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To Curb Truancy, Dallas Tries Electronic Monitoring

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the kids-aren't-people dept.

The New York Times is reporting that a school district in Texas is trying a new angle in combating truancy. Instead of punishing students with detention they are tagging them with electronic monitoring devices. "But the future of the Dallas program is uncertain. Mr. Pottinger's company, the Center for Criminal Justice Solutions, is seeking $365,000 from the county to expand the program beyond Bryan Adams. But the effort has met with political opposition after a state senator complained that ankle cuffs used in an earlier version were reminiscent of slave chains. Dave Leis, a spokesman for NovaTracker, which makes the system used in Dallas, said electronic monitoring did not have to be punitive. 'You can paint this thing as either Big Brother, or this is a device that connects you to a buddy who wants to keep you safe and help you graduate.'"

5 of 462 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Really... by Woundweavr · · Score: 5, Funny

    a buddy who wants to keep you safe and help you graduate.

    You know, like an older sibling.
  2. Bryan Adams High School? by GogglesPisano · · Score: 4, Funny

    While Dave Leis' touching characterization of the device as "a buddy who wants to keep you safe and help you graduate" clearly comes straight from the heart, many students at the high school have expressed concerns this rule "cuts like a knife".

    A spokesman for the school administration added that "We can't stop this thing we've started.".

  3. Re:Really... by mobby_6kl · · Score: 4, Funny

    Or, better yet, a truancy bot!

  4. Re:Really... by ArcherB · · Score: 3, Funny

    a buddy who wants to keep you safe and help you graduate.

    You know, like an older sibling. Ah, memories. My big brother and I used to get high before school. I wonder if this device will help with that!
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  5. Re:The alternative is much worse by SydShamino · · Score: 4, Funny

    I fail to see how forcing someone by law to be somewhere involuntarily for 6 hours / day 5 days / week 39 weeks / year for about 12 years can not be considered a form of imprisonment. Yeah, no kidding. Just this morning my six year old insisted that he be allowed to stay at home eating candy and playing with blocks, but I instead forced him to go to prison%H%H%H%H%H%Hschool where he'll learn about numbers and colors. I hope he