curriculum... but then, I had good teachers, which can make up for a lot.

      By the way, we had something similar to what you described in our school district. It worked very poorly, because most students aren't adequately self-motivated to learn. Except, as it turned out, about good places to get lunch in town, and which teachers would smoke pot with you.

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    9. Re:Just Imagine by Kiryat+Malachi · · Score: 1

      The private school where I grew up was expensive; their math and science programs were *significantly* behind the ones at the public schools, at least for TAG track kids, and the English/history programs were marginally better. And this wasn't even a parochial private school; this was a standard "Pay us money for a better education" private school. The parochials in district, well, didn't come close to comparing to the public schools.

      Not all public schools are bad; not all private schools are good. You can do quite well by researching what school districts are good and moving there when you decide you want to have kids.

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    10. Re:Just Imagine by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 1

      I understand your concerns, and I also can't see a clear solution to it.

      Not at least while we have fixed mandated subjects.
      Whilst school shouldn't be a free for all, it should at least be an environment where generalised topics of interest can be studied more intently by those who wish to.

      Perhaps shorter lessons on the poorer subjects, leaving more time to polish the outstanding ones. We worry too much about getting average grades in all subjects than outstanding grades in your best ones.
      The human race has survived for thousands of years without a fixed education program, and his filling the heads of kids with irrelivent crap is a new thing. Dynasties and family traditions meant your family indicated your genetic speciality, some people are farmers, some are bread makers, some are scientists, some are fighter pilots etc etc etc.

      I'm a tech, I come from a tech family, always have been, lower quality/standard in my English than with science/tech subjects, I would have jumped at the chance to do more technical studies instead of struggling through poetry and literature.
      If my early schooling opted to teach me C language instead of French, I couldv been 5 years ahead of here I am now.
      I have never been to france, and even if I go, I won't remember a word of my lessons.

      --
      liqbase :: faster than paper
    11. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I did - laws are not immutable. And I expect that the percentage of people (who do not seek further education) who could not pass exams from their previous HS classes five years later is rather high.

      I'd expect it to do poorly if forced upon a group of individuals with no prior desire/encouragement to learn. It is far more likely to be successful if started at a young age and continued every year. Or if they voluntarily choose to learn.

    12. Re:Just Imagine by Hatta · · Score: 1

      Before you begin though, understand that we're state mandated to provide instruction on specific topics in a specific timeframe.

      Well that's the problem. Coersion takes the fun out of any activity. That's a law that needs to be repealed, yet it never will because children have no rights in this society.

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    13. Re:Just Imagine by Kiryat+Malachi · · Score: 1

      While laws are not immutable, he was asking for an immediate and practical solution. Yours is neither.

      It wasn't forced. Each and every one of those students chose it voluntarily (it was an alternate track high school, so you could go to one of three tracks for high school - the 'traditional' comprehensive, an 'alternative' school which was more aimed at fine arts than the three Rs, and the 'self-directed' school). But the truth is, the self-directed learners are just plain rare, and we have made a public commitment to educate *everyone* in this country. That does involve a certain amount of forcing people to learn.

      For that matter, even people who *do* like to learn often do better with structure in their learning. And I don't think its too much to expect that everyone graduating our school systems be able to do a certain basic subset of things: read and write at a functional level, do basic math (I'd advocate no less than high school level geometry and algebra - while not everything is day-to-day useful for non science/math types, the concepts are often needed), a reasonable knowledge of the history of the country you live in and at least a passing knowledge of world history, a certain appreciation for literature. Oddly enough, these are exactly the sort of subjects mandated by most education laws.

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    14. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      As someone who barely survived my school system in the face of that attitude, "doesn't get too far ahead...", allow me to preface this comment by saying that I hope, sincerely hope, that is not a private belief of yours. If sadly it is, then this is directed at you as well, not just whichever district you teach in.

      FUCK YOU. I hope you get FUCKING CANCER so you can spend day after day watching your life pass by being eaten away inside.

    15. Re:Just Imagine by AbbyNormal · · Score: 0, Troll

      I'm a teacher...

      My first step, as a school sysadmin, would be to block Slashdot, so that teachers would be teaching.

      --
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    16. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are no immediate solutions. And practicality is entirely too subjective. The best cost effective solution would be to eliminate mandatory schooling and realize that you can't force people to learn. However you can encourage people to. If they wish to keep their promise of educating everyone, they will have to create a culture where self-directed learning is not rare but the norm. Practical? Yes, if you are planning over centuries not years.

      An idea - what about paying them? $10 an hour multiplied by their grade percentage.

    17. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Ok, under the assumption that I have that money spent on the tags, I would consider doing any of the following:

      1) Hire another teacher and/or some aides
      2) Buy some materials for advanced activities and projects that Susie can do on her own while Johnny is still working on learning the concept - ideally, these will be fun & interesting so they don't just feel like 'extra work' for Susie & Johnny will be more motivated because he wants to 'play' too.
      3) Buy alternative learning tools that teach the mandated topics in a more fun & interesting way.
      4) Go on a field trip related to the mandated topics (I know - legal battle potential with parents here, but come on. You get sick of those same 4 walls, too. Admit it.)

      And those are just off the top of my head. I'm not a teacher, but I remember very well the sheer and utter BOREDOM of school. I think a main goal of teachers should be to interest kids in learning - NOT to just teach them facts & figures. Once the kids WANT to learn, your job becomes easier. (And yes, I fully comprehend your difficulties doing this under today's laws & mandates and I admire those that are sticking with it and actually trying). Personally, I think this would be better accomplished with that money going towards personnel and materials instead of an invasive tracking system. Kids already feel victimized by being forced to attend school. This won't help.

    18. Re:Just Imagine by jrutley · · Score: 1

      I guess you're not an English teacher, then. Get's?

    19. Re:Just Imagine by HeghmoH · · Score: 3, Insightful

      We also have to make sure that Susie who takes one day to learn plate tectonics doesn't get too far ahead of Johnny who takes 4 days.

      This bizarre belief that every student should advance in their knowledge at exactly the same rate is the primary reason I hated all of my schooling until I got to college. Why shouldn't Susie get too far ahead of Johnny? Why shouldn't she be able to spend those three extra days learning the subject in more depth, or painting, or playing in the sandbox?

      From the beginning of elementary school to the end of high school, I suffered from this. I pick things up quickly and don't need a lot of repetition. As a result, I was forced to do a great deal of homework that I didn't need, attend classes that weren't interesting, and I generally hated the experience. (Not everything was this way, but close.) Once I got to college, where homework is more of a check than a forced study aid, where classes are dense, and where people are expected to do more on their own if they need practice, things got a lot better.

      I realize the situation is different at the lower levels, and I don't have a proposed solution, but I still believe that this idea that all children must learn at approximately the same rate, and they must stay in a group of other children with exactly the same age, is one of the more poisonous ones in our educational system.

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    20. Re:Just Imagine by servognome · · Score: 1

      There are a few problems with specialized teaching. First is funding and fragmentation of the curriculum.
      Specialized teaching requires more teachers and teachers with unique skill sets, all of which requires money. Then who decides which classes to teach. Is C more important than say Art History?
      The other problem is there is great value in a well rounded education. Exposure to multiple subjects can lead to new breakthrough ideas, rather than just recycling the old ones. There are articles of people developing more "natural" programming languages. In fact I believe Perl was developed by somebody with a programming and linguistics background. It is possible that learning a foreign language could "spark" new methods of developing programming languages, or new methods of teaching foreign language based on how computer languages are taught.

      --
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    21. Re:Just Imagine by Fallen_Knight · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Maybe johnny doesn't want to learn plate techtonics? Why should he be forced to learn it?

      The only required subjects should be math and english. And even then not to the degree math is no and not english lit, grammer and spelling.

      The problem with the current school system is that it assumes everyon learns the same way and forces them to learn a large range of things that they will simpley forget once then ware out of highschool.

      And for a student who is not going to collage or university they should be learning a trade, or other skills that could help them. But they key thing is they should pick it. Not be forced to learn it. if you force somsone to learn somethging they won't learn it, they will remeber it for the test and then forget it.

      Just say you need X credits to pass highschool and let the students pick enough courses to get that number. Just doing that i think would allow for a much happier student body and allow for more educated students, true not all going to know the same things but overall they will kknow and keep more knowlage and give them a chance to sample many diffrent type sof clsses if they so want to.

      And i hate that if theres a fast student and a slow student the fast student is held back. Give the fast stuend all the amterial and let then go on ahead on their own if they want.

    22. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You dont' bring anything away from a forced well rounded highschool education...

      programming and linguistics backgrtound implies that the author went out of his way to learn both, didn't get forced to learn 1 or the other.

      Haveing a school system with more flexability for students to pick and choose their subjects and classes would allow those who want to to sample many diffrent subjects.

      And in tersm of funding, the class with the most students stays, if there isn't enough intrest in a class it gets canned. or something like that

    23. Re:Just Imagine by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      By the way, we had something similar to what you described in our school district. It worked very poorly, because most students aren't adequately self-motivated to learn.

      Which is why I hated school. I was self motivated. I was punished for not being like all the other students. I left high school with more knowledge of calculus and physics than the teachers that taught the subjects (physics certainly, in calculus, if not more than the teacher, then more than the teacher was willing to teach). Of course, I'd get points deducted because I came to the correct answer in a different manner than everyone else in the class. Yes, schools punish you for independent thought, even if demonstrably correct.

    24. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 1

      "I'm amaized that a teacher would use a possive version"

      Well, at least I didn't make 2 mistakes in the same sentence. Don't throw stones my non-spelling, typo making friend. God forbid you should actually respond to the message...

    25. Re:Just Imagine by Reapy · · Score: 1

      I think it's a case of good teachers vs bad teachers in that situation.

      In a lot of my hs physics and math classes, I remember the teacher taking the time to show us another technique that was different then what we did. I think another student had been doing her math differently and he asked her about it after class or something and then came back after the talk to show us real quickly an alternative method to solving it to show there isnt just one way to do it.

      So it's really a case of having good, open minded teachers. A really good teacher can wiggle the system to work in additional information for the kids who get things quicker then the slower ones.

      I was always a slow learner though, so that was never me :)

    26. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 1

      Well, since class starts at 9:15 (I posted at 8:24), and I use Slashdot to get ideas for class, I would say you're an idiot.

    27. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 1

      No, I'm not an English teacher. Is that all you got out of my post? I make a small typo, and you're too pedantic to make an intelligent comment, but still find a way to address the typo.

      Let's make sure I spell this right

      FUCK YOU

      Spellcheck that.

    28. Re:Just Imagine by Kiryat+Malachi · · Score: 1

      Then you had bad teachers. Mine encouraged me to come up with alternate ways of doing things, and were happy to help me work through them. Self-motivation in combination with a good teacher is great; anything in combination with a bad teacher isn't great. But a self-motivated student will NOT learn more than that same student combined with a competent teacher.

      I was lucky enough to go to a public school which actually tried to, and did, attract very good teachers. Then our school district administration changed, and a lot of the teachers started leaving. Most of them now teach at prep academies, because they were in fact very good. The rest of them retired in disgust.

      --

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    29. Re:Just Imagine by Kiryat+Malachi · · Score: 1

      Where are you planning to take the money from?

      How are you going to grade these self-directed students meaningfully if they're working on what they want to work on?

      Market-based solutions aren't always right, and that's what you just advocated.

      I don't want cost effective education. I want to force people to learn, because I hate dealing with people who lack the minimal education of reading, writing, and mathematics. I think it should be criminal to be that dumb. I think for our society to function well it is essential that everyone have a bare modicum of learning.

      And screw your planning over centuries - got proof it'll work? If not, generate some before you ask me to pay to screw kids up. I can do that right now by hiring bad teachers, without paying to change the entire system.

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    30. Re:Just Imagine by tf23 · · Score: 1

      Why shouldn't Susie get too far ahead of Johnny?

      I don't think it's the case that Susie shouldn't. Far from it. I think the problem is most schools don't have the resources to perpetuate her further along in front of the rest of the kids.

      So they have to play the odds game and keep all the students learning the same thing in the relative same period of time.

    31. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 1

      "Why shouldn't Susie get too far ahead of Johnny?"

      Because each class has one teacher, who needs to keep the class on pace. I can't teach chapter one to some of the class, chapter 3 to others, and chapter 5 to the rest. Explain to me how I would lecture, correct, and give examples on 3 different subjects in 75 minutes. Would I be expected to give a lecture, and help those students who are working on the first assignment at the same time? What about when I'm lecturing and there are also 2 assignments out. It is not possible in a class of 34.

      No one attempts to make the students "advance their knowledge" at any rate other than what is comfortable for them.

    32. Re:Just Imagine by Have+Blue · · Score: 1

      It's not (entirely) a "bizarre belief", it's also a logistics problem. If you place Suzie and Johnny in separate classes, you need an extra teacher, room, and materials for her and the other accelerated students (and how many divisions do you want to set up? You'd also need special treatment for the kids who take 8 days to learn it...). Even if Suzie is not actually being taught anything (she's painting or playing, as you suggest), she needs to be supervised, for liability reasons if nothing else. Educational budgets are stretched too tightly in most places already.

    33. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 1

      "Maybe johnny doesn't want to learn plate techtonics? Why should he be forced to learn it?"

      For the same reason that Johnny has to eat peas even though he doesn't like them. Children are exceedingly poor judges of what they "need" and what is good for them. How could a child possibly know what they will need in 20 years?

      There is a reason kids don't pick their own bedtime, or what they eat at home.

      "The problem with the current school system is that it assumes everyon learns the same way"

      This betrays your lack of knowledge on the subject. Every student has an IEP where their learning tendencies are analyzed. Then accomodations are made to help the student, such as working in small groups, large print worksheets, spoken instructions instead of written, assignments broken into smaller sections etc. In fact there are 37 different accomodations that students can have on their IEP.

      "but overall they will kknow and keep more knowlage and give them a chance to sample many diffrent type sof clsses if they so want to."

      No, they'll be experts on body shop and PE, and not be able to make a resume, or calculate interest. Allowing students to avoid things they don't like is dumb, as it shows them that hard work and persevering through tough times isn't necessary.

    34. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 1

      "I left high school with more knowledge of calculus and physics than the teachers that taught the subjects" I don't believe you. Frequently I hear this from students, but when pressed, they come up wanting. I'm sure you are in this category. "Yes, schools punish you for independent thought, even if demonstrably correct" No, you got punished because you didn't follow directions. And you punished yourself. If you are instructed to do something a certain way, do it that way. If you know another way, share it and get extra credit. My guess is you thought your ways were better, and you got the right answers, so you never bothered to learn the methods your teachers used. And you got poor grades as a result. Sounds like your fault to me, don't blame school because you lack the ability to accept instructions. Not for nothing, but part of school is learning how to follow routines.

    35. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "This bizarre belief that every student should advance in their knowledge at exactly the same rate is the primary reason I hated all of my schooling until I got to college. Why shouldn't Susie get too far ahead of Johnny? Why shouldn't she be able to spend those three extra days learning the subject in more depth, or painting, or playing in the sandbox?"

      It's quite simple, to increase teaching on the brighter ones means to take up the time of the teaching staff, lowering the help the slower ones get and reducing their speed even further. You end up with a separation of pupils into the brighter ones who get 4 times as much teacher help and contact and then you get the slower ones who end up with less than usual teacher contact and help.

      There is nothing stopping you going off and learning more, the rules are mainly there to stop you leaching the teachers resources away from pupils who really do need it.

      I was in the same position, it wasn't that uncommon that I would complete an hours work in a quarter of the time. This left me bored most of the time, but they didn't stop me getting a book out and reading once I'd finished the work.

      The other main problem to this is parents and tax-payers, you can't supply extra teachers or teacher time to brighter pupils if in your country teachers are tax funded, if your child is struggling and brighter ones who dont need help with the work are getting more attention from the teacher, you will complain because your child is not gaining as much from the teachers as the brighter ones are and you'll also complain about spending taxes on things that dont benefit you or your family, human nature.

      To drive the point home some more, you feel that the schools didn't provide you with what you needed, join the club, but if it wasn't like it is then the slower ones would be suffering from exactly the same thing.

    36. Re:Just Imagine by El · · Score: 1

      Quite how you solve that, I don't know. You solve this by not having teachers with pre-conceived notions about what boys and girls should know. In mixed classrooms, the teachers generally pay more attention to the boys and expect them to know the answers. They did a simular test where black students performed worse on SAT tests if you sat them next to white students. It's all about expectations...

      --

      "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

    37. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nothing does get taught. The only reason I learned anything in school was because I had decent teachers who said "fuck the status quo" and actually taught the students. If you were stupid, that was your problem.

      Life in this world is going to get, much, much, much worse before there is any chance of it getting better.

      That's why people need to live outside the system.

      Overpopulation tends to make that difficult, but a nice plague or two should help with that.

    38. Re:Just Imagine by AbbyNormal · · Score: 1

      Wow and a vindictave teacher at that. If you are that quick to jump to conclusions and attack a post as "idiotic", I would hate to be one of your students.

      --
      Sig it.
    39. Re:Just Imagine by voisine · · Score: 1

      Gah! Kids are individuals damit! What kind of a screwed up education system can take a child's natural curiosity, wonder and desire to learn and squash it like a bug?!? How can you allow yourself to be a party to that? Instead of throwing up your hands and saying "the state made me do it!", you need to be working from the inside to advocate change. This is just wrong! The whole concept of assembly line, cookie cutter education is just plain wrong!

    40. Re:Just Imagine by Mr2001 · · Score: 1

      No, that doesn't make sense. If the reason girls do better in single sex classrooms is that the teachers in mixed classes pay more attention to the boys, that still doesn't explain why boys do *worse* in single sex classrooms.

      --
      Visual IRC: Fast. Powerful. Free.
    41. Re:Just Imagine by Kehvarl · · Score: 1

      No one attempts to make the students "advance their knowledge" at any rate other than what is comfortable for them.

      The rest of your post directly contradicts this. I believe a more accurate phrasing would be:
      "No one attempts to make the students 'advance their knowledge' at any rate faster than what is comfortable with the slowest student in the class. Those students who find this pace uncomfortably slow should slow down and stop being such little know-it-alls."

      Admittedly, nobody can, or should, expect you to hav to teach 4 chapters at the same time, or assis students with 3 different assignments because some are faster or slower learners than others. The fact still remains that those who rapidly grasp the concepts being taught will become bored while the teacher continues to bring the average and slow students up to speed, and those average and fast students will become (more) bored while the teachers assist the slowest students in class.

      Throughout most of my school years, I've always wondered why I was being punished for being smarter (not that I am, but I felt that way) than everyone else in class. I couldn't even do something else silently (such as reading) becuase apparently my not plodding along at a pace the other students could handle was a distraction.

      I'm getting somewhat off the subject so let me get back to it:
      I was certainly forced to "advance my knowledge" at a rate I found uncomfortable: it was too slow. I became so bored and fed up with it that I simply refused to play along with the game, did my work then sat back and did nothing in defiance.

      I don't have a workable solution for you, but the method we use currently does nothing but punish overachievers and frustrate teachers who have to teach overcrowded classrooms of increasingly bored, fidgeting, students.

    42. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Easy fix, just make them all single sex classrooms, then dress half the boys in drag.

    43. Re:Just Imagine by tumbaumba · · Score: 1

      Because each class has one teacher, who needs to keep the class on pace. I can't teach chapter one to some of the class, chapter 3 to others, and chapter 5 to the rest. Explain to me how I would lecture, correct, and give examples on 3 different subjects in 75 minutes. Would I be expected to give a lecture, and help those students who are working on the first assignment at the same time? What about when I'm lecturing and there are also 2 assignments out. It is not possible in a class of 34.

      Well, you are right, it is not possible. So, you don't teach to a class of 34 kids. You break it into smaller classes. Let say ten kids in a class. Shouldn't the "richest" country in the world be able to provide this to its kids. Or, I forgot the corporate tax breaks. I guess eventually we all will descend into social darwinism.

    44. Re:Just Imagine by AhabTheArab · · Score: 1

      Simple solution: sit the girls in front, so they think they are in a single-sex classroom.

    45. Re:Just Imagine by Jamie+Lokier · · Score: 1

      Yes it does. In single sex classrooms of the same size as the mixed, each boy gets less attention simply because there are more boys.

      I dont necessarily agree with this explanation, but if the attention theory holds for girls, then it can also explain the boys' performance.

      -- Jamie

    46. Re:Just Imagine by necro2607 · · Score: 1

      "We also have to make sure that Susie who takes one day to learn plate tectonics doesn't get too far ahead of Johnny who takes 4 days."

      This is why I failed 5 of my 7 classes in grade 11.. I learned plate tectonics in 15 minutes. Get it? Because the educational system cripples the already-minimal intellectual challenge of ANYTHING in school, people like me who learn stuff nearly instantly are saying "Why am I wasting half my day doing something that would otherwise take an hour?"...

      I started asking why I had to waste so much time at school as early as grade 1. In fact, in grade 1 I finished the entire math curriculum so fast I did grade 2 math in grade 1.. (and then did it again in grade 2)... In grade 3 I made up the lists of words for the spelling tests because my vocabulary far surpassed that of my teacher's... I was so annoyed by the simple words on the tests I started suggesting words for her to put on the tests, and I basically just started coming up with the entire lists....

      By grade 10 or so I just started going to sleep in classes. I was so sick of wasting my time for the past 10 years, I was just shutting down, or whatever.. It was like being in jail, essentially. The sheer mediocrity and simplicity of everything was no different than looking at a blank wall, or watching some sort of "sitcom" on TV.

      I fully realize I could have "made" things interesting... but I felt like I'd be lying to myself by putting meaning into something devoid of any thought/feeling such as mundane math or science assignments. I'd just be "pretending" it was interesting.

      I can tell you how to get kids to go to school, and enjoy it. When you are inclined to teach them "values", ensure those values aren't simply "what society believes". Teach them what is the most reasonable and what will benefit them and people around them, if they adopt these values... Don't tell them that stealing is bad because it's "not nice" or they'll get in trouble if they do it... You probably already know this though... but they need to know that people value their belongings and will be unhappy if their stuff is stolen (as opposed to simply being threatened with punishment)...

      I probably made no sense at all with that last paragraph, but oh well.. if you're really actually interested you can just reply, or whatever. I'm at work anyways, so I'm not even supposed to be on here...

      "No matter how you slice it, some things are boring to teach and boring to learn."

      Dude, nothing is boring to learn! Unless you have no value in knowledge or intelligence (not you literally, I mean people in general)..

      But honestly I'd be glad to have a lengthy discussion about how 'most' school systems are and how I feel they could be far far better. I used to criticize the organization and operation of things at my schools pretty much constantly, so I've spent a lot of time thinking about it... heh

    47. Re:Just Imagine by Reziac · · Score: 1

      I graduated from high school in 1972, so... back then, feelgood education hadn't yet taken hold, and skipping class was almost unheard-of. We had only two dropouts in my class of 572 seniors (and none that I know of in the 1000 or so other students). Most education was still handled by rote learning. And we LEARNED, like it or not.

      As to differences in learning speed -- in the fields of math, sciences, and English, we had advanced classes for advanced students, and remedial classes for laggards. In regular classes, homework was often adjusted according to whether you'd demonstrated that you knew the material. If you were pulling A or B grades in a given class, chances were that you'd not be required to do much of its homework.

      We DIDN'T have "reduced class sizes" (standard was 30, but 32 was common), or any fancy equipment. We had dead-minimum budgets, because homeowners routinely voted down the "mill levies" for increased school funding. We DID have good standard textbooks, basic laboratories for the advanced science classes, blackboards, pen and paper, and teachers who knew their job was to TEACH. Whether the student *enjoyed* learning wasn't an issue. You learned whether you liked it or not. And funny thing, most of us liked it well enough to lust after advanced classes in our individual fields of interest.

      Perhaps as a direct side effect, the most popular kids in school were the eggheads.

      The result of this "old-fashioned" system? Even our "laggards" graduated with a better education than many of today's "A" students. :(

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    48. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hot female teachers.

    49. Re:Just Imagine by Reziac · · Score: 1

      In my high school of previous rant, indeed, throughout that entire public school system, a student who was "too far ahead" in an undifferentiated class would get assigned some advanced work. Bored? Here's an extra credit project. Hop to it, it's now part of your required classwork.

      I'm reminded that in the 7th grade, any student with an A or B grade in English was *required* to write a short story and submit it to a contest (which included all such students in both junior high schools). Yeah, some of the results sucked (not everyone has a talent for writing fiction!) but that was our "advanced work" for the quarter, and lo and behold, everyone came through.

      Oh yeah... I won the contest. The kid who sat behind me in English class got 3rd place. I guess Mrs. Neuschwander must have been doing *something* right. :)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    50. Re:Just Imagine by Fallen_Knight · · Score: 1

      eating healty and sleeping well are TOTALY diffrent for haveing useless knowlage in ones head. The first ture are 100% good for you and ther eis NO question taht vegtables and lots of sleep are healthy and good. And well peas are just 1 vegtable that can always be replaced by another vegtable, there is nor eason to force a kid to eat peas when he/she will eat another healty equiv vegtable

      Frankly how many people NEED to know plate tectonics? just how usefull is that to a manager, biz man, programmer, clerk, tradesmen, truck driver? not usefull at all. Its something that if you want to know about it you go look it up.

      The school system here isn't like that at all, each student is treated the same. period. unless your in the "special class"

      >>"but overall they will kknow and keep more knowlage and give them a chance to sample many diffrent type sof clsses if they so want to."

      >No, they'll be experts on body shop and PE, and not be able to make a resume, or calculate interest. Allowing students to avoid things they don't like is dumb, as it shows them that hard work and persevering through tough times isn't necessary.

      And if that was true why does anyone go to university? collage? Why does any student take IT12? math12? any sci12? its not needed for graduation, ditto to shop eletronics law arts french?

      If what you said was ture these classes would be empty. But they arn't. Give kids options and only force (because otherwise yes there are those who wouldn't go at all) them to pick a minimum of classes and they will have to and thus they will learn, an dno they won't all be expects with PE or body shop bceause that won't get them enough "credits" to graduate

    51. Re:Just Imagine by Reziac · · Score: 1

      Exactly right. You may not think you need that boring antiquated subject at the time, but someday you'll feel the lack. My neighbour was home-schooled and was allowed to largely "self-motivate". The result? Huge gaps in her basic knowledge, that restrict her ability to intelligently interact with the world, and sometimes put her at a functional disadvantage.

      Fact is, NO ONE is "self-motivated" to learn unless it's a topic they are *already interested in*.

      Oddly enough, being forced to rote-learn stuff (that is, structured non-optional learning) is frequently how a student is introduced to stuff they'd never have looked at on their own, but that over time becomes a passion.

      Frex, I trace my love of words back to 6 years of often-boring English classes required by the public school system. At the time I wasn't the least bit interested in writing, let alone the nuances of grammar and how to use it to best effect (tho diagramming sentences can be fun). Now I write fiction, and edit other folks' stuff. How'd that happen? :)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    52. Re:Just Imagine by Reziac · · Score: 1

      [laughing] My fingers sometimes make homophonic errors, such as typing "won" instead of "one". They do this without bothering to consult my brain. :)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    53. Re:Just Imagine by Reziac · · Score: 1

      Likewise... I remember how we used to bait poor Mr.Hackman, who would bend over backwards to help any student with the slightest need or interest. Every day he'd faithfully write our algebra homework on the blackboard, and we'd follow along ... until he hit some point that could be done different ways, or made a mistake (even teachers are not infallible :) Then there'd be questions from the students, leading to a discussion that very likely would launch off into some topic well beyond the day's lesson. It kept everyone interested, if only for the chance to catch the poor fellow in a mistake. And I think it helped the slower learners digest the lesson, too.

      We had very, very good teachers in that public system, most of whom were happy to encourage lesson expansion in any way that presented itself. Students commonly stayed after school voluntarily, whether to work on some private project, or to get personalized help, or just because it was a nice environment to hang out in.

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    54. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think that everyone who posted about education should take a look at http://www.bigpicture.org .

    55. Re:Just Imagine by servognome · · Score: 1

      You dont' bring anything away from a forced well rounded highschool education...rogramming and linguistics backgrtound implies that the author went out of his way to learn both, didn't get forced to learn 1 or the other
      I disagree, when you are in highschool you have not been exposed to most subjects, so how can you make an intelligent decision?
      English pre-highschool is grammar and vocabulary, math pre-highschool is arithmetic. Both are basically learning toolsets, and not representative of the "interesting" aspects of each subject.
      An artist might hate arithmetic, so would not choose any math related courses. They in fact might be interested in geometry which is a very different subject, though falls under math. A computer student might hate spelling and sentence structure, but could become interested in writing techniques to improve the quality of their blog.
      I think there should be more choices in classes, though there should be a degree of "forcing" kids to be exposed and learn new things, so in college, or later in life they can make intelligent decisions on what they choose to pursue.

      --
      D6 63 0D 70 89 81 BB 8E 7B 7C 5F 5D 54 EA AB 73
    56. Re:Just Imagine by Bob9113 · · Score: 1

      Ok, let's hear some ideas. I'm a teacher, so I'll be ecstatic to get some help in this area.

      There is nothing practical that can help. I was going to say, "Punish the parents when the kids grades turn south, and reward them when they turn north, relative to the mean." But that's not practical. There is nothing practical that can help in this day of total lack of personal accountability.

      However, further removing the sense of personal accountability (by making a little RF device responsible for attendance instead of the child/teacher) is not an improvement. So please don't use "there's no other option" as an equivalent to "this option won't make things worse."

    57. Re:Just Imagine by lifeblender · · Score: 1

      Simple solution: sit the girls in front, so they think they are in a single-sex classroom.

      That doesn't quite work, since guys at the back of the room will talk loudly to attract attention from all the kids that aren't looking at them. The other students (notably the girls) are looking forward, not back at the attention-desiring guys. That minority of guys will make even more noise than they usually would because of the severe lack of attention.

      Of course, you could try to prevent the students from talking, but that hurts students in all grade levels and is completely counter-productive in most cases.

      --
      Playing pornographics games during the day is evil! Play at night!
    58. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Quite how you solve that, I don't know.

      Doing that would be far easier if anybody bothered to study the why.

      That's the problem with most sociology studies; they figure out the what, but never the why. Then people come along and try to "fix" the what instead of the why and never understand why it doesn't work.

    59. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ignore the idiots ifwm.

      JET

    60. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Every poster seems to think the entire responsibility is the schools. The parents' influence goes a long way to make them interested. Far too many just send them off to school, shirking their own responsibility.

      JET

    61. Re:Just Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ifwm,
      I can appreciate that being a *good* teacher is not easy. I work for a defense contractor, and the restrictions put on every little thing make the job almost unbearable sometimes. I understand that aspect.

      From all the responses I've read, all the posters seem to think it's your responsibility to make it so exciting that the kids can't wait to get to school in the morning. That's a great goal, and I'm sure you try to do that, but I'm also sure that it's hard to do consistently. I believe that it is just as much the parents job. The other posters never touched on that; all they can do is find fault with the schools and teachers.

      They sound like the kind of people I hated to have classes with simply because of their bad attitude. And they use the excuse that they were bored because they were too smart! Yeah right.

      JET

    62. Re:Just Imagine by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 1

      I don't think subjects should be entirely dropped, that would be to the detriment of the individual.

      I think that simply being more flexible with the schooling time would benefit the children by allowing themselves to shine in the subjects they are good at, whilst still keeping the basic general understanding of other subjects.

      Essentially put a grading on each lesson, and a relivence to its subject.
      You point out mathematics, I wouldn't consider allowing students to come through without any, but at the same time, I wouldn't expect a chef to need to know how to calculate the square root of a negative number.

      --
      liqbase :: faster than paper
    63. Re:Just Imagine by redmoss · · Score: 1

      I think the whole "we need to teach this stuff even though it's boring" idea is silly. If the learning doesn't seem relevant and/or fun, what's the point? If I personally don't see the point in something I'm learning, I'll just forget it all. So why bother trying to force-feed it to me in the first place?

      What we need to do is let kids (and adults? who says schooling has to stop when we turn 18?) learn what they want, whenever they want. Even if it means they're learning nothing for 5 years. We need to have some faith in human nature: the human desire to learn is preprogrammed into us as a result of our intelligence. Trust that we will learn what we need to when the time comes for it to be necessary.

      The whole school system needs to be re-worked from the ground up. The forced warehousing and detention of kids is stifling and degrading to all involved, and needs to be abolished. Can't we come up with a better environment for our kids to be in for the first 18 years of their lives? Let them do interesting, useful things. If we did this, I think we'd be amazed at how intelligent kids can be, and how much of a benefit they can be to their society.

    64. Re:Just Imagine by Poeir · · Score: 1

      So, in other words, you're skilled at writing in English?

      What on Earth are you doing on Slashdot? (Tongue-in-cheek) Did you loose your way?

      --
      Sigs are like bumper stickers.
    65. Re:Just Imagine by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      "Yes, schools punish you for independent thought, even if demonstrably correct" No, you got punished because you didn't follow directions.

      I was told in 2nd grade to draw a man with two orange heads. This was for Halloween, and they would all be put on the board for the parent conferences that night. I drew a man holding two orange heads. Everyone else in the class drew a person with two jack-o-lanterns where the usual head would be.

      I was sent to the principal's office and paddled for not following directions. So I hope you don't mind when I say, "fuck you." I did what I was told. If I did not do what I was told, could you explain what part of the directions I did not follow.

      Sounds like your fault to me, don't blame school because you lack the ability to accept instructions.

      Like "show all your work?" That doesn't work for someone that doesn't do the work. Add 2+3, show all your work. If you don't write (1+1)+(1+1+1)=5, then you get it wrong. Why should I write out steps I do not go through? They don't want me to show all my work, they want me to do it in a specific, yet unspecified, manner. It kills creativity, not encouraging routines.



      "I left high school with more knowledge of calculus and physics than the teachers that taught the subjects" I don't believe you. Frequently I hear this from students, but when pressed, they come up wanting. I'm sure you are in this category.

      Then press me. I don't think there is anything I can say or answer that will convince you. Would it help if I told you that my teacher knew that I knew more than her, so she have me half the class and the keys to another classroom, and while I was a physics student, I was teaching it? How about if, when the classes were reintegrated, the group I taught was ahead of the group she taught? Anyway, I don't think anything I say can convince you that I'm not a liar. But, since you say they come up wanting when pressed, please press. Personally, I think you've already made up your mind, and there is nothing they (or I) could say when pressed that would change your mind about them all being liars.

    66. Re:Just Imagine by Reziac · · Score: 1

      Hmm. You've got a point... I know! I'm here to set a shining example for others to emulate!! [tapping foot] Okay, where's the "emulation"?? ;)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    67. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 1

      What jumping to conclusions? You said something idiotic, I called you on it. Don't like it? Choose what you say more carefully. More importantly, what did you contribute to the discussion? Nothing.

    68. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 1

      Um, I'm wasting my time because you're clearly not too bright (someone must have let you do whatever you wanted when you were a kid) but I'll do it anyway. "And if that was true why does anyone go to university" Seriously? Are you really so thick that you have to ask this? Because they want to BE something. An engineer, doctor, lawyer, chemist. How would they do it without a university? As far as why those boring classes are empty, I as someone who has attended a university can tell you we take them because we have graduate, and they're open during registration. Nothing more to it.

    69. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 1

      Feelgood education system. I like that, and judging by the posts I see, most of these slashbots have bought into the idea.

    70. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 1

      "Let them do interesting, useful things" I'm sorry, but you're wrong. Children simply do not behave this way. MANY, MANY children will not learn new subjects unless made to. No matter how interesting, their focus is too short, and they are not willing to spend more than 5 or 10 minutes on a subject. More importantly, where will the money come from? Right now we have people upset about thier taxes because they don't have kids, or they have already raised them. Overcome that, and you'll see improvement. The truth is, most parents care too little to help. THEY warehouse the kids, THEY insist on standards, and THEY shirk responsibility for their children's education. Fix that, and you'll see an improvement.

    71. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 1

      Listen, it's clear your problems were mostly because you think you're smarter than others, can't follow directions, and have a piss poor attitude. You're not smarter than others, you clearly have problems with authority, and probably blame others for your mistakes. Oh, and fuck you too.

    72. Re:Just Imagine by AbbyNormal · · Score: 1

      Humor. You must have missed it. I'm just amazed that a grown adult and "teacher" would have continued the tirade. Trying to prove your point by deriding other people. Wonderful. And they say our education system is flawed.

      Don't like it? ...
      Nah you're just an idiot.

      --
      Sig it.
    73. Re:Just Imagine by Fallen_Knight · · Score: 1

      Your missing my point.

      Yes poeple go to university because they want to be something, or learn something, and for that exact same reason kids would take highschool classes. Because they want ot learn or be something so they would take them to GET into university or have the skills for the job they want to have.

      If they dont' want ot have a job, ah well, they are still required to take X courses to graduate.

    74. Re:Just Imagine by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      Listen, it's clear your problems were mostly because you think you're smarter than others, can't follow directions, and have a piss poor attitude. You're not smarter than others, you clearly have problems with authority, and probably blame others for your mistakes. Oh, and fuck you too.

      Well, when you start out a response calling someone a liar, do you expect a cordial response? If so, then you are just plain stupid. Of course, since you didn't address my points, I can only assume that you firmly believe that I'm correct, but that you have some personal problem ever admitting you are wrong. So thanks for agreeing with me that you are wrong, even if you can't find the words. If you were actually interested in discourse, you'd have engaged in it. Instead, it is obvious that you are the one that wanted to assert his intelligence by belittling others. So I say again, fuck you.

      If you continue say you don't know of anyone that knew a subject better than their teacher when they left high school, then you are a liar. You now know of me. But since those that quickly accuse others of lying are usually liars themselves, I expect that you will continue to be rude and condescending to those that state they differ from the norm. Punish all those that differ from the norm, isn't that your motto?

    75. Re:Just Imagine by Reziac · · Score: 1

      The lack of realworld experience, and possession of the concomitant attitudes, makes it real obvious that most folk here are in the 14 to 24 age range, eh? Whoops, I used big words, they don't teach those anymore!!

      When I was in the 5th grade (1964), the earliest feelgood crap started coming down the pipe, in the form of whole-word recognition reading (which teaches *everyone* to "read" by the method most dyslexics use -- I now support enough dyslexics to have a clue about that). By poor luck I was in the afflicted experimental class. And despite that we all had perfect scores (we'd known all the material since the 2nd grade!), we KNEW we were being shortchanged compared to the students in the standard tracks, and we resented it. (We were spelling words like "cat" and they were spelling words like "catatonic".) Result? No one in our class wanted to do spelling or reading anymore.

      Fortunately I moved away in midyear, but one has to wonder if those perfect scores impressed stupid school board members enough to switch everyone to the new program. :(

      If you can't tell, I can rant about *real* education vs "feelgood" bullshit for .. oh, I see it was two hours before I ran down and went away the first time :)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    76. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 1

      "If they dont' want ot have a job, ah well, they are still required to take X courses to graduate" No, they don't. It's possible to get many different kinds of diplomas, several of which allow a student to "graduate" without taking required courses. And there is always the GED. As far as missing your point, make one, so I can catch it please.

    77. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 1

      The reason I didn't address your points is because you're a liar. We established that, please try to keep up. As far as the rest of your blather, who cares. You're a liar, and an asshole, and you have a superiority complex. So again, who cares what you think. Certainly not me.

    78. Re:Just Imagine by redmoss · · Score: 1

      "I'm sorry, but you're wrong". Heh... no, *you're* wrong. Now that that's out of the way...

      There is plenty of evidence that kids *do* learn new subjects without coercion. For one example, they learn to speak without being forced to do so. They learn games from their peers. They learn social behavior by imitation. They learn how to ride bikes, make sandwiches, etc etc. All it takes is for them to have interest, be it due to immediate practical necessity, or due to intellectual curiosity. On a personal level, I have learned *far* more after school, been a lot more interested in what I've learned, and thus retained it for a lot longer, than I did when I was in school and subjected to batteries of tests and coercion.

      Besides, my argument is that if learning these subject has to be coerced, it is not worth teaching them to our kids. To use an example: do we really care if kids know what date the French revolution started? No! It would be nice if they had a general idea about history. But some kids don't care *at all* about history, and our attempts to force them to learn about it will be futile. Other kids who *are* interested will obviously not need to be coerced to learn about it. If we can't spend more than 5-10 minutes on a subject with some kids, why should we force the issue? When a toddler refuses to eat, you can't force the food down his mouth; you have to let him have his way, then eat when he's actually hungry. Let's treat our kids as human beings; eg treat them the way we would want to be treated.

    79. Re:Just Imagine by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      The reason I didn't address your points is because you're a liar.

      Ah, yes. You asserted that in the first sentence of your first post, then complained about my attitude. I just wanted to make it clear to all others that may have been reading your response that you had no interest in a discussion, but wanted to bash anyone with an opinion different than yours, even when they are correct and you are wrong.

    80. Re:Just Imagine by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      part of school is learning how to follow routines.

      You'll have to excuse me. I read some of your other posts on the subject, and you are apparently an incompetent teacher that makes excuses for the failing school systems pointing to everything other than the schools themselves. I have met your kind. You are the type that gives teacher a bad name, like the "if you can't do, teah" jokes. If you think it impossible for a student to leave with more knowledge than the teacher, then you are ignorant and incapable of properly teaching. I have tutored people. I have successfully tutored people with more knowledge in a subject than me. I have tutored people with less knowledge in a subject until their knowledge exceeded my own.

      You speak as if teaching is a transfer of knowledge. That is a waste of time. Teaching should be guiding the student's learning. If you can't guide someone that has more knowledge than you, then you should teach. Unfortunately, there are people like you that think it is about teaching them to conform at the expense of creativity. The people like you that are nothing more than glorified babysitters that don't help students learn, but are more interested in making sure they are quiet and facing forward. You aren't the solution. You are the problem.

    81. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 1

      You didn't read my post did you? I'm not wrong, and if you'd read, you would realize I was talking about academics, and you're talking about activities.

      More to the point, you ignored MY point. The reason kids must be taught things they don't like is that school is training for the real world. Most people have jobs they don't enjoy, and they do them because they learned perseverance at school. In your plan, they would just quit every job they don't enjoy, because they never learned how to tough it out.

      And, since I have 2 degrees in learning theory and 5 years experience, and you have nothing but an ill informed opinion, I can say with certainty

      You're wrong.

      Listen, no offense, but you aren't informed enough about this to discuss it intelligently, so stop trying. Please.

    82. Re:Just Imagine by ifwm · · Score: 1

      What does being a teacher have anyhting to do with it? You must think that because I have infinite patience in a classroom, that I must suffer fools outside of it. Nope. I'm a regular guy, just like most others. I don't have to put up with stupid people any more than anyone else does. It interests me that you said "I'm just amazed that a grown adult... would have continued the tirade" and then you said "Nah you're just an idiot" Pot calling the kettle black it seems

    83. Re:Just Imagine by redmoss · · Score: 1

      I will see you one diatribe and raise you a rant.

      1: Telling people they're wrong does not make for a productive discussion.

      2: Brandishing credentials is similarly non-productive.

      3: Condescension also does not help.

      4: You are a Nazi! OK, you may or may not be a Nazi, but I've now satisfied Godwin's law and can say my part in this thread is concluded.

  37. what next? by pagal_paanda · · Score: 0

    What are they going to do next? RFID shit balls to see how they go through the toilet?

  38. Required implants by hrvatska · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Where this is leading is required RFID implants. The requirement will initially start out with groups that most of us don't care about, like convicted felons. Next, maybe immigrants. Then it'll start creeping into other sectors of society. Eventually you'll see a wide range of jobs where this is required. Perhaps nursing, police and emergency workers. Then it will start to be required for normal activities. Like you won't be able to board an airline without an RFID implant. The initial selling point will be that it speeds up boarding. And then it'll be required for driver licenses. Can't be too secure after all. I think it's inevitable.

    1. Re:Required implants by drsmithy · · Score: 1
      Where this is leading is required RFID implants.

      Oh, heavens, no. Nothing so obvious, nothing so...forced.

      What you do is make _not_ having an ID implant so inconvenient, people willingly get them put in. Make an implanted ID worth 100 ID points on its own, for example (Australian example).

      The requirement will initially start out with groups that most of us don't care about, like convicted felons.

      Paedophiles are the traditional target for this sort of thing. Even the most strident civil rights advocate thinks twice before doing anything that might be even remotely construed as criticising *their* "punishment".

    2. Re:Required implants by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks; I didn't think I could get any more depressed today, but your synopsis did the trick.

      I think you are 100% correct, and that is exactly how it will go down. Worst part is, no one outside of certain circles seems to care.

      Trust, my kid will never be a RFID cyborg, being tracked like a herd animal wherever he goes and whatever he does. And neither will I. Homeschooling and/or violent Revolution is the cure for that.

    3. Re:Required implants by EvilNutSack · · Score: 1

      And how long before they start insisting on other implants? Like checking if your kids are using drugs/drinking/smoking?

      --
      --
    4. Re:Required implants by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't forget about most wide spread use: If you want to have inusrance (private/medicare/medicade) you must have a subdermal RFID tag for the doctors office to scan for billing. This will be done to reduce insurance fraud, and save you money!

      Now where is my hat?

  39. The Police? by 955301 · · Score: 5, Funny

    And I suppose the RFID's of the criminal element of the school will transmit data with the Evil Bit turned on? Shouldn't it be a word, or at least a few more bits?

    000 - Nothing to see here.
    001 - normal kid with mischevious mind. Watch for changes. May be intimidated back to 000 with minor police brutality.
    010 - Thief. Arrest if lingering in the parking lot or around school supply cabinets.
    011 - Fighter. Arrest if having an animated discussion with any 000's they don't normally congregate with or other 011's.
    100 - Stabby. Arrest when outer perimiter metal detectors are set off. Notify cafeteria to dispense plastic silverware to the 100 and immediately surrounding 000's. Exhibits 011 behavior, follow guidelines accordingly.
    101 - Brandisher. Arrest when outer perimiter detectors are set off and body mass = yesterday's + #g of any known gun + various # of bullets/magazines.Exhibits 011 behavior, follow guidelines accordingly.
    110 - Shooter. Arrest immediately. If no gun is found, plant one or make an announcement that arresting them was the right thing to do.
    111 - Dealer. "Accidently" shut fire doors on 111's crushing them to death. Accompany disposed of body with a 110, some stray bullets, and drug paraphenalia.

    Yeah, they definately need more Evil Bits...

    --
    You are checking your backups, aren't you?
    1. Re:The Police? by choas · · Score: 0

      +1 Scary

      --
      I will work to elevate you, just enough to bring you down
  40. what about the kids? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    The next thing we know they will want to tag and watch drivers... oh, hold on...

    The next thing we know they will want to collect biometric data on all persons passing through the borders... erm....

    The next thing we know we'll all have to cary large pieces of paper (with chips in) around with us to prove who we are. only terrorists, insurgents or those of an inheriently evil nature will object.

    The next thing we'll know they'll give people cool new implants to help take the stress away from carrying all the paper and ID around.

    ready to be manipulated?

  41. Making it easier for kidnappers? by PornMaster · · Score: 1

    On the Web site that includes the log of student movements, there was no record that any of the students on the bus had arrived.

    If you're a kidnapper, wouldn't it be nice to have a web site which told you precisely where to find (the rich kid|the kid for whom you have been denied custody)?

    Besides, how does this prevent kidnapping? All it does it provide an audit trail, or lack thereof.

    1. Re:Making it easier for kidnappers? by Knight2K · · Score: 1

      I was wondering about this too. The FBI has basically stamped out kidnap for ransom in the US, so I would guess that there are probably two remaining motives: child custody or perversion.

      It all comes down to how much time a kidnapper has before people realize a kid is missing. In a custody case, if the window is small then this might make a difference.

      In the other case, well, those people may adapt to the shorter window, which is just horrible to think about. Right now, if I remember my "Without a Trace" correctly (I know, facts from TV shows), if a kidnap victim isn't found in between 6 and 8 hours, the odds they are alive decrease dramatically.

      I really hope my second point isn't true. I think the Amber Alert system has had some success with rapidly notifying the public. If RFID's add to the effectiveness of the alert system it will be hard to argue with this.

      I think the mention of a chip implantation system at the end of the article is too creepy for words. Implementing that system would mean that within a couple of generations, every American would be chipped. The privacy concerns with this are too scary to contemplate.

      At the very least, the RFID implants should biodegrade when the recipient turns 18. Part of growing up is letting kids have incrementally more liberty in order for them to develop the skills to be independent as an adult. What kind of society would we have if kids don't learn to take care of themselves because they are constantly monitored?

      --
      ======
      In X-Windows the client serves YOU!
    2. Re:Making it easier for kidnappers? by PornMaster · · Score: 1

      What kind of society would we have if kids don't learn to take care of themselves because they are constantly monitored?
      On the other hand, what kind of society do we have where kids don't learn to take care of themselves because they are never monitored?
      Unfortunately, the monitoring which needs to be done is parental supervision and nurturing... though in its place in schools, I'd rather see caring educator supervision and monitoring than an RFID card.

    3. Re:Making it easier for kidnappers? by tf23 · · Score: 1

      One would think (or like to) that the school system would restrict look-up access for a particular student to the student's parent(s) or legal guardian(s).

  42. excelent alibi by C0vardeAn0nim0 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    1- go to school
    2- leave the RFID tag there (or wrap tinfoil in your arm if is subdermal)
    3- leave the school
    4- comit a crime
    5- ???
    6- profit

    #5 could prety much be "don't worry with police. they think you were in school".

    thei're just giving students an excelent, state sanctioned alibi.

    i watched a movie once about a gang that used british prision system as alibi. they all comited light crimes (no more than 6 months jail time), then they broke of the jail, stole a roll of paper from the comapny that prints brit money, printed a batch of bills, hide the money, returned to jail.

    when the police found about the stolen paper, they dismissed the gang as suspects because they were all in jail, end were still there.

    do i see something like this happening in texas ?

    --
    What ? Me, worry ?
    1. Re:excelent alibi by Mojojojo+Monkey+Inc. · · Score: 2, Funny

      oh yeah dude? well i watched a movie once where a wacky gang of (mostly) american criminals used an EMP to knock out las vegas' power system for 30 seconds and used the ensuing chaos to break into a casino and steal a lot of money! but they hacked into the security system so it looked like they were somewhere else and fooled the evil casino owner, and george clooney stole his girlfriend!

      do i see george clooney coming to michgan to steal my girlfriend?! i think so! that is why i'm covering my apartment in tin-foil and using pin-hole cameras, to make it EMP- and clooney-proof.

  43. Teach by example by liquidsin · · Score: 1

    As long as the teachers and all other staff are held to the same rules, then it's fine. Kids *should* be at school anyways. This to me looks like a use of technology to make it easier for the teachers to take attendance, and to keep track of what kids are in school on any given day. And if the principal and the janitor are willing to abide by the rules and let the police know where they are too (in case the art teacher decides to go hit the bong behind the maintenance shed at lunch) then I don't see a problem.

    --
    do not read this line twice.
    1. Re:Teach by example by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      And if the principal and the janitor are willing to abide by the rules

      Think that's gonna happen? By that logic, teachers should wear the school uniform that we all have to wear. Does that happen?

    2. Re:Teach by example by phuturephunk · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The problem with it is, this is just another measure..under the guise of child safety..to take responsibility away from the parent of teaching the child that learning is valuable. We don't instill respect in our children for knowledge, then we use draconian measures to attempt to chain them to the learning process.

      You know what that gets you from the average teenager?

      The finger..

    3. Re:Teach by example by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      > Think that's gonna happen? By that logic, teachers should wear the school uniform that we all have to wear. Does that happen?

      Of course not. Students wear the tan uniforms. Failing students get brown uniforms. Teachers wear the spiffy black ones with the silver trim.

  44. The Creationist State by gelfling · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So here's the stat that just required the schoolbook publisher to make changes in their books so that now marriage is strictly a lifelong relationship between a man and a woman (BTW Texas has one of the highest divorce rates in the country) and another change to call evolution an unproven theory.

    Now we have soccermoms micromanaging their own children's every movement with an eye in the sky.

    Welcome to George Bush's America.

    1. Re:The Creationist State by edwdig · · Score: 2, Insightful

      and another change to call evolution an unproven theory.

      We can never prove that man evolved from apes. We can find evidence to suggest that it's highly likely that it happened, but that's as far as we can go.

      Well, if you invent time travel and set out to document you entirely ancestry all the way back to an ape, you could prove it, but I wouldn't bet on the odds of that happening.

      So yes, evolution is an unproven theory. It just happens to best one that we have at the moment.

    2. Re:The Creationist State by PW2 · · Score: 1

      I don't think this technology would be popular in a "Creationist State"

      Forcing children to walk through radio fields strong enough to remotely power up electronic circuits shouldn't be accepted for health and development reasons. (we may think test scores are low now, but imagine...)

      Hopefully people in general will be smart enough to keep RFID as a technology to track materials and products only.

    3. Re:The Creationist State by mikerich · · Score: 1
      We can never prove that man evolved from apes. We can find evidence to suggest that it's highly likely that it happened, but that's as far as we can go.

      Man didn't evolve from apes. Man and apes had a common ancestor. You are correct in that no one observed the speciation of humanity, but studies such as cladistics show the varying similarities between humans and the other primates and gives an explanation of how our species have diverged.

      So yes, evolution is an unproven theory. It just happens to best one that we have at the moment.

      Sorry, not true. Speciation has repeatedly been observed in nature.

      Evolution has been proven. The word 'theory' has no particular weight in science. Darwin would have been equally justified in calling it his Law of Evolution.

      Whether evolution proceeds along a strict Darwinian model of steady state incremental change or more like Steven Jay Gould's punctuated equilibrium is a matter of debate.

      But there is no debate over the existence of evolution itself.

      Best wishes,
      Mike.

    4. Re:The Creationist State by mrwatson · · Score: 1

      So what's wrong with a "Creationist State"? This country was founded on Biblical principles after all. If Texas does have one of the highest divorce rates in the country as you say, that makes it the prime place to teach that marriage is a lifelong relationship between a man and a woman. With so many people getting divorced, clearly a lot of people are not getting the message. If George Bush's America is a place where religious teaching is not squashed by atheistic teaching in our schools, I for one am all for it.

  45. A Texas Highschool Student by marco0009 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I currently attend a Texas High School and I am quite glad that I will be graduating come spring of '05. I've seen my school dump the largest portion of its funds into the football team which then proceeded to loose every game, while our science wing must deal with outdated equipment, aging textbooks, and in many cases if the teacher is not an honors teacher, they have no idea what it is they are teaching. Our mathematics department is in the same condition.

    This is just a slight example of how ill-directed our administrator's are. They are easily blinded by people who have even the slightest ability to market a service or product, and I would not be in the least surprised to see that my class mates are all tagged with RFID in some form or fashion at the start of the next school year.

    --
    Physics makes the world go 'round.
    1. Re:A Texas Highschool Student by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've seen my school dump the largest portion of its funds into the football team which then proceeded to loose every game...

      So how's your English teacher coping with the limited education funds?

    2. Re:A Texas Highschool Student by dykofone · · Score: 1
      I graduated from a Texas school (Dripping Springs) in '02, and have pretty much the same gripes. As much as I liked to hate the football team, they did actually create revenue for the school, so money isn't the place to complain about them. Where football hurt our school, was that state law prohibits you from having more than one coach per sport, yet we had a pretty large coaching staff for football and other sports. The administration got around this by giving part time teaching positions to many of the coaches (half the day they teach, half the day they coach). So, we ended up having twice as many coaches (who got payed more) than we would have had teachers in those subjects, plus the fact that many of them had no idea what they were teaching.

      The science department was dismal, and the few teachers who actually knew their subject were being driven away for younger teachers who cost less. Once in college and talking to other students, I was amazed at how lacking our school was at teaching anything technically related. For me, high school served nothing more than a time to goof around and see in what ways we could manipulate the system. But college more than makes up for it, especially if you can get far away from home.

    3. Re:A Texas Highschool Student by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      As much as I liked to hate the football team, they did actually create revenue for the school, so money isn't the place to complain about them.

      I've seen this said, and I think it is wrong. It may be that, given stadiums that exist, busses that are free, and all the other facilities are there, the cost of running a football program is less than the income from it. However, I think that there are elaborate stadiums created, gyms, locker rooms, training fields, and other facilities created for or set aside for football that, if included, would make for a net loss. They just roll the costs of the facilities into the cost of the schools themselves, then "prove" that football is free or money-making.

    4. Re:A Texas Highschool Student by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "loose every game" says nothing about the score.

      Maybe if the team had rfid's we would know where they were when they lost.

    5. Re:A Texas Highschool Student by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly how old are the books? I'm not saying anything, but the science and math important for high school hasn't changed for decades.

    6. Re:A Texas Highschool Student by darkstar949 · · Score: 1

      I am also an escapee of the Texas public education system (class of 2001) and I ended up being one of the starting sophomore classes at a newly opened high school during my 99-00 school year.

      Surprise, surprise it sucked - most of the money that the school had was either being sent towards the football team (which won one game) or towards finishing the construction of the school. I had Pre-AP Computer Science that year and I knew more than the teacher and I had just started learning C++ that summer. Overall the facilities at that school where quite lousy for a brand new school, and the old school that I was forced to transfer from had a better computer science department, even though the school was over 30 years old.

      Long story short - most of the schools in Texas are lousy and the resident Texan belief that Football is life means that most of the real teaching that should be done is over shadowed by mandatory "Pep" rallies.

  46. What happens when someone refuses? by svin · · Score: 0

    You can also hope that some kid (or her/his parents) , preferably one with a perfect attendance record, refuses.

    If the school allows it, then it will spread. On the other hand if it is decided to expell the student, there should be plenty of possibilities for causing enough controversy about this in the mainstream media, maybe even a lawsuit.

    One could always hope that a event like that, would shut the proponnents of such an idea up (at least for a couple of years).

  47. allergic reaction by PerpetualMotion · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Why use a knife? Find a little poison ivy or something similar, get yourself a bad rash on and around the area implanted, and claim you are having an allergic reaction. They will take it out. Get everyone else in school to do the same.

    You have the poison ivy, you know what to do with the people who don't play along.

    1. Re:allergic reaction by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      I have somewhat more skill with a knife, and don't have a ready supply of poison ivy (I live in Australia).

    2. Re:allergic reaction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      No Poison Ivy in Australia?!?
      Hold on, I'll FedEx you a bunch. Along with some toads, rabbits, and cats. If you cannot use the toads, rabbits, and cats...just let them loose in the countryside as I'm sure they'll just go away and die.

    3. Re:allergic reaction by PeDRoRist · · Score: 1

      Wouldn't it be simpler to not let someone put something you don't want inside your body in the first place?

      I mean, my body may be the only thing I really own, don't I have a right to refuse such implants?

      --

      Anything you do can get you slashdotted, including nothing.
    4. Re:allergic reaction by Dwonis · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Your parents do, if you're underage.

    5. Re:allergic reaction by the_weasel · · Score: 1

      Oh, dear god.

      Someone, please mod this funny. I am still laughing out loud.....

      --
      - sarcasm is just one more service we offer -
    6. Re:allergic reaction by LordK2002 · · Score: 1
      Your parents do, if you're underage.
      By that argument, a parent would be able to forcibly tattoo or pierce a 15-year-old against their will.

      At the end of the day, any kind of physical implant requires physical co-operation, which you do not have to provide at any age (although it would be a lot harder when you are too small or young to resist).

    7. Re:allergic reaction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Myself and the lady both agreed that should some school try pulling RFID crap like this on our kids, the two of us will fuck with this as much or more than any angsty teenager would. Some people feel the one worthwhile reward to having done nothing wrong is a little privacy.

    8. Re:allergic reaction by Fulcrum+of+Evil · · Score: 1

      I have somewhat more skill with a knife, and don't have a ready supply of poison ivy (I live in Australia).

      Use a duckbilled Patypus or something. My god, you live in the only country that has a poisonous mammal - surely you can find something.

      --
      "We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
    9. Re:allergic reaction by Reziac · · Score: 2, Insightful

      True, but... too often, kids already suffer from the feeling that no one trusts them. Now they'll know FOR SURE that their parents don't trust them. And what happens then? The kid says "Fuck it, if they don't trust me anyway, I might as well do what I want and lie about it."

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    10. Re:allergic reaction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "By that argument, a parent would be able to forcibly tattoo or pierce a 15-year-old against their will."

      But... they do. It's called circumcision. Parents decide to have their childs bodies modified without their informed consent when it is not medically needed.

      *shrug*

    11. Re:allergic reaction by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      We already know that we're not trusted. At school I need paperwork to go for a piss, to use a computer. I need to be supervised at all times when near a computer, I need more paperwork after I've finished on the computer. If there is no-one to supervise when I'm on the computer, I just get a zero.

      Sure makes you feel trusted.

    12. Re:allergic reaction by Reziac · · Score: 1

      When I was in school (I graduated from H.S. in 1972), discipline was much stricter than it is today. Even so, we only had to have hall passes and library passes if we were wandering around loose outside of normal times to do so. But if it was something like "go to the john", it was expected that we were responsible enough to manage that with neither paperwork** nor supervision. If we had to work on something outside of class, we just asked permission to use whatever; it was expected that if you were doing student-type things, you were behaving more or less responsibly and would take care of your own equipment.

      And ya know what? we reacted accordingly. We could wipe our own asses and get back to class without being told, or tracked. We used lab equipment and whatever else, and cleaned up after ourselves. We were responsible for ourselves, to at least the degree that normal ordinary kids can be expected to be.

      Between shit like RFID tracking and "soccer moms" who plan a kid's every minute, being a kid probably sucks now more than ever. :(

      ** I can just hear some wag saying, "Wow, you had to go to the john without any paper? Eugh..." :)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    13. Re:allergic reaction by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      I ran out out ink for my printer and got kicked out of a computer room 15 minutes before a project was due.....it was all finished, I had just downloaded it, and then a teacher came in and made me leave. Well, there goes 40% of my term marks.

    14. Re:allergic reaction by Reziac · · Score: 1

      That completely sucks. Hope you manage to pull a decent grade regardless, and better luck next time!

      Maybe the teacher was "just enforcing the rules". But education systems have become so admin-topheavy, and subsequently rulebound, that there is no longer any allowance for common sense. And that sort of thing gets worse as *experienced* teachers continue to leave the field. :(

      Actually, that's kinda how it is all over. People who built a field and really know it are aging out or being pushed out; CEOs overly-beholden to stockholders have taken over, and as a result consumers suffer from poor service and poor products. Sure is a nasty parallel, eh?

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    15. Re:allergic reaction by zanderredux · · Score: 1

      so, I understand they'll take the tag out from your arm and stick it into your rectum! try to put poison ivy there!

    16. Re:allergic reaction by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      Have to agree with you.....we've got the shitty IT people here too. And by shitty, I mean "passwords stored in the clear" shitty.

    17. Re:allergic reaction by Reziac · · Score: 1

      Eeep... That sure lets their brilliance shine through, eh?

      And the real test of determined ignorance? If you point out this security hole, instead of being thanked for finding it so they can fix it, you get in trouble. (Which pretty much applies to all of life, not just IT stupidity.)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    18. Re:allergic reaction by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      You want to know how I found out? I was sitting with someone who said he had 0wn3d the nework, and deleted the admin accounts. I told him that since he deleted the admin accounts, they're all going apeshit, they've re-imaged the server, and they'll know who you are by now. He said that that was bullshit, and he'd covered his tracks perfectly. At that exact moment, I heard the door open, and I heard the the IT guy say "Can I please speak to Jake?".

      He tried to bullshit his way out of it, saying someone had read his password over his shoulder. Then I heard the admin say "You mean the 20 character random alphanumeric password?".

      It took a lot of work not to burst out laughing then and there ;)

    19. Re:allergic reaction by Reziac · · Score: 1

      ROTFLMAO!! Oh man, is that the ultimate in poetic justice!! Perfect timing, man, just absofuckinglutely perfect!

      And for losers who pull stunts like that, the details change but the story stays the same in every era. In the Olden Days, the dork who thought he'd 0wn3d the system might do something like steal the answer sheet for a test, then claim someone else planted it on him.

      [eyeing original thread, involving implanting the damned things and poison ivy] If it ever does come down to required implants -- and I think the day is coming (I've read that some public figures already have themselves and/or their kids microchipped for "security" reasons) -- someday some kid is going to have an idiosyncratic reaction and die from it. And THEN won't there be a hoo-rah!!

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    20. Re:allergic reaction by lachlan76 · · Score: 1
      It's not the first time it's happened to him - a couple of weeks ago, he did something similar, but left the admin accounts intact. He did however create a new account and gave it admin privs.

      His username is "carrija". The username list had:
      • ...
      • carrija [user]
      • carrija2 [admin]
      • ...
      Yep. He used his own account name.
    21. Re:allergic reaction by Reziac · · Score: 1

      Hmmm.... if brilliance is as brilliance does, this fellow is well on his way to becoming a black hole ;)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    22. Re:allergic reaction by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      Not at all, wherever he is, a lot of fruit gets thown from. Clearly not a black hole ;)

    23. Re:allergic reaction by Reziac · · Score: 1

      If y'all were in California, there'd be nuts and flakes to go with that fruit ;)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    24. Re:allergic reaction by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      I'd rather stay out of the USA if at all possible. after what happened with the election and all

      With Ashcroft out I might make it into the country without a cavity search, but still....not a risk i want to take ;)

    25. Re:allergic reaction by Sabalon · · Score: 1

      Damn me...I'll be the only one tagged as poison ivy does nothing to me :(

  48. Can you say orwellian? by jbich · · Score: 1

    1984? What?

    Will big brother kill you for skipping class now?
    Or do they just notify police and hang you publically in the town square for being a non-conformer?

    --
    ---- How absolute the knave is! We must speak by the card, or equivocation will undo us. -Shakespeare
    1. Re:Can you say orwellian? by PoiznDrt · · Score: 1

      EXACTLY...
      This is the kind of thing Orwell warned us about bask in the 40's. Why do people let themselves be controlled through fear. RFID may have some legitimate uses in industry, but should never be used ON people.

    2. Re:Can you say orwellian? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You forgot to convert that into Newspeak...

      Will big brother kill you for skipping class now?
      We wiil unlive you for unattending class.

      Or do they just notify police and hang you publically in the town square for being a non-conformer?
      We will unlive you by means of gravity in view of the good citizens for being a doubleplusungood uncitizen.

  49. indeed; what is the problem? by N3wsByt3 · · Score: 1

    So rather then have police who is underpaid, overworked and likely to have low motivation carry out a labour intensive task like patrolling the streets, why don't we make it mandatory from birth to be tagged with an epidermal device so that everyone can be followed their entire life, if needed to?

    Someone tell me the problem?

    I think, if you don't value privacy, there is never a problem.

    --
    --- "To pee or not to pee, that is the question." ---
    1. Re:indeed; what is the problem? by Fatchap · · Score: 1

      Slight stawman on your part. The police's job is to patrol the streets. A teachers is to impart knowledge, not to be ensure that pupils are present and correct. You are confusing them with prison wardens.

      Why should truancy be a private matter?

      --
      The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
    2. Re:indeed; what is the problem? by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      A teachers is to impart knowledge, not to be ensure that pupils are present and correct.

      Don't worry, they'll do it anyway. I have a friend who got punished fo what she said in a conversation, not even in the classroom, outside at lunch. And it was about how she hated some teacher, not a big thing.

      Care to guess what happened? First a couple of days detentions, all on her record. Then, when she argued with the teacher about how it isn't fair that they can do that, she was suspended.

      It doesn't matter what the teachers are supposed to do, they'll just overstep their bounds rather than do what they should.

    3. Re:indeed; what is the problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      > A teachers is to impart knowledge, not to be ensure that pupils are present and correct. You are confusing them with prison wardens.

      In public schools, that's not "confusing", that's an accurate description. The purpose of the public school system is to keep the poor kids off the streets until they're 18, after which point the cops and prisons take 'em.

  50. Big problem by Hammer · · Score: 1
    1. You know where the tags are...
    2. What if your tag is broken? And you don't know for a week?
    3. What if you forget your tag. Is it gonna be subdermal inplant. (now we're getting close to Third Reich)
    4. It _will_ be misused by police. Robbery at a local store by a "teenager in a hood". All students out of school area at the time will be the suspects, while the real robber "tinfoiled" himself out and has a solid alibi...
    5. Now these persons are used to beeing tagged, what's next (see Third Reich)


    You cannot replace human interaction with students with computer checks.
  51. And horrified expressions by Omni-Cognate · · Score: 2, Funny

    As they realise that:

    • They're at a boring lecture
    • They've cut off their own body parts
    • And they're going to be in trouble because the authorities think they're still at home.

    Oops!

    --

    "The Milliard Gargantubrain? A mere abacus - mention it not."

    1. Re:And horrified expressions by themaidtricks · · Score: 2, Funny

      They're at a boring lecture They've cut off their own body parts And they're going to be in trouble because the authorities think they're still at home.

      That was the first day. They were too groggy from the anesthetic to realize they didn't have to go to school anymore. The next day they put all their fingers in the smart kid's backpack as he waited at the bus stop.

  52. The next step by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Milhouse : "Miss Krabappel! Miss Krabappel! I left my RFID tag at home today!"

    Krabappel : "Don't worry Milhouse, next week we will implant it"

  53. is this a problem? by DuranDuran · · Score: 1

    OK, this may seem like a troll, but is this really a problem? If the student is legitimately off campus, or misses a lecture for a good reason, there's surely no problem.

    I lecture in business at a major university and we're noticing class attendance falling across the board. Some students claim they have to work in order to support themselves, and this work occasionally clashes with class. However, I'd argue many students simply don't show up because the final exam is too far away to be concerned about.

    Maybe this might make students think a little harder before they cut class.

    --
    "You can justify anything by putting it in quotes, adding a famous name and making it a sig" - Albert Einstein
    1. Re:is this a problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I lecture in mathematics at a major UK university. I try to make my lectures interesting & relevant and get 85-90% attendance. I dont think that treating people like meat is the way to motivate people to attend classes, the opposite in fact.

    2. Re:is this a problem? by russianspy · · Score: 1

      Failing classes should make students think a little harder about cutting class. Let's face it. Universities have turned into trade schools. If you know the system you WILL graduate. As long as you keep on putting money into the system - they will keep you. Sure, you may fail a few classes, but you will graduate eventualy. I'm sure (hope actually) that there are exceptions to this view. I haven't seen them, but I hope they're there. Still, most of the schools - they're just processing factories where you spent money and get a degree at the end. As long as you can afford it, of course.

    3. Re:is this a problem? by Paraplex · · Score: 1

      The problem isn't in people not having good reasons. The problem is in peoples differing perceptions as to what a good reason is... Right and wrong are concepts which can be understood inside peoples heads, but are far to intricate and complex to be layed bare in some kind of "well if you're not doing anything wrong" big brother nightmare...

    4. Re:is this a problem? by HeghmoH · · Score: 1

      There are two things you've missed.

      First, if you're at a university, then your students are adults. They are responsible for their own attendance. It is not your responsibility, nor the responsibility of the university, to make them come.

      Second, the system in question is not at a university, it's being used for little children who have no choice about it. That is a huge difference.

      --
      Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
  54. As Long As It's Kept Local, No Prob by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 1

    The trackees are kids, underage minors, whose care is being entrusted by their parents to the State, for however many hours a week. Presumably, the decision to use RFID tracking technology for kids will be made by a local school board, and school boards are paid and elected by the tax-payers of any given district, who are also the parents of the trackees.

    Keep it on the local level, and let the local folks decide. If one school district tries it, and it works, great, others might pick it up. If it fails, others will know to stay away from it, or look at other solutions.

    As far as asking the trackees how they feel about it, well, most trackees I know feel they're too cool for school in general. They don't get a vote here, for obvious reasons. It's the parents' call how their school board uses tax money and the newest technology, not the sixteen year olds'. Has it ever been otherwise?

    1. Re:As Long As It's Kept Local, No Prob by kfg · · Score: 1

      . . .not the sixteen year olds. Has it ever been otherwise?

      Yes, it has always been otherwise. Try sending a truant officer or a policeman after a wayward 16 year old, even as the 16 year old's parent.

      You'll find you can't do it.

      KFG

    2. Re:As Long As It's Kept Local, No Prob by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 1

      Try sending a truant officer or a policeman after a wayward 16 year old, even as the 16 year old's parent. You'll find you can't do it.

      Well, that's bad. Stupid and counter-intuitive, even. If this RFID thing works to counter dumbass laws like this, I'm all for it. How could you not be?

    3. Re:As Long As It's Kept Local, No Prob by kfg · · Score: 1

      If this RFID thing works to counter dumbass laws like this. . .

      This RFID thing has absolutely no relationship to this law and can exert no pressure on it, in any direction.

      How could you not be?

      I believe it's called 'experience.' Yes, including that of being a parent.

      It's interesting to note that state to state ( and even more especially country to country) there is wide disagreement in just what rights minors should have at what age (all localities seem to agree that the rights of minors come in stages and isn't simply a "you're a minor or you're not" issue. For instance, in my state, a 14 year old technically does not own his own money, but a 15 year old does. One is not a newborn until the age of 18 and then magically transformed, butterfly like, into an adult), but there is nearly universal agreement, across states and countries, that 16 year olds are free from legal coercion, other than those laws that also apply to adults.

      Perhaps you are overlooking something?

      KFG

    4. Re:As Long As It's Kept Local, No Prob by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, you generally don't want to hear the victims point of view. Then how would you feel if other cries[1] were treated the same way? Oh, you were raped? Too bad, you're the victim, shut up.

      [1] Yes, I consider this a crime against the one it is forced upon.

    5. Re:As Long As It's Kept Local, No Prob by NoMoreNicksLeft · · Score: 1

      Nothing of consequence is ever allowed to be decided by a school board.

      And it's moot anyway, seeing that the parents themselves have been trained to be livestock all their lives, of course they won't mind it if the same is done to their children. Strangely, when this is abused somehow to rape/kill/have-an-affair-with a 16 yr old girl, it will be downplayed, even though incidents similar to what I described are often used to justify the telescreens.

    6. Re:As Long As It's Kept Local, No Prob by TheKeeper · · Score: 1

      what if their not 16, but 18? or older?

      due to being held back as a child i was 19 for most of my senior year.

      due to poor wording, many of the rules in my HS's handbook didnt apply to me ("students between 16 and 18...")
      i never exploited this, but did have my family lawyer contact the schoolboard.

      "magicly" the wording was changed the following year (younger sister)

  55. Re:Let me be the first to say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dude, this is in Texas. Who said anything about forcing them to do it?

  56. required rfid. by leuk_he · · Score: 1

    You might not be too far off.

    1. Well, America wants all passports to have a rfid module to verify authenticity. That is one starting point.

    2. next one you will see is that you are required to show a valid id. (maybe that rule is already in place somewhere, like airports).

    1+2. implant that id.

    4.... (yes profit for the sellers ofsuch systems.)

  57. homeschool by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 2, Insightful

    And make sure your state doesn't mess with the homeschool law(s).

    It's not like there's really any educational excellence to be missed there (the fallacy of the false alternative). Public schools don't have the power to protect your kids, and as this story illustrates, you wouldn't want them to have the kind of power that they would need anyway.

  58. Re:Let me be the first to say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Force, why force

  59. You mean like the California proposal? by BobBoring · · Score: 1

    LA Times has an article on a California bill that would require all cars to have a GPS and wireless connection for downloading the miles driven.Newsmax has some interesting observations on the motivations for the idea.

    1. Re:You mean like the California proposal? by markov_chain · · Score: 1

      According to the L.A. Times, her scheme would require each car be fitted with a mileage tracking device that beamed a signal to a GPS satellite. A driver's tax would then be calculated based on total miles driven.

      Methinks the L.A. Times needs to read up on how the GPS works.

      --
      Tsunami -- You can't bring a good wave down!
    2. Re:You mean like the California proposal? by geoffspear · · Score: 1
      Just as likely, the legislators who wrote the bill need that lesson instead.

      Do you think they care if it's actually possible to do what they require you to do? Hell no. They just make the laws; it's up to everyone else to bend over backwards to comply with them.

      --
      Don't blame me; I'm never given mod points.
  60. Priorities? by value_added · · Score: 5, Insightful

    When the district unanimously approved the $180,000 system, neither teachers nor parents objected ... Rather, parents appear to be applauding. "I'm sure we're being overprotective, but you hear about all this violence," said Elisa Temple-Harvey, 34, the parent of a fourth grader. "I'm not saying this will curtail it, or stop it, but at least I know she made it to campus."

    "We've been fortunate; we haven't had a kidnapping," Mr. Weisinger said. "But if it works one time finding a student who has been kidnapped, then the system has paid for itself."

    So, let me see if I get this right -- crime rates have been going down for years and are at historical lows, but people are worried more than ever about crimes they "hear about."

    Without investigating, I'd wager that the odds of being kidnapped are much lower than than those of being struck by lightning, lower still than being run over by a car at a crosswalk, and lower still that little Johnny or Susie will drop out of school altogether.

    Maybe the money would be better spent on textbooks? Or teachers? Nah ... let's spend money to fix a problem we don't really have so that we can satisfy the need to believe we're doing something. For the children's sake, of course.

    1. Re:Priorities? by dema · · Score: 1

      So, let me see if I get this right -- crime rates have been going down for years and are at historical lows, but people are worried more than ever about crimes they "hear about."

      And we all know who to thank for this.

  61. Zero sum situation by Not+Public · · Score: 5, Insightful

    we (parents, teachers, students, employers, etc.. are going to lose in this.

    I am a teacher, parent & employers of 16-23 year olds. We've set the education system up for failure, and it will continue to fail at amazing rate as desperate "solutions" such as this are thrown at the system until it kills a substantial percentage of the nation's youth.

    first and foremost- I'm going to say I blame the parents. (woohoo! watch that karma drop!) none of this would be necessary if the children were taught, or had it modeled for them, or had the values embedded in them that education was of value. That and the parents are going to have to suck it up and be the bad guy, be the hardass, be the one make certain the child is held accountable for their actions.

    A large part of the problem is that the system relieves parents of their duties of parenting. And then in turn holds schools responsible, and then in turn holds teachers responsible.

    But guess what, with all the responsibilities and duties and irrelevant tasks that have been placed on teachers- they have no time to teach. In fact, persons with any passion or desire to pass on knowledge and skills in a field are quickly driven out because they don't spend enough time doing attendance in the correct manner, because they don't spend enough time preparing children for a standardized test, because they don't document a complete and unique separate lesson plan/learning system FOR EACH CHILD.

    Which, if we allowed those children to who really wanted to learn, to be in the classes of those who really wanted to teach... (in my opinion) making individual plans wouldn't be so bad because you're not trying to force material down the throat of a child who simply doesn't care. As teachers we can't make them care, and yet parents and then administrators, and even future employers, are blaming us for students coming out without a work ethic, without a sense of responsibility, pride in their work, or the common sense to believe that they should show up on time, or do the task they were given through to completion.

    how's this relevant to the RFID tags? I used to live in Spring and taught in the district next to it. They're actually a pretty "calm" district comparatively. Not way out on the forefront of education, not in the ghettos. Just another suburban district on the outskirts of a large city. (I've heard rumor that even people in NY and LA recognize Houston as a "large city"). They have the luxury if you will, to try to throw new technology at old problems. they have some cash apparently, they're not having to spend it on metal detectors for every door, but tardiness and skipping? the tags them selves i would imagine are relatively cheap, and the scanners not too bad compared to some of the other ludicrous expenditures I've seen (and while teacher salaries fall in that category, its on the lower end of the spectrum).

    I can see how easily this could be sold to a school board, teachers and administrators. School board finally has some means of knowing where every child is. Administrators don't have to spend a fraction of their existing resources to implement or monitor this new system, and if done right, teachers are no longer responsible for the tedious tasks of attendance. (which in and of itself wouldn't be a problem if you didn't have 35 kids all coming in tardy-with various levels/legitimacies of excuses). Only the poor tech resource folks are contemplating suicide.

    But as another poster pointed out.. it does nothing for the kids except for give them something else to hate and manipulate. It doesn't hold them responsible for anything.

    It doesn't actually DO anything.

    1. Re:Zero sum situation by o1d5ch001 · · Score: 1

      I for one agree that the parents are at fault for not holding thier kids accountable and allowing them to be raised by a system. This is were we part company. The school system is designed to create alienation in families and break down the connections of kin and community. The prime directive of the school system is to produce consistent worker/consumer units, not educated citizens. Don't let your schooling get in the way of your education.

      --
      Q. What is Calvin's monster snowman called? A. The Torment Of Existence Weighed Against The Horror of Non Being
    2. Re:Zero sum situation by Blnky · · Score: 1

      It would appear that you hold the parents responsible for enforcing the rules when it comes to their children and education. To suck it up, be the bad guy, be the hardass, and what not. I am a parent myself and I feel it necessary to say that you are absolutely correct.

      Parents are responsible for ensuring that their children obey the proper authority figures/institutions and don't just buck the system "cause they want to". My children will not have to worry about detention or in school suspension should they be caught constantly skipping class, for their real worry will be what awaits them when they get home and I find out.

      Now I firmly believe in individualism and freedom, and I am also against orwellianism. However, I also believe that with that freedom and individualism comes a responsibility that must be upheld. And how do my children feel? Well I think their freely given hugs, kisses, and "I love you"'s speak for themselves.

      I just wanted you to know there is at least one parent out here who both agrees and is willing to pay higher taxes in order to pay teachers a lot more/provide better teaching resources.

    3. Re:Zero sum situation by Not+Public · · Score: 1

      actually, I completely agree with your assessment.
      no parting of company necessary!

  62. Misapplication by Sai+Babu · · Score: 1

    How about RFID tags on politicians and civil servants. Those of us who pay their salaries would sure like to know that they are working, rather than taking off 3 hours every day for a nooner.

    "the system ... got arrival times and addresses wrong for others" Now the school can lose your kids and blame it on technology.

    Who you gonna sue now?

    IMO sending kids to public school, in most cases, should be considered child abuse.

  63. It's bad because.... by hrvatska · · Score: 1

    It's an unnecessary and potentially abusive means of identifying and tracking people. All of the 9/11 conspirators that went down with those jets had legitmate IDs when they boarded. How do the people at the counters and gates know if your drivers license is legitimate anyways? Does an airline employee in Oregon really know what a valid NY state driver's license looks like? A marginally competent group of terrorists would have no trouble circumventing this process, so what's the point of it?

  64. Hmm.. by GreyOrange · · Score: 1

    How about tracking employees with this system? Are criminals tracked with this system yet? How about people who might be criminals? Shouldn't everybody be tracked so we can be sure that your not a criminal?

    --

    Insert Witty Remark Here ===>____________________________
    1. Re:Hmm.. by Petronius · · Score: 1

      How about we start with the Principal & the Provost? make sure they stay in their office at least 8 hours a day.
      ...LAND OF THE FREE? Not anymore.

      --
      there's no place like ~
    2. Re:Hmm.. by BobaFett · · Score: 1

      The Principal and the Provost likely clock in, or have a calendar marking their appointments, tasks, and whereabouts, or track their work in one of the other ways used by employers to keep track of the attandance by employees.
      Which makes it different from the way the kids are treated ... in no way at all. Nobody is tracking the kids, they are not being labeled like cattle, black helicopters are not hovering over them, and despite popular belief sky is not falling. Kids are swiping their IDs to check in and out, only these IDs happen to be radio instead of magnetic.

  65. I would have less problem with this... by HangingChad · · Score: 1
    ...if the data wasn't being copied to the police. I think it would be okay if the cops got access on a need to know basis, like when they're looking for someone in particular, but to just copy it over to law enforcement is so soviet.

    To me it's appalling, but I guess it shouldn't be surprising. America today is turning into a different country than the one I grew up in.

    --
    That's our life, the big wheel of shit. - The Fat Man, Blue Tango Salvage
  66. There will always be a way. by oki900 · · Score: 0

    There is a saying that if you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns. If you start using RFID to track people the criminals, the juvinial delequits and other similar types will be the only ones not tracked. With every new copy protection that comes out there is a new crack, with every new console that comes along there is a new mod chip. RFID is no different, it will be hacked and hackers and criminals will be immuned to it's ways. What boggles the mind is that there are individuals out there who still don't get this concept, and continue to try to forge some type of technology that can't be hacked. Where there is a will there is a way. Even PGP, the most renowned public key encryption is suspetable to attacks such as key logging. There is no perfectly secure technology. There never will be a perfectly secure technology. Hardware and computer hackers will always find a way. the whole subdermal thing reminds me of Futurama where Fry runs from Leela to avoid having his job chip implanted. You can always dig that chip out and cary a cloned chip in your pocket. It's not like they check to see if the chip is embeded, only that they get the signal. To be honest this doesnt scar me, it just pisses me off that so much of the populous is so ignorant to allow this to happen, but like I stated there will always be a way around it. I'll go research those ways now.

  67. An outrage! by talornin · · Score: 1

    This is an outrage! This is something I would never accept! Place an antenna on my hand so they can monitor me? What will be next? You need one to buy stuff and withdraw money from your bank account? Before we know it it will be illegal for persons above the age of 10 to be without. It will all be conveniently hidden under "This will make it alot easier". The mark of the beast I say! Revelation 19:20 - And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And Im not even a christian!

    --
    When in danger, whewn in doubt! Run in circles, scream and shout!
  68. Blame the criminals/cheaters by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 1
    The excuse for this is to check attendance. If every student just attended the classes as they are supposed to and schools didn't make up figures of number of students then their would be no excuse to introduce this.

    We have speed limits because some people can't drive responsible. We have gun controls because some people can't handle owning a gun.

    Silly thing is that nobody ever seems to want a protection that is against them but is always for protections that protect them.

    Car drivers balk at speed cameras but want cyclist without lights to be shot on sight. Media companies don't want the state to tell them what they can show but want to control what viewers can view. We don't want to spend taxes on students who don't study but students don't want to be tracked.

    Humanity eh? Their is alien intelligent live out there. The evidence is clear of their intelligence. They stayed the fuck away from this place.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

    1. Re:Blame the criminals/cheaters by nsayer · · Score: 1
      We have speed limits because some people can't drive responsible [sic].

      Actually, that is not true. Speed limits were invented originally to curb overzealous law enforcement.

      Originally, the law was that you had to drive at a safe and prudent speed. That started to fall apart when the local Police Chief decided that (usually if you were from out of town) the safe and prudent speed was 5 mi/h slower than however fast you were driving. So the idea of a speed limit was introduced with the concept being that unless there were extraordinary circumstances (which presumably the officer issuing a citation could document), you would be presumed to be driving prudently if you were under the posted speed.

      The problems started when those same overzealous cops figured out that their revenue generating model worked just as well when they simply lowered the numbers on the signs rather than using proper traffic engineering (which dictates that normally a speed limit should not be lower than the 85th percentile speed observed with a neutral [that is, not a uniformed officer waving a radar gun] traffic survey).

    2. Re:Blame the criminals/cheaters by tf23 · · Score: 1

      If I could mod your post up, I would. Excellent...

  69. They already track employees by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    > They'll start on employees next

    Digging around in my corporate dungeon , I've found out that the wireless intercom antenna boxes also hold RFID sensors (yeah, stay office late at night pretend to repair the phone system - which I do !!).

    It turns out that it was the supposedly "Magnetic" card in my ID card is an RFID chip . That's why I have a no-contact swipe in for all doors in office as well as a in & out register based on that . I'm posting this anoymously because my company is the biggest vendor of RFID in India

  70. Simply the next step by SkunkAh · · Score: 1

    This is not really something new, on the school where my little brother goes to when entering the classroom they need to scan their schoolpass before entering and without the pass schoolpass you aren't allowed to enter the classroom. So this is simply the next step in tracking students.

  71. Fake?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sure, they just tore down the World Trade Center to build a new. And the hole in the side of the Pentagon was just for remodeling.

  72. private matters by N3wsByt3 · · Score: 1

    Well, first of all, I'm a bit unclear about the tenure of your post. You DO realise I was being ironic, I hope?

    But, to respond in earnest; when following the reasoning of the parent poster (you) the analogue is perfectly viable.

    The police job is NOT to patrol streets, it is to fight crime. You are confusing the means with the endgoal.

    Thus, if it is not a problem for teachers to auto-track students ,so that it becomes easier to go forth with their main objective, namely to impart knowledge, it's also not a problem for the police to track everyone so it becomes easier to go forth with their main objective; fighting crime.

    While you seem to dispute it, the principle is exactly the same, it's just the degree that differs. But once you accept your basic reasoning, you have no ground to counterargument 'more of the same'. (Exept maybe by biased opinion when you think they are invading *your* privacy).

    Your last question has no answer, because: why should anything be a private matter? As I said, the answer is subjective in nature; it depends on how an individual fills in privacy (and to what extend).

    --
    --- "To pee or not to pee, that is the question." ---
    1. Re:private matters by Fatchap · · Score: 1

      You were actually being sarcastic but I that's fine.

      I would disagree with you on the purpose of the police, I would say that there role has a large element of symbology, and police cars patrolling or "bobbys on the beat", as Brits might say, provide a large amount of reassurance to people. Intersting that my local police force's motto is "reducing crime, disorder and fear", not just "fighting crime"

      If tracking everyone were effective at fighting crime I would not object to it, indeed we do track some criminals in the UK rather than giving them a custodial sentance (although not with RFID per se). I am never entirely clear why people are, the idea that you should have this right of privacy seems strange to me. It is only recently as cities have grown to a resonable size that this is possible, in a small village such as mine, I can't walk down the street without most people knowing where I am becuase everyone knows everyone else.

      There are things that I think should remain private, as an example my medical history should be private to you, quite important that my doctor knows it when prescribing treatment. I still do not see why a child not attending school should remain private, from the instituion or from law enforcement, and it would seem neither do you.

      --
      The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
  73. MOD UP! by The+Queen · · Score: 1

    Sorry about your karma - if I had points you'd get 'em. This is by far the most insightful comment on this whole stinking mess.

    But of course, you've pissed off parents. They hate to be reminded that they're the ones responsible for how their kids turn out.

    --

    The House Between - Original Sci-Fi Series
  74. A Patch by ProstheticSwan · · Score: 0

    Why don't we sew the barcode onto a little patch in the shape of a school bus? Or, better yet, on a little yellow star.

  75. Why they tell the police. by DAldredge · · Score: 1

    Schools get some of there funding, at least in Texas, based on student attendance.

    This isn't to keep kids in school so they can be educated, this is to keep kids in school so the admin doesn't have to cut any cushy admin related jobs. For fun, check and see how much the admin of your local school district has grown in the past 15 years and compare it to student performance.

  76. Where will this lead? by Petaris · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I work for a School District so I not only understand the need for some type of survalance and security I also am an advocate for it. If we had the funds to do so I would have a camera at every entrance, in every hall, and in every out of the way nook and crany. However tracking them like you would track shipments of merchandise or live stock is going overboard. In theory it seems a good idea but where would it end? Surely once the children have been tagged, whether it is strapped on or implanted, do you think that other places won't just start putting in rfid recievers to track them elsewhere? And how long do you think it would just be the children being tracked?

    This seems to me like it could be a starting point for tracking other individules. At first maybe prisoners or employees, then maybe hospital patients and millitary personel. And who is to keep any one with a rfid reciever from tracking you. I am not trying to say this is a conspirisy I am warning that there is a very real possibility this will lead somewhere we do not wish to be. Would you really feel safer knowing that the government or other agencies could track criminals and ex-criminals so they would be less likely to commit a crime, if it meant that they were also tracking you? Even if a system like that wasn't abused, how willing would you be to have your whereabouts know 24 hours a day to someone.

    Like I said I'm not trying to scare anyone into thinking this is a conspirisy I just am giving my opinion. Many people I am sure would point out other good reasons for this, like finding lost missing persons or locateing someone in a medical emergency or hundreds of other good reasons. And ultimatly anything can be used both for good and for bad. I just want you to ask yourselves, would you want to be tracked? Even if it could save your life?

    I am not attempting to draw trolls and I did not mean this as flaimbait. This is just asking you to think if it was you in there position.

    Thanks for reading,

    --
    ~Petaris "The world is open. Are you?"
  77. Oh, great! by OhHellWithIt · · Score: 1
    Something else for my kid to lose. And, at $10-15 a card (figuring administrative costs, etc.), more money that parents have to pay for crap that has NOTHING to do with the kid's education.

    The logical solution, of course, is to chip 'em when they're born. It's funny. Twenty-five years ago, an acquaintance of mine at the university had gone off the deep end -- I thought -- into Christian fundamentalism. He was going on about tattoos and the number of the beast. I thought he was nuts -- that would never happen here in the U.S. Now I'm not so sure.

    Here's another idea. Texas was for a short time an independent nation, before joining the Union. They then seceded during the War between the States, and were corralled in again. The folks down there clearly have an independent streak and, um, "creative" thinking. (pun intended) I say we should give them their freedom. All for Texas independence raise your hand!

    --
    "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." -- George Orwell
  78. Exactly by hrvatska · · Score: 1

    Eventually it will be too inconvenient not to have an RFID implant. When it reaches that point it will be necessary, but not required. And then there will be the argument that we should just implant them in children routinely. After all, they'll need them to function 'normally' in society. Which will mean that anyone who doesn't have an implant will not be viewed as normal, and subject to automatic suspicion.

  79. ~~~The Case~~~ by earthstar · · Score: 1
    The Case : Two students seen in campus earlier in the day,but missing now.

    • RFID says two students (boy and girl) in toilet
    • Control Room:Enters Toilet no,Flips the monitor on:>>Steamy sex broadcasts from toilet.
    • Record [ Proof ].
    • Call Parents.[Possibly Show]
    1. Re:~~~The Case~~~ by stanmann · · Score: 1
      You forgot

      post video on internet

      --
      Food not Bombs is a nice platitude but it breaks down when you notice that the Bombees are usually well fed
  80. Microwave Therapy by nightsweat · · Score: 1

    If I were in that school out microwave would be in use every time I got a new ID card.

    "Gee, I don't know why my ID doesn't show up on your computer. Maybe I put out waves or something?"

    --

    the major advances in civilization are processes which all but wreck the societies in which they occur - A.N. White
  81. Reference by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The reference:
    "First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist, so I said nothing.

    Then they came for the Social Democrats, but I was not a Social Democrat, so I did nothing.

    Then came the trade unionists, but I was not a trade unionist.

    And then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew, so I did little.

    Then when they came for me, there was no one left to stand up for me."

    -- Martin Niemöller*

    *The quotation is recorded differently, depending on the source.

  82. The sky is falling! The sky is falling! by argStyopa · · Score: 1

    Let me see if I understand this.

    Kids are carrying ID cards with an RFID tag to track where they are.

    Fact check:
    1) kids are supposed to be in school during the day.
    2) kids do NOT have the full set of rights allowed to adults.

    And given the fact that these are portable cards, they have little big-brother value. (And frankly, little security vs. abduction value.) So really, we're talking tracing kids on an everyday basis - where are they? Anyone who's waited at a bus stop and realized in growing horror that their elementary schoolchild was somehow missing from their bus understands this. It's a feeling that the jaded onanists of /. are unlikely to be capable of empathizing, as it would require them to set aside their hip cynicism for a moment.

    The most horrific thing a parent can imagine is the abduction of their child. In fact, most parents would PREFER their child die instantly instead of being the subject of a stranger abduction (with it's likelihood of only a much more horrible existence before death). It's not unreasonable at all that parents would want to do anything conceivable to prevent this. No matter how rarely it really happens (*most* abductions are custodial disputes and thus the child is rarely in real danger).

    Who objects to tracking minors? Usually the older minors (who feel that they are "practically" adults anyway, and who (honestly) don't want to be tracked for all the wrong reasons...) and privacy activists. Tell you what: if the kids get RFID, so should the parents.
    Personally, I bet good, non-hypocrite parents would be PERFECTLY HAPPY with people knowing their whereabouts at all time, in exchange for knowing where their kids are too.

    And please, don't reply with the "whoever is willing to give up liberty for security deserves none" shat. That's an entirely empty-headed statement, since we CONSTANTLY trade liberty for security every single day, it's called civilization.

    I did find it amusing that the article reminds us this system is used to track livestock. LOL.

    --
    -Styopa
  83. Criminal Children by tjmcgee · · Score: 1
    We treat our children like criminals, it's no wonder that the US is the most incarcerated country in the world. People grow up behind bars so prison does not seem like a punishment. One of the high schools near me was actually designed by an architect who was a designer of prisons.

    And another thing ... aren't we training our children to accept big brother? If they are tracked by RFD every day for 12 years will they not find it acceptable in college, in their workplace?

    It seems that everyday we give a little bit more of our humanity away.
    "There is only an up or down. Up to man's age-old dream -- the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order -- or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. Regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would sacrifice freedom for security have embarked on this downward path. " -Ronald Reagan
  84. Not on my Kid! by INetUser · · Score: 1

    Photo Badge, OK. As long as it's not required to be worn on the outside of clothing. RFID badge? Not on my kid. I'd start looking for a private school that didn't need them. Just think of the longer term impact of the message that this gives the kids: "It's OK that we can track you electronically". So 20 years from now, the notion of tracking all people in the US with sub-dermal RFIDs comes up, and we have an entire voting block that would probably support it. Is this the future that we want? I think not!

  85. Two things i want to point at here... by Cheerio+Boy · · Score: 1

    1) Things like this will probably make kids, provided they get _any_ education in thinking at all (a stretch - I know), grow up with a greater respect for privacy than the current crop of sheep. Hopefully this will cause them to be even more unwilling to deal with the crap that our corporate government puts out.

    2) A good Sci-Fi book on this subject is Outlaw School by Rebecca Ore.

    Her depiction of society has some fairly pointed parallels to what our society is now becoming.

    --

    "Bah!" - Dogbert
  86. Do not speak out by Pan+T.+Hose · · Score: 1

    I can imagine the majority of tin foil hat replies to this post, but just for once, if you're not in the position to be affected by this, shut the hell up.....

    First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out
    because I was not a communist;

    Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out
    because I was not a socialist;

    Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out
    because I was not a trade unionist;

    Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out
    because I was not a Jew;

    And when they came for me,
    there was no one left to speak out.

    -- Martin Niemöller

    --
    Sincerely,
    Pan Tarhei Hosé, PhD.
    "Homo sum et cogito ergo odi profanum vulgus et libido."
  87. old news by msblack · · Score: 1

    I submitted same story 25 hours earlier but was rejected. Guess the /. editors take an extra day to catch up on news.

    --
    signature pending slashdot approval
  88. ID Card + buzzword = no news by PMuse · · Score: 1

    Some one please explain this to me like I'm an idiot. After reading the article, it looks like the school did nothing more than give the students a prox ID card and required them to swipe it at the bus door and at the school door.

    Is the issue that we'd have preferred magnetic strip ID cards to RFID cards? Or, do we think these students can be monitored at places other than the bus door and the school door? How is this system different from the time clock at our workplaces?

    Personally, I vote against any automated school attendance system, but they're not novel. Why are we so worried about this one.

    --
    "We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals." --The American President (20.1.2009)
  89. Re:The sky is falling! The sky is falling! by nightsweat · · Score: 1

    If you want compliant little robots this is a great system.

    Seriously, I know a woman who was actually sat down by her parents and told they were concerned she wasn't having enough fun in college. That's not the kind of kid I want to raise.

    Yes, kids get in trouble, but they also grow because of the ways they get out of trouble. If you keep them nice and isolated and know where they are at all times that kid is going to get blindsided hard when he reaches the real world.

    --

    the major advances in civilization are processes which all but wreck the societies in which they occur - A.N. White
  90. College == babysitting service? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting
    I guess cutting class is no longer an option.

    What's the point of college?

    Is it to make the students attend classes - in which case tagging them with RFID might make sense; or is it to enable them to study and learn? If the latter, then monitoring class attendance is irrelevant. Just give the students examinations at the end of the course to test their understanding of the material. If some students can study successfully without going to the classes, why make them go?

    The university I attended ... a long time ago in a different country ... had in its regulations something like the following (from memory, so it's not word-for-word): "A pupil may attend any lecture in the University, or not, as he please."

    (The effect, by the way, for those wondering why you need a rule like this at all, is to prohibit attending part of a lecture, walking in or out in the middle of it). There were a (very) few exceptions,

  91. It would be great fun to try a D-DOS attack. by ayjay29 · · Score: 3, Funny

    At lunch break, get 500 kids in a big group to run in and out through a few times. This is gonna create a LOT of traffic on the RFID system. Better still, get all the schools in the area to do the same thing at the same time.

    --
    Offtopic, Inflammatory, Inappropriate, Illegal, or Offensive comments might be moderated up.
    1. Re:It would be great fun to try a D-DOS attack. by El · · Score: 1

      Why not just elect one kid to carry everybody's tag?

      --

      "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

  92. Making it easier for child abductors by Girckin · · Score: 2, Insightful

    So in the future, child abductors don't actually have to go out and look for children anymore. They just use their RFID scanner to find children of the age and gender they're looking for? How the hell is this a good idea?

  93. John Taylor Gatto by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    wrote a book about how schools are, and pretty much have been for a long time, not to teach so much as for precisely that purpose.

    Do a search for his name to find a couple of his short essays, or check johntaylorgatto.com for a full online copy of his book. (HTML, not PDF)

    Anyone who's read Foucault will find it especially creepy to see the evidence of his theories at work...

  94. Someone should introduce... by man_ls · · Score: 2, Interesting

    an act in Congress making it a Felony to claim any measure, be it legal, technological, medical, etc. is to "protect the children" without statistically incontrovertible proof that children are being "harmed" in the first place.

    No more "Family Movies Act of 2004" banning skipping of commercials. No more COPPA Act, keeping kids off the Internet. etc.

  95. Home Schooling by Farrside · · Score: 1

    OK, given how much crappier the public school experience is than when I was a child (I was never tracked like this, or shot at for that matter), I think it's time to start home-schooling my kids. Anybody have any info on how to get started?

    1. Re:Home Schooling by markana · · Score: 1

      Type "homeschool" into google. Laws vary greatly by state and country, but your kids will wind up with a real, personalized education. And you don't have to worry about them cutting classes :-)

  96. privacy by N3wsByt3 · · Score: 1

    Whether or not the police has other uses is rather irrelevant; I think almost all functions, including those of teachers, have more then one use, but mostly there still is only one major goal.

    In the case of teachers, as you said, it is imparting knowledge, and for the police it is fighting crime. I don't think this is really disputable: the symbolic nature and reasurrence you describe is deffered from the crime-fighting; take away the latter, and the rest becomes not very meaningfull. We don't pay police to patrol the streets for the sake of it, after all, let alone that would be their main objective.

    "If tracking everyone were effective at fighting crime I would not object to it"

    I think that says it all. If you iliminate all privacy, things would become far more easy to fight crime. In your viepoint, this would be acceptable. For me, however, this gives me the creeps; to have privacy is a form of freedom, and I despise the notion that it is ok to give away freedom to gain security, unless I chose to do so myself.

    Which is the crux of the problem: I have no problems with you giving away all your privacy, but I don't acknowledge the right of anyone else (unless by courtorder) to restrict my freedoms if I don't agree with it.

    I see privacy-infringements as intrusions; and if you violate one of my freedoms, why couldn't I violate one of yours? You either respect that other persons have rights, including the right of privacy, or you don't.

    "the idea that you should have this right of privacy seems strange to me"

    That much is clear. But ultimately, it doesn't matter too much if it is clear to you or not, as long as you acknowledge it is a right. If you don't, then why would anyone have to respect any of your rights?

    "I still do not see why a child not attending school should remain private, from the instituion or from law enforcement, and it would seem neither do you."

    I have tried to explain this depends on how you see the right on privacy. Your problem is, as I suspected before, and you now have clearly said yourself, that you don't understand the right on privacy. If privacy is not an issue for you, then obviously, there can't be a problem when it is violated.

    My viewpoint on it is, that EVERY person, in principle, has a right of privacy, be it students, or yes, even criminals. If you don't acknowledge that right, then it is impossible for you to see why there might be problems with some laws or issues.

    Let's say I live in the 19th century and I claim all people are free and shouldn't be a slave, and therefor laws that make negros slaves are violating that right. If then a slave-holder would say he doesn't understand the problem why negros shouldn't be slaves (which happend enough in that time) then what can anyone say, as long as he doesn't recognise the right of negros to be free? Maybe he could say "I come from a small village, and everyone has black slaves", but would it be convincing as an argument that, because something was like that in a small village, it should be like that everywhere for everyone? When taking away anyone's freedom, even if you are not directly affected by it (because you're white, or because you're not a truant or criminal) it STILL is something that is not right and should be fought.

    Because ultimately, you (used generic here :-) may have your opinion on the matter, but it doesn't allow you to impose it on others. If I am for the right of privacy, then you can still wave that right and give your privacy away - so I am not violating any right of you. When you would abolish privacy, you DO take my right away, because I can't wave anything anymore.

    It is basically a clash of opinions, but mine has the advantage that it leaves the possibility for everyone to do as he pleases with that right or opinion (including not making use of it), while yours impose it on others. I would claim the former is the better.

    --
    --- "To pee or not to pee, that is the question." ---
    1. Re:privacy by Fatchap · · Score: 1

      I accept and understand your point on the various roles. However you say:

      "to have privacy is a form of freedom"

      So all people should have all freedoms? Should I therefore free to walk into your house and eat your food, sleep (or worse!) in your bed?

      Freedom is great, and I am very much for it, but all things must be reasonable. You opinion may result in more harm being done, by resulting in a higher than necessary crime rate or truancy rate. Given the choice of tagging everyone and preventing 911 or carrying on as we are which you choose? (Note I am not saying that tagging would have prevented it, the effectiveness of tagging as a preventative measure is another very moot point). The fact that I disagree with your opinion, does not mean I think you should not have it, you MUST be free to think as you want!

      I very much believe in the right to privacy, as I said there are certain things that should not be revealed to anyone, however, I do not see that an individual's location is one of these things, particularly from law enforcement agencies, bound by due process, and oversight.

      P.S. You say you would surrender your right if a court told you to, your faith in the court system is admirable if perhaps slightly opposed to the rest of your position on this, the court interprets the law, if a law is changed, does it become correct. In your 19th century analogy, would you enslave yourself if a court order said you should?

      --
      The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
  97. How many of you at work by chadseld · · Score: 2, Insightful

    At work, how many of you have a badge with one of those key cards that automagically opens doors when you wave it past the little black reader doohicky with the light on it? Do you realize you have been handed the same anti-libertarian treatment as these kids for years and never complained? I don't think it is right to track people this way. It is amaizing how these technologies have already become every day things for most of us.

    1. Re:How many of you at work by fuzzybunny · · Score: 1

      (a) I don't have to go to work.
      (b) I can go work somewhere else.
      (c) I choose not to work for companies that do this (I'm a consultant, I get called by clients to go and help them out, I deliver results, they don't see a need to look over my shoulder as long as things work.)

      The children, on the other hand, don't have that choice. Won't someone please think of the children?

      --
      Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage
  98. Students NEED to be able to skip class by GauteL · · Score: 5, Insightful

    While I do agree that on general kids should be in school, and certain measures should be put up to make them.

    However, nothing gets seriously broken by kids skipping classes very occasionally. How square are the kids supposed to be?

    Kids that are allowed a certain freedom and have some possibility of opposing authority grow up far more interesting.

    Just think how interesting you find a person who has never skipped class, never talked back at their parents etc.

    The truth is, the parental generation have always tried to impose severe restrictions on the younger generation, and the younger generation have always broken them. This is the way of life. The moment we make it impossible for kids to break their parents rules, we have changed the game in a way I don`t think we see the consequences of.

    It is ironic that we impose millions of laws and regulations, but the majority actually disrespects people that always live by them.

    There are certain things every (semi) interesting person have done. If you have never done any of the following you need to get out more:
    1. Skip class
    2. Go above the speed limit
    3. Take a u-turn where it wasn't allowed, but noone was around.
    4. Drink or smoke without being allowed to do so
    5. Sneak in somewhere you don't belong.

    I will put up rules for my children and I will be fairly strict about some of them. But if my children never breaks my rules I would be suspicious that they are hiding something major, or disappointed that my kids grew up to be that square.

    A well balanced human being bends or breaks rules now and then, but know which rules they really should abide by. The important lesson is to teach the children which rules are absolute, and which can be bent a little.

    1. Re:Students NEED to be able to skip class by EmagGeek · · Score: 1

      I think the more important, and bigger lesson here is that it is not only expected, but completely appropriate to break the rules if the circumstances justify it.

      First of all, under no circumstances does an instance of truancy need to involve the police. Truancy is an administrative violation and should be dealth with as such. Second, the further automation of "law" enforcement is only going to lead to 1984. Look at these new Red-Light cams that issue a ticket to the registered owner of the car, regardless of who was driving? How is it legal for someone to be criminally liable for a crime that someone else committed, just because they did so with that person's vehicle? Automated law enforcement is also prone to error. "The computer said you weren't in class, so you're suspended," even though the teacher and student both said the student was present. This is not so far fetched under an automated, zero-tolerance system.

      This is all bad... very very bad... and inexcusable.

    2. Re:Students NEED to be able to skip class by PigleT · · Score: 1

      You're absolutely right. People vote in the politicians, it's the people who make the law. If you spend all your life just doing as others tell you, you probably aren't living up to your responsibilities in a democracy, or something (does the US still believe in one of those, btw? ;)
      Not to mention, if I hadn't gone round a mini-roundabout the wrong way, or cut between a few cars deliberately, I wouldn't've survived at least two road-rage incidents before now, either...

      So many things the government seems to want to meddle and stick its nose in, so few where it actually *needs* to. These things are not a matter of law, only economics and choice.

      --
      ~Tim
      --
      .|` Clouds cross the black moonlight,
      Rushing on down to the circle of the turn
    3. Re:Students NEED to be able to skip class by Reziac · · Score: 1

      "Kids that are allowed a certain freedom and have some possibility of opposing authority grow up far more interesting."

      I would have phrased it "...grow up to be far more responsible." They learn to THINK about what personal freedom really is, and cherish the right and the responsibility, instead of just blindly rebelling against painfully-tight restrictions. Thus do they learn which rules can or should be bent, and which must not be.

      See also my rant above about how kids need privacy (which implies trust) more than anything else.

      (I guess the Stupid Gene stayed dormant in your case :)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
  99. That's no fun. by debian4life · · Score: 1

    I guess Billy and Suzy won't be able to sneak off behind the equipment room on the other side of the football field anymore.

  100. The more they monitor.... by StarsAreAlsoFire · · Score: 1

    the less they see.

  101. Wrong on so many levels by Antony-Kyre · · Score: 1

    You shouldn't tag humans like cattle. It's wrong on so many levels. It's pretty simple, the government shouldn't be doing any kind of this stuff.

  102. hahahahahah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ok there space cadet.

  103. and the .... by snatcheroo · · Score: 1

    land of the freeeeeee, huh? way to go USA.
    Bwahahahahahaa :P

  104. I have no problem with this by ShadyG · · Score: 4, Funny

    My daughter is home-schooled. When the time comes, all of your children will be appropriately conditioned to submit to her every whim.

  105. privacy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    if my school did that, i'd transfer faster than you can say "invasion of privacy."

    this is a classic example of people in high places making decisions without examining ideas from all angles.

    Mandatory RFID'ing of humans should be illegal.

  106. tagged at birth by nurb432 · · Score: 1

    Not that its taking place yet, but soon expect everyont to be tagged at birth so you can be 'safer' as you move around the union.

    No tag? Well, dont expect doors to open in stores, expect to be stopped by police detained, dont expect to be able to function in society..

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  107. Minors do have rights by meganthom · · Score: 1

    The Supreme Court has acknowledged that minors have their First Amendment rights several times (First Amendment and Public Schools), though in dealing with school-sponsered activities, high school teachers have more authority, and high schools can choose to censor school newspapers. from my understanding of the law, if high school students chose to launch an independent newspaper and distribute it in school, the paper would no longer be part of a "supervised learning experience" and would therefore be protected by the First Amendment.

    Furthermore, the Court has protected minors' right to privacy in dealing with abortion. It is constitutional to pass laws requiring all minors to obtain parental consent before receiving an abortion if and only if the young woman may bypass the requirement through a judicial review.

    As I recall from my high school days, we were told that when schools conduct drug searches using dogs, etc, they are only allowed to open lockers if the dogs have indicated there are drugs present or if they have a reasonable suspicion based on other evidence. I believe I did some research at the time and found this to be the same for adults in the workplace.

    So to conclude, I think it's unreasonable and ill-informed to continue this stigma that students have no real rights. Even if their rights are limited in some situations, our children need to be taught the importance of the Constitution and their rights.

    --
    Live free or die
  108. How stupid is this by hoover10001 · · Score: 1
    At least when I was in Houston, Spring had one of the desirable school districts.

    Anyway, how stupid is this. Spring spend $180,000 just to implement this system, just so a mom can find out if her child got off the bus or not. Do these people really have that much money to spend on technology that isn't even that useful? This could have been done 15 years ago with a simple bar code, or magnetic strip. RFID is just the most expensive possible way of acheiving some really strange goal of aleviating some sort of strange middle class angst.

  109. Student boycott? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This seems like an instance where the student voice can make a difference. Highschool students in this district should get together and decide: do you want to be tracked like cattle? If not, make a stand and get everyone you know to phone everyone they know and have everyone destroy their tag. Beyond a certain threshhold they can't punish each offender. Show them this policy is unacceptable and you will not blithely walk into 1984.

  110. RFID = hot? by BobaFett · · Score: 0, Troll

    RFID for Slashdot seems to be what half-naked women for advertising. Slap it on any story or product, and shazam - instant hot story. Would the story make it anywhere if the kids carried magnetic cards or coded punch cards like some hotels use for doorkeys, and used them to sign in and out of school by swiping them through the reader? Nah, too boring. But do the same thing with RFID, and suddenly it's ACLU time. Never mind that the cards are being used in exactly the same way, only instead of swiping them through the reader they are held next to the reader until it beeps.

    1. Re:RFID = hot? by fuzzybunny · · Score: 1

      Heh, nice equation. Only a few problems with it though:

      -Half-naked women won't get you mugged (by giving away how much cash you have in your wallet)
      -Half-naked women won't get you killed (by giving away that you're a national of country xyz in a place that doesn't like xyz too much)
      -Half-naked women won't allow people whom you don't want tracking me to find you anyplace, anytime (telemarketers, spammers, con men)
      -Half-naked women won't do the electronic equivalent of ripping my curtains open all the way, all the time (by allowing everyone with a half-assed grasp of technology complete information on what you're wearing, where you go, what you eat, where you work--although I admit, that's an objection based purely on the principle that, oh, I dunno, it's nobody's goddamn business but my own)
      -Half-naked women won't allow a government that gradually or not-so-gradually erodes my fundamental rights, such as trial by jury, freedom of expression, right to bear arms, habeas corpus and a few other niceties, to suppress any opportunity I have to oppose it.

      And before you mention it, forcing the little brats (or anyone, for that matter) to check in via swipe cards, enforced cellphone/GPS tracking, punch cards, or other means, is equally bad.

      --
      Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage
  111. Why ? by bmajik · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm also wondering why it would be nessisary to CC the police on who didn't show up in the morning

    Because the public school system in the United States is a holding pen and work/release program for those not yet legally required to work and pay taxes.

    The police need to know when prisoners have escaped, don't they?

    --
    My opinions are my own, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer.
    1. Re:Why ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      definitely

  112. Could that quote have been more reactionary? by stewby18 · · Score: 1

    BREAKING NEWS!

    Our sources have recently discovered that for decades teachers and administrators have been monitoring our children using technology identical to that commonly used to for track freight shipments. In a process they call "taking attendence", teachers make a mark on a piece of paper next to the name of each student expected to be in class. This paper is then submitted to a central office where it is compiled to track our children. This process is disturbingly similar to the process of checking off received items in a shipment on a piece of paper.

    -

    That part of the article was clearly designed to rile people up--and it seems to be effective here. Badging in to get on and off the bus is equivalent to the bus attendence that's taken on field trips to make sure kids don't get left at the state capitol, and is pretty much the same as taking attendence in classes. I don't remember any massive outcry about treating our children like freight whenever attendence is taken.

    1. Re:Could that quote have been more reactionary? by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

      Actually, it's quite different, on one sense.

      Checking a list to make sure you don't leave some kid at the state capitol on a field trip is a critical safety issue (as well as a legal one).

      Continuously monitoring the locations of all students within the bounds of a school building is excessive, for the simple reason that the record of that location at all times is not critical to the safety of the child.

      You may argue that it IS critical should certain out-of-the-ordinary events take place. That's a poor excuse; that's what roll-call is for.

      RFID in package handling provides continuous financial efficiencies, though inventory control and reduced manpower. Otherwise, the old system of waybills would work fine. I don't see the continuous advantages of this system for students.

      (If the school were experiencing significant control issues, this could be one solution, but it doenst' sound as if that is the case here)

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    2. Re:Could that quote have been more reactionary? by stewby18 · · Score: 1
      Continuously monitoring the locations of all students within the bounds of a school building is excessive, for the simple reason that the record of that location at all times is not critical to the safety of the child.

      Which article did you read? All I saw was a description of badging on and off the bus in one place, and in and out of the front doors in another.

  113. subdermal tags by budgenator · · Score: 1

    The biggest issue I see is since the minors aren't competent to make an informed concent, their parents or Legal Guardians make the concent. Now when these people reach Majority, it takes active measures to opt-out of the system. Why might a person want to undergo surgery to have a subdermal RFID removed? One situation pops to mind is when the primative embedded tag interferes with later versions required by future employers. I'm sure the NSA or CIA might have issues with non-issue electronic devices in certain areas.

    --
    Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
  114. If "they" "decide" ? by bmajik · · Score: 1

    If someone tells you they are going to implant something in your body that is a unique tracking device, you do NOT agree to it.

    Instead, you buy/steal/find a shotgun, and a bunch of shells, and you stay in a church.

    Ask the pastor about the last book of the new testament. He'll be glad you brought the shotgun.

    --
    My opinions are my own, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer.
  115. 1984 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I allways thought that a 1984 sosity could never happen, i mean it would simpaly cost to much to keep tabs on etheryone, and to control what they are doing. now im not to sure, thanks to technolagy, all that would be needed is a sever farm and a couple of coimputer programs to track people, hell, with this its even starting to happen.

    someone tell me how to get to Tibet befor they realy get into this stuf, eg link up all the corosponding networks (cctv, RFID + insoer recivers in cctv systems, speed cameras ect.)

    oh weel, i sopose i should just thank all you
    teches for making it all posible.

  116. America is so 1984... by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 1, Insightful
    SECRECY NEWS
    from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
    Volume 2004, Issue No. 100
    November 14, 2004
    • THE ARRIVAL OF SECRET LAW
    • TSA THREATENS TO ARREST LEAKERS
    • SUPPORT SECRECY NEWS

    THE ARRIVAL OF SECRET LAW

    Last month, Helen Chenoweth-Hage attempted to board a United Airlines flight from Boise to Reno when she was pulled aside by airline personnel for additional screening, including a pat-down search for weapons or unauthorized materials.

    Chenoweth-Hage, an ultra-conservative former Congresswoman (R-ID), requested a copy of the regulation that authorizes such pat-downs.

    "She said she wanted to see the regulation that required the additional procedure for secondary screening and she was told that she couldn't see it," local TSA security director Julian Gonzales told the Idaho Statesman (10/10/04).

    "She refused to go through additional screening [without seeing the regulation], and she was not allowed to fly," he said. "It's pretty simple."

    Chenoweth-Hage wasn't seeking disclosure of the internal criteria used for screening passengers, only the legal authorization for passenger pat-downs. Why couldn't they at least let her see that? asked Statesman commentator Dan Popkey.

    "Because we don't have to," Mr. Gonzales replied crisply.

    "That is called 'sensitive security information.' She's not allowed to see it, nor is anyone else," he said.

    Thus, in a qualitatively new development in U.S. governance, Americans can now be obligated to comply with legally-binding regulations that are unknown to them, and that indeed they are forbidden to know.

    This is not some dismal Eastern European allegory. It is part of a continuing transformation of American government that is leaving it less open, less accountable and less susceptible to rational deliberation as a vehicle for change.

    Harold C. Relyea once wrote an article entitled "The Coming of Secret Law" (Government Information Quarterly, vol. 5, no. 2, 1988) that electrified readers (or at least one reader) with its warning about increased executive branch reliance on secret presidential directives and related instruments.

    Back in the 1980s when that article was written, secret law was still on the way. Now it is here.

    A new report from the Congressional Research Service describes with welcome clarity how, by altering a few words in the Homeland Security Act, Congress "significantly broadened" the government's authority to generate "sensitive security information," including an entire system of "security directives" that are beyond public scrutiny, like the one former Rep. Chenoweth-Hage sought to examine.

    The CRS report provides one analyst's perspective on how the secret regulations comport or fail to comport with constitutional rights, such as the right to travel and the right to due process. CRS does not make its reports directly available to the public, but a copy was obtained by Secrecy News.

    See "Interstate Travel: Constitutional Challenges to the Identification Requirement and Other Transportation Security Regulations," Congressional Research Service, November 4, 2004:

    Much of the CRS discussion revolves around the case of software designer and philanthropist John Gilmore, who was prevented from boarding an airline flight when he refused to present a photo ID. (A related case involving no-fly lists has been brought by the ACLU.)

    "I will not show government-issued identity papers to travel in my own country," Mr. Gilmore said.

    Mr. Gilmore's insistence on his right to preserve anonymity while traveling on commercial aircraft is naturally debatable -- but the government will not debate it. Instead, citing the statute on "sensitive security information," the Bush Administration says the case cannot be argued in open court.

    Further

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
  117. Re:Freedom to monitor (Mandatory Ender's Game) by jaimeta · · Score: 1

    The USA goverment, in behalf of the entire planet Earth, is preventing a Buggers invasion and is recruiting the best of the human race (USA citizens, of course) to fight them.

    http://www.ender.com/ender/

  118. I actually thought about adding RFID tags to cars by newend · · Score: 1

    I hate when I sit at a light and there is no cross traffic and it just stays red. I was thinking that adding a RFID tag to each car so that the light "knows" when people will be reaching the light and can adjust the timings to minimize the average wait time. My solution to the privacy issue was to have two or three different ID's: one for normal cars, one for emergency vehicles during an emergency, and one for emergency vehicles during normal times. The point being to change lights almost immediatly during an emergency.

  119. Let's RFID politicians by doginthewoods · · Score: 1

    Makes a lot of sense: we are paying their salaries, so we should know where they are and where our money is going. This will reduce the chances of politicians being kidnapped for money, or being caught taking bribes or favors (this part I like). Make it subdermal, with GPS, removed when they leave office. If they want to do it to kids, then make the pols do it, too.

    --
    Republican leadership = Idiocracy
  120. Implanted RFID - Will it be removed in adulthood? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If they decide to implant, will they remove it when you leave school? Will people having got so used to it even want it removed - which involves a small amount of pain? Something thats been in a growing body that long - will it still be where they left it, or will it have gone deeper or finally been broken down by the immune system?

    Like the UK "Database on Children" - will the records be deleted when they become adults, or will they be kept so slowly bringing in a "Database on Everyone".

    We start by thinking of the children, then they grow up!

  121. What would sex in a bathroom look like... by AllNicksWereTaken · · Score: 0

    I can imagine the administrator wondering...

    "What is that dot doing going towards and away from the other dot over and over!? Oh..."

  122. I live nearby. by Scoria · · Score: 1

    I live several miles north of Spring. Our general area, which is dominated by corporately planned communities, worries about "offensive billboards," not the local citizens without access to electricity or running water. Those articles should provide an accurate impression of the sentiment here.

    --
    Do you like German cars?
    1. Re:I live nearby. by pommiekiwifruit · · Score: 1

      After this months election results, outsiders think that those sentiments probably apply to the whole of the USA (or at least the red states).

    2. Re:I live nearby. by Reziac · · Score: 1

      [reads] No wonder they were willing to spend $180,000 on an RFID system, rather than on the four or five new teachers whose salary it would have paid.

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
  123. good questions by N3wsByt3 · · Score: 1

    and I'll try to answer them as best as I can.

    Yes, in principle, I think all people, and maybe even more correct; all sentient beings should have all freedoms. Which brings us directly to the dead horse that gets beaten so often ;-) : your right and freedom stops, where mine begins (and vice versa).

    Undoubtably, there are many area's where different people conflict where there freedom begins and ends, but as long as you agree to some basic premises (such as a person has more rights on his own property then another person does), it is possible to use rationale from those premisses and work out a coherent system. ote that rationale and logic are not exactly the same as rules and laws, because not all laws show any sign of logic and rationale, IMHO. :-)

    There is the legislative part, and there is the ethical part, and while 'justice' should try to be ethically and morally just, it often only gets to some form of proximity to that goal. Yet, ultimately, the latter should prevail, because sometimes laws are plainly unethical. To come to a conclusion whether this is true or not, one can use the philosophy of Kant which basically amounts to: do not to others what you wouldn't want them to do to you (xians tell me that's biblical too :-), and with logic and rationale.

    I will use these principles to answer your example: "Should I therefore free to walk into your house and eat your food (etc)" Well, if you agree with the premisse that my rights on my property are more important then yours, then clearly you are violating my rights if you do so without my approval (if you get my permission, then obviously, there is no problem). If you don't agree to that premise, then I have equal right to come and eat and sleep in your house.

    So, the basic reason why you don't have the right to eat my food, is because then you take away my right to eat it myself. It's as simple as that.

    "You opinion may result in more harm being done, by resulting in a higher than necessary crime rate or truancy rate."

    First of all, the right on privacy does not mean you criminals have the right to remain free. As I said, your freedom (orthat of the criminal) is restricted by the freedoms of others. Criminals violate the freedoms of others, therefor it stands to reason their freedoms that they use to violate other peoples' freedom should be restricted. In most cases, personal privacy does not infringe on another persons' freedom, therefor, there is no reason to restrict it, even with criminals.

    Which brings us back to those students that are truants. It becomes immediately clear the issue here is even more obvious then that of criminals: truants do not violate the freedoms of others. Whether they attend the class or not, they do not prevent others from attending the class. Their actions will only affect themselves in any major way. If they do not violate freedoms of others, there is no reason why another person should violate theirs.

    "Given the choice of tagging everyone and preventing 911 or carrying on as we are which you choose?"

    Carrying on as we are. You seem to think that 'harm' can only be measured in the casualties of terrorists, while I think, deriving the whole populace of a country of rights they always had, because of claimed (or even effective) improved security and safety does more harm then those same terrorists ever could have done.

    If you are of the opinion that safety comes first, and that restricting the freedom of people helps restrict the damage (which is extremely doubtful indeed, as you noted correctly) then the next question becomes obvious: why not enslave all people and take away all their rights and, for instance, put them all in prison?

    As you said, it must be reasonable. If freedoms are trampled on by some, it is reasonable to restrict the freedoms of those that violates the freedoms of others. If they don't violate the freedoms of others, it is not reasonable to violate theirs.

    "

    --
    --- "To pee or not to pee, that is the question." ---
  124. Re:allergic reaction Bull by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    frog, that's a funny
    name. I'd have called it a Chuzzwuzza.

  125. School Bullies will Love This Technology! by micksterama · · Score: 1

    They'll give their ID's to the geeks who will not only be responsible for their ID tags, but also for doing and submitting their homework. I see a future of illiterate bullies beating up the school brains... LET THE PUMMELING BEGIN!!!

  126. civil disobedience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you feel RFID is a bad to have subjected on the your friends remaining in highschool then educate them. Get everyone to destroy their tag. Civil disobedience my friend; don't take these things lying down. Uncle Thoreau would be proud.

  127. "I Always Feel Like, Somebody's Watching Me" by micksterama · · Score: 1

    Will be the new school song!

  128. Don't tag everyone by Mordaximus · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Keep track of the troublemakers. If a student gets suspended for skipping, violence or something similar, tag em. Make it clear that students who break the rules x number of times will be tagged. Give them room to make mistakes, but make it understood that if they make too many, part of the punishment is intrusive observation.

    Likewise, I'd love to see convicted criminals tagged in someway. Wouldn't it be nice if store owners could identify convicted shoplifters when they enter the store? Sell a consumer scanner that will tell you if a convicted murderer or rapist is nearby when you go for your jog. Or if they are on your property! If your car alarm could sound when a car thief tag is nearby for too long.

    I know, there is too much potential for abuse. A man can dream though. And it would sure beat "that guy looks shady" as a method of identifying potential criminals :)

    1. Re:Don't tag everyone by aethera · · Score: 1

      Ever read "The Scarlet Letter"?

  129. Those useful subjects by pommiekiwifruit · · Score: 1
    Both can be used to teach critical thinking. Two areas within them that I enjoyed:

    Maths - how statistics can be manipulated to mislead you (e.g. non-zero base-points of graphs).

    English - common fallacies (e.g. argumentum ad hominum).

    Those areas are IMHO critical to having an informed citizenry.

    1. Re:Those useful subjects by Fallen_Knight · · Score: 1

      that is why i said english grammer and math should be required:)

  130. Bingo by bmajik · · Score: 1

    The plan of record for my wife and I is that if/when we have children of our own, they will be homeschooled.

    The only thing that happened in my highschool that was beyond the intellectual capacity of the average adult was the 3 semesters of calculus i took for college credit. That program has since been dismantled. Between my own BS in mathematics and my father being (at the time) the youngest person ever to become a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, i figure there is enough mathematical talent in the family that we'll manage to set the direction for any mathematically inclined children up until they're of the age appropriate for advanced self study.

    In other words, barring a special needs child, i think homeschooling parents can cover it. With the benefits of flexible hours, fewer behavioral problems, and less liklihood of getting shot by classmates and insulted by administration.

    --
    My opinions are my own, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer.
    1. Re:Bingo by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1

      Yep. I think many people seriously underestimate themselves and their options here.

      When you encounter a subject or a level that you feel you can't teach, you can:

      • Review/learn it - come on, it's K-12 level, shouldn't most adults know it (or benefit from it)?
      • Co-op with other homeschooling parents - somebody will be able to teach it.
      • Hire a tutor, or find some institution that offers just that class in some form.

      The sense of helplessness that some people display makes me all the more determined to show that we don't need to throw our kids into the maw of institutional schools.

  131. Optimization by PhotoGuy · · Score: 1
    Ummmm, after wading through the expected slashdot backlash (yawn), this really just strikes me as a an optimization of the traditional "role call"? If it can save time for all teachers, by knowing who's there and who's not, without the lengthy morning role call, what the heck.

    There is the aspect that it's *easier* to spoof by having your buddy bring in your tag when you're not really there; that strikes me as *less* of an invasion of your personal status, than calling your name and visually verifying you're there. :)

    --
    Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.
  132. Typical misguided application oftech... by dnight · · Score: 1

    Sounds like a great idea until you add the police link-up. What place does law enforcement have in "checking attendance"? Whatever happened to just reading out thier names in class? How many truant officers will get auto-dispatched if the kids are late? Will Little Johnny graduate with a criminal record as well as a diploma?

    If we had these in my school when i was a kid, we'd still skip classes, and just have someone else carry whatever the tag is imbedded in. The classrooms would be more than half-empty and the records would show 100% attendance.

    And the results would probably be held up as a successful demonstration of RFID use by some politico: "Attendance was 100% after we installed the system!".

    Have no fear though, kids will trash the system. Imagine a backpack of RFID-enabled ID cards coming into a school, getting tossed out a window, coming in and getting scanned again, a spilt Coke in the reader, etc.

  133. More Invented "Rights" by ReadParse · · Score: 1

    The YRO category gets abused quite a bit. It's easy to forget what is and isn't a right. Some people think they have a right to three hots and a cot, but they don't.

    OK, kids going to public school... they have a right to move from home, to school bus, to school, betwixt classes, and back home without being observed by school administrators. Right? Uh, no. They don't. They're children. The school is tasked to protect them.

    Will the school be held accountable if something happens to those kids on their way home? Probably. It's a lot like 9/11 problem that government faced. If they had reacted sufficiently to stop the attack, they would have been accused of violating citizens' rights, so they really couldn't prevent it. It took 9/11 to make us realize how real the unimaginable danger was.

    Moving on... remember, these kids are going to public school. Do they have to? No. If their parents feel strongly enough about this, they can put them in a private school that doesn't monitor their kids location.

    I'm a parent. Freedom for my kids will come later. Right now they're too precious and naive to have any idea of the responsibility that comes with freedom.

    It seems like 9 out of 10 YRO stories have nothing to do with actual rights that we have as Americans (realizing, of course, that many of our Slashdot brethren live elsewhere).

    RP

  134. In Spring... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    school watches you.

  135. Re:No, wet towel. by bicho · · Score: 1

    Then, after you have removed the transmitter, you can wrap it in chocolate and drop it somewhere near a rat.

    --

    errera hunamum ets
  136. Self Contradiction by El · · Score: 1

    Why is it that they assume these kids that apparently are not responsible enough to take care of themselves are still responsible enough to not lose their RFID tags? Heck, even I don't have a perfect track record with regards to bringing my badge with me to work every day.

    --

    "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

  137. Yeah, right by EvilStein · · Score: 1

    Until the "private schools" decide "We're going to be even BETTER! Your kids will be SAFER at our private schools because we have RFID tracking on all of them!" and the people that bought into the "private school education has to be better" lie will be in the same boat.

  138. do this at work everyday by peter303 · · Score: 1

    Last several jobs I had you a RFID pass card to enter the building and each floor. A few devious places make you swipe to leave the building. They could track you when necessary.

  139. how true by N3wsByt3 · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Well, I don't care for all the god/bible references really, since I am of the opinion it is crap (in the sense that it comes from a Higher Authority).

    But you make some very good points.

    "After all, if you've done nothing wrong, what's to fear?"

    Indeed, indeed! That was used to let us swallow the streetcams too, and it is used again and again and again, while at the same time gaining more and more power to control.

    It's SUCH bull...Whenever I see the people that say 'if you have nothing done, what's to fear?' I have the tendency to ask why they themselves don't hang camera's in their homes, bed and toilet included, then. After all, it might help reduce domestic violence. And surely they can't object, unless they have something to hide?

    --
    --- "To pee or not to pee, that is the question." ---
  140. Safety? by jte · · Score: 1

    As a parent, It would be pretty vacuous to think "Hmm, my child is safer now..." An RFID tag simply can not prevent a child or teen from being abducted. It would be great to hear a story about how an RFID tag allowed law enforcement to find a missing child, but a safety measure? I don't think so.

  141. Re:The sky is falling! The sky is falling! by PigleT · · Score: 1

    Fact-check yourself. The human species, such as it is, has survived quite well for the past couple of centuries without having to shove a leash up the bums of its offspring, with the parents and teachers actually instilling a reasonable degree of trust in the little brats.

    Yes, that was half a quote from _Demolition Man_, which is frankly where this nanny-state civilisation seems to be headed the way some things are going.

    --
    ~Tim
    --
    .|` Clouds cross the black moonlight,
    Rushing on down to the circle of the turn
  142. It's ironic by willpost · · Score: 1

    Someday the government may be able know the whereabouts of all its citizens, but not know who exactly they voted for.

  143. Faraday has the answer! by Pugflop · · Score: 1

    Apply a huge magnetic flux to the tracker - I guarantee a micro circuit like that won't be able to handle a very large induced current. Should work if it was subdermal too, though you might feel a slight burning sensation ;).

    >:)

  144. too much paperwork by chocolatetrumpet · · Score: 1

    In fact, persons with any passion or desire to pass on knowledge and skills in a field are quickly driven out because they don't spend enough time doing attendance in the correct manner, because they don't spend enough time preparing children for a standardized test, because they don't document a complete and unique separate lesson plan/learning system FOR EACH CHILD.

    Guess what, this is really how it is. There is not even the slightest exaggeration in this statement.

    My Dad's job requires him to take attendance 3 times; once on the computer, once in his grade book, and once on sheet of paper (by hand - computer printout not accepted), and they must reach the office within 10 minutes of the start of class or they will call down to find out what the problem is.

    He will grade and report on every student, every day. He also turns in detailed, highlighted lesson plans for each day. If anything is not in the correct format, it will be returned to him to complete again. He does paperwork long into every night. He also ends up doing the laundry (coveralls for the auto shop) himself.

    He is required to participate in "professional development" classes, 35 clock hours per year, including meaningful classes like "how to make a pamphlet in ms word."

    There are two "support specialists" who sit in an office and do... get this... paperwork all day, for every one classroom educator.

    The administration is in it's own union, and takes a decidedly "hands off" approach.

    Great job, isn't it? He believes that if you want to double the effectiveness of public education, simply cut the paperwork in half.

    Can anyone else think of a society obsessed with documentation and paperwork? Oh that's right, the Germans!

    --
    Spoon not. Fork, or fork not. There is no spoon.
  145. you only love this by bmajik · · Score: 1

    because you assume you'll never get tagged.

    You're wrong.

    If convicted murderers or rapists are still a concern after they've been released back into public, then they shouldn't be released back into public, dont' you think ?

    I mean, either they've repayed their debt to society, and have been reformed for the positive, or they haven't. How is tagging them going to help?

    --
    My opinions are my own, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer.
  146. MOD PARENT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    p.s. mod parent up

  147. will work, but wont last by TheKeeper · · Score: 1

    somewhere in all the comments, someone posted that it will "track the badges, not the students"

    sadly, i point to star trek,
    even with all their magical widgets and gizmos,
    you can hide from them by taking off your comm badge.
    (how many times did they track someone down only to find his/her badge on the nightstand or on the turbolift floor)

    this is yet another "good idea, bad execution"

  148. Portables? by myov · · Score: 1

    My high school had a large number of portables (due to sections of the main building being closed for renovation while I was there, although they're still there years later)

    Will each portable have RFID readers? Will students be flagged if they're walking between the building and the portable?

    --
    I use Macs to up my productivity, so up yours Microsoft!
  149. Keeping Japanese students safe by puckylunk · · Score: 1

    I've been hearing on NPR (sorry, can't provide links to radio and didn't see anything on their website) about schools in Japan which have implemented tracking tags. This is a reaction to an incident 2 years ago in which 6 or 8 students were murdered. The country has been considered such a safe place that children as young as 6 find their own way to school ... unescorted.

    As a means of ensuring the continued safety of those children, they've been given tags (I assume RFID, or related tech) that creates an entry in the school's computer system when they pass through one of the gates/doors. Parents can elect to receive a mobile alert (SMS/email, whatever) when the children arrive at and depart from school.

    All in the name of safety.

    It's funny, but somehow this doesn't concern me. I guess you could call it a prejudice, but I think of the Japanese as more trustworthy with relation to things like this. The thought of tracking children in the US by similar means scares the hell out of me.

    But what's the right solution? I honestly don't know.

  150. Texas? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hmm, why would an elementary school in Texas be the first place to implement something like this? Maybe an ex-governor or something pulled a few strings or made some suggestions. That's suggestions of the "offer you can't refuse" variety.

  151. cutting class still an option by CAIMLAS · · Score: 1

    Sure, both cutting class and not coming to school is still an option. You can either give your ID card to a friend and walk in whenever you want (if at all). Then, provided they don't scan you as you enter classrooms, you're free.

    IF they scan per class (doubtful, IMO), then you simply have your friend make another ID card handoff for you.

    --
    ~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
  152. view from a Spring ISD Alumnus by cfpresley · · Score: 1

    I attended Spring ISD schools from 2nd semester of K-12, and rode the bus until my Senior year. Spring had a great curriculum, but it was administered like a fascist state. It has a dress code that rivals the military. (Administrators thought that it was more important that a student shaved than attend class, and would put unshaven student in In-School-Suspension)

    The police in the article is probably the Spring ISD school police department, not real cops. Rejects that couldn't even become constables. 1 step above parking lot security.

    Spring has only 2 high schools, when I last attended in '96, the population of my HS was around 2400. I think by now, both HS must have over 7000 students combined. It would be interesting to see how they handle tracking RFID tags there.

  153. One problem by pherris · · Score: 1
    If you want to track people, why not just tattoo a bar code on the forehead.

    They'd have to pay a fee to the patent holder.

    --
    "And a voice was screaming: 'Holy Jesus! What are these goddamn animals?'" - HST
  154. Suggestion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you've got a good poker face, I suggest that you microwave your tag or stick it under a very powerful magnet until you get stopped for not having a tag. When asked, produce the invisibly fried card and play dumb. Repeat until they give up. Eventually they are going to get suspicious and ask for a detailed explanation, eventually let it slip that you leave it on top of the microwave/TV/highpowered electronics.

  155. Just wait when the workplace does this by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

    After all bob is taking these long lunches that affect productivity.

    Whats that? People are coming in late and costing the company money

    I know lets give all the employee's ID tags and track them down to make sure they stay at their desks 10 hours a day.

    After all the kids at McDonalds need to clock in, why are white collar workers any different?

  156. Sounds like a teacher to me. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Blows up when someone points out a mistake, instead of saying "thanks for catching that". It's bad form to get angry with others because of YOUR mistakes.

    Everyone makes typos, no big deal.

    But that doesn't look like a typo, it looks like someone doesn't know how to use an apostrophe. Redirect your energy from flaming people to reviewing punctuation.

    1. Re:Sounds like a teacher to me. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Redirect your energy from flaming people" hahaha

  157. No way in hell. by Anhaedra · · Score: 0

    There is no way in hell I would let them do that to me. I would rather have a scar from removal than some creepy fucking big brother bullshit.

    --
    Please flee in terror in an orderly manner.
  158. Same here by Jamie+Lokier · · Score: 1

    I was one of the most academically capable people in my school classes, and easily ahead of everyone in hard science & maths. The latter were highly intuitive to me at school level.

    I hated school, and by the time I was 15 years old I was skipping classes. At 16 I'd skip one or two whole mornings a week: deliberately miss the bus, and just walk for 2 hours to the school. I still don't know why, and I'm sure it wasn't just due to the quality or level of teaching, but the rigid structure was a factor.

    I don't thrive in structures which limit my ability to explore, and to ask difficult questions. I also don't get excited by subjects i f I don't see their connection to things that I care about.

    That's a shame, because I now find subjects like economics, geography, history and mechanical/artistic design very interesting, but at the time I took very little interest. My teachers didn't like me, and I didn't like them or their subjects.

    At around 15, I vividly remember my chemistry teaching telling me off for asking questions "way beyond my level". In retrospect, I know that such questions weren't beyond my level at all. I understand why he said that: I consistently didn't do the regular homework, and kept falling asleep in class. But all those attitudes prevented me from exploring the subject to the depth I was capable of at the time.

    It is possible that had I been supported in exploring what I enjoyed, and also taught why it was important to do the regular work (it was, but it's taken me a long time to grasp why), I would have done both enthusiastically and not have developed the negative attitude that I did.

    I sometimes look back sadly and see that I could have done a lot of interesting and enjoyable things at school if I'd been encouraged to and responded to that encouragement. (The latter is not a given).

    With a different structure in classes, I think I might have also have helped other pupils to more deeply appreciate the subjects I grasped intuitively - and vice versa in other subjects.

    I think that many pupils have a special gift in one or two subjects, which ought to be used to help teach the other students.

    Then everyone wins: some pupils race ahead because they can, and others gain the benefit of a peer who helps them to understand and conveys enthusiasm.

    However, for that to work, pupils would need to be taught much more about communication skills, relating with other people, and patterns of personal development.

    It is a shame that is not how I remember school.

    I hope that schools of the future are more like that. Perhaps they are, in some places.

    I've since learned about Steiner schools and I wish I was young again and could go to one of those! They sound like excellent fun, as well as a smart approach to learning. They teach some very important non-academic qualities which my schools did not begin to address.

    -- Jamie

  159. Ahhh slowly inching towards the line by jonnystiph · · Score: 1

    That seperates schools and prisons.

    I fully believe in a solid eductation. I also believe there is a better way to make sure kids recieve a solid education.

    There is much discussion of under-funded class rooms, under-paid teachers, lack of computers for sudents, so on and so forth. Just seem's there is a better way to handle this situation.

    --

    If we don't make light of everything, we are just stumbling in the dark - Blank

  160. excellent by smcavoy · · Score: 1

    now that all children will be in school, problem solved.
    FUCK.
    Students should want to go to school, not feel that they have no choice but to go there.
    I really hope that education systems in North America can move towards a system that more about educating a student then ensuring test scores and attendence are up.

  161. On second thought... by El · · Score: 1
    I'm being too hard on the teachers here. This probably has more with girls not wanting to or being taught not to compete with boys.

    At any rate, children should be taught in a classroom situation that models real life as closely as possible. Most girls are not going to live and work in an all-female environment (unless they become nuns), so aren't they better off learning how to deal with the oafs early on?

    --

    "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

  162. "their" counting on it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting


    do you really believe all this modern technology is going to be use to make the world a better place for the common man .. or is it to be used to give the ruling families and their "servants" total control over the sheep ..

    from: Your Rights Online

    do you still believe you really have some rights that you are not able to enforce with your own might ???

    The milgram and stanford experiments are also why you can't trust the majority of the people to make the right decision .. when it comes to elections .. especially one's who get their "news" from a for profit industry controlled by a small number of people .. with vested self-interests .. and don't even question it's validity ..

    and why they are willing to accept a so called democracy .. which in fact is nothing but a limited dictatorship ..

    "in a real and true democracy there can be NO representation in lieu of the people" ..

    it is also why the powers that be in the US have not found it necessary to point out that because of executive orders passed into "law" since the regan era .. and because of GWB declaring a national state of emergency on sept. 24 .. that the US .. is technically and "legally" under Marshall law and that the constitution is under suspension at the whim of man who does not know the difference between Sweden and Switzerland ..

    just how many of the current US population of those of draft-able age do you think it is going to take to win a Global war on terrorism .. and how long do you young bright americans think it will be before a draft is implemented .. and for a bill to allow non native born americans to run for president .. so the republicans can replace GWB with current governor of california for another 8 years .. of the NWO .. which they don't actually need to declare or enforce as long and the sheep will simply keep fallowing ..

    just a short list of some of the executive orders involved ..

    #10995 - Seizure of all communications media in the United States.
    #10997 - Seizure of all electric power, fuels, and minerals, both public and private.
    #10998 - Seizure of all food supplies and resources, public, and private, all farms and farm equipment.
    #10999 - Seizure of all means of transportation, including personal cars, trucks or vehicles of any kind and total control over all highways, seaports and waterways.
    #11000 - Seizure of all American population for work forces under federal supervision, including dividing families as necessary according to governmental plans.
    #11001 - Seizure of all health, education and welfare facilities, both public and private.
    #11002 - Empowers the Postmaster General to register all men, women and children in the U.S.
    #11003 - Seizure of all airports and aircraft.
    #11004 - Seizure of all housing and finance authorities, to establish Forced Relocation. Designates areas to be abandoned as "unsafe," establishes new locations for populations, relocates communications, builds new housing with public ('tax-payers') funds.
    #11005 - Seizure of all railroads, inland waterways and storage facilities, public and private.
    #11051 - Provides the Office of Emergency Planning complete authorization to put the above orders into effect in times of increased international tension or economic or financial crisis.
    #11490 - Combines Executive Orders #11001 to #11005 and #11051 into a single Executive Order.
    #11921 - F.E.M.A. is authorized to develop plans control energy, prices and wages, credit and the money supply to U.S. banks in the event of a 'National Emergency.' Congress may not review a President's decision to enforce a 'National Emergency' for six months

    1. Re:"their" counting on it by Oligonicella · · Score: 2, Insightful

      So, you'd rather there be no emergency plans?

    2. Re:"their" counting on it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're honestly going to follow emergency instructions handed down from the Federal Gov't?

      Maybe you should plan ahead and not depend on some authority figure to "rescue" you.

      The emergency plans are generally for continuing the Federal Gov't, not for your safety. So its a wash. Depending on ones feelings towards the current regime.

      Where any emergency plans put into effect during the blackout on the US Northeast coast? Or did people mostly just go outside and ask each other WTF?

  163. Got cat? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Kids will still find ways to cut class, but will have to be more sophisticated.

    I guess they've never heard of the house-arrset kid who put his leg band on the cat and went out.

  164. Don't forget by Firethorn · · Score: 1

    They also had to end the prison experiment early because they became so concerned that somebody was going to get hurt or killed.

    Makes you wonder about our prison system. There were some fairly major differences between the experiment and our prison systems, but with what happened, I say that A: better experiments, with the shortcomings in the study addressed, and B: close scrutiney of our prison system.

    --
    I don't read AC A human right
  165. Get used to it by Money+for+Nothin' · · Score: 1

    Big corporations are using RFID in employees' badges as well, allowing employees to swipe in/out of workplace premises. The badge (sometimes annoyingly) has to be within about 1" of the reader, and getting it to activate is sometimes a challenge...

    (Ironically, nothing prevents people from just walking (or at least sneaking, commando-style) onto premises without swiping. Of course, it would make sense to worry about the real criminals trying to steal our IP, break into our buildings, etc., so instead, we worry about herding the cattle we call "employees" into their cubes in an orderly fashion.)

  166. I think this may have it's uses. by Ambient_Developer · · Score: 1

    For instance teachers no longer need to call role, because the school already knows if the student is attending. Also; you could track things like accounts for food consumption, grading, and various other things. In the end automating the entire process, so there is no margin for error, and teachers can concentrate more on teaching.

  167. non sequitur? by DM9290 · · Score: 1

    "Sequitur. Non.

    Rearrange the above words to make a well-known logical fallacy."


    "Privacy" is a fundamental human right. So is "life" and "security of person".

    If you (or someone else) take the position that your "right to privacy" is waived the moment you are on property which is owned by someone else then it is completely legitimate for me to ask "Then why not the right to life or the right to own lunch?"

    You seem to be implying that the right to privacy is a derivative right and not a fundamental human right.

    That is my whole point.

    i.e. that the right to privacy is as fundamental as the right to life.

    No one here so far as refuted this proposition.

    --
    No one has a right to their *own* opinion. They have a right to the TRUTH.
    1. Re:non sequitur? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Go look up what a non-sequitur is, spaztard.

  168. What freedoms? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Everyone is so excited they forgot to mention just exactly what freedoms this technology is violating. I, for one, would like to know.

  169. RFID is stupid by Jookey · · Score: 1

    RFID is a stupid idea for personal identification. For the simple reason it has a range of a few feet. In order for someone to steal your id all the have to do is walk within a few feet of you with a reader or leave a reader near a door entrance that uses RFID. If you want to take someones credit card number you physically have to steal there wallet. It is usefull for cattle and other merchandise because the reader can remain stationary. With a bar code, the reader and the bar code have to be alligned properly. RFID is usefull for domestic pets because dog tags can fall off.

  170. Faculty drug abuse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They want to track the students, but they don't want to do drug urinalysis on the teachers. Spring Independent School District Employees drug abuse runs rampant, your children are being taught by a bunch of drug-addled, brain-damaged teachers. You can prove me wrong though, give them a suprise drug urinalysis. It will never happen, and i will bet my life savings it won't.

  171. I'm going to quit voting for additonal funds by jay2003 · · Score: 1

    for schools if they are going to waste $180,000 on an unnecessary and intrusive big-brother systems. If schools have nothing better to spend money on than garbage like this, I say their budget needs cutting. Since I live in California where parcel taxes (which are the principle source of increased funding for schools) need a 2/3rds majority to pass, it's not going to take very many people joining me to put a stop to this non-sense, at least in my state.

  172. Fun with RFID - a game two can play by alizard · · Score: 1
    An RFID is simply a passive transponder on a chip attached to an antenna printed on the tag which uses the RF energy from a reader to activate a low-powered microtransmitter which is modulated by a fixed numeric value from factory-programmed ROM, which is demodulated by the reader. Everything else is database stuff based on the numeric string on the tags.

    Why not simply build a low-power transponder capable of returning any value or set of values desired to allow spoofing school RFID readers? It doesn't *have* to be on a single chip, this is something that can be assembled from Radio Shack parts. You don't know electronics? LEARN. If your school has electronics classes, perhaps you should sign up for some and actually show up for them.

    For entertainment value, a programmable transponder can be placed near one of the school readers. It might be possible to override signals from real cards, inject signals from tags that only exist virtually within the unofficial programmable transponder. Of course, similar effects can be achieved by playing with the database. In some places, you might access the database. In others where there's no data access, the transponder is a better solution.

    The specs for RFID and description of how RFID tags work are publically available. Google and your favorite PDF reader are your friends. Anyone who knows RF and digital electronics should be up to building the transponder, but somebody may be way ahead of me and already have done this and published the plans.

    If you're a student, don't bother protesting. There's no point on getting on a "subversives" list this early in life. Your school authorities don't care what you think and they don't care what your parents think unless they've got a lawyer or a political organization behind them. Welcome to the surveillance society.

  173. Gestapo and concentration camps next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    RFID tracking of students sounds more like a contemporary gestapo method. Are concentration camps next? Let's all speak up and put and end to such scary proposals before its too late. I want my children to be free and live in peace.

  174. tin foil hat by torrents · · Score: 1

    we may need tin foil onesies or to start wraping our childrens school issued materials in tin foil

    --
    Get your torrents...
  175. Home Economics!! by jeephistorian · · Score: 1

    Another good reason for Home Economics....they use microwaves!

    Of course you might me stuck in school forever and couldn't graduate....er...um...


    ________________
    --
    Huh?
  176. RFID Craze by kd5ftn · · Score: 2, Informative

    It was interesting for me to read this, I actually used to work for the MIS department of Spring Independent School District and my mom is working there now in an elementry school.

    The tracking system they're using only applies to students riding on the district buses (as they are the only ones the district is liable for) and I think it actually makes sense for use in elementry schools. You don't know how often a student accidently misses a bus, gets on the wrong bus, or even the unthinkable happening. However, this system really wouldn't be useful for middle/high school students as they can take care of themselfs.

    I don't see any real benefit to using RFID vs any other card technology to implement this system. It seems like it would be much more cost effective to have a barcode or magnetic card strip. Anyway, that district pushing the cutting edge of technology and we'll have to see the ultimate outcome of their actions.

  177. Quick question by ZorbaTHut · · Score: 1

    How well is this working out? I don't have a child (or a wife, or a girlfriend, stfu) but I've been thinking more and more that if I ever do, there's no way I'm pushing them through the same school system that I barely got through intact.

    So how well does the home-schooling thing work?

    --
    Breaking Into the Industry - A development log about starting a game studio.
  178. 666 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sounds like one stop closer... :(

  179. flamebait? by N3wsByt3 · · Score: 1

    Ridiculous. What I say is a true statement, not flamebait. The crux of the matter is, people that use the argument 'if you have nothing to hide' seem to have the premise that only people that are hiding something would object, which is obviously not the case. People have inherent rights, which are NOT derived from the question whether or not we want to hide something.

    --
    --- "To pee or not to pee, that is the question." ---
  180. I pray that you are not an English teacher by lorcha · · Score: 1
    Be that as it may, the change is not going to come from the teachers. Hell, we've got the teachers on tighter leashes than the students!

    Wanna know what you can do? Quit your job and open your own school called "School That Isn't Mismanaged Like Your Local Public School". Push for school vouchers so parents can afford to send their kids to your school. Teach something useful so the kids don't resent you for wasting their time. ... Profit!

    --
    "Avoid employing unlucky people - throw half of the pile of CVs in the bin without reading them." -- David Brent
  181. Actually... by lorcha · · Score: 1

    you made several errors, and your writing style is atrocious. In light of this post, I am going to assume that you are a bit of an asshole as well.

    --
    "Avoid employing unlucky people - throw half of the pile of CVs in the bin without reading them." -- David Brent
  182. It sounds like the English department by lorcha · · Score: 1

    is in equally bad shape.

    --
    "Avoid employing unlucky people - throw half of the pile of CVs in the bin without reading them." -- David Brent
  183. Other ID by notcreative · · Score: 1
    RFID is different from all previous forms of identification because it's the only one which can be reliably read from a distance without your consent.
    Some other types of ID that can be read at a distance without your consent are: armbands, prison uniforms, and the letter H emblazoned on your forehead.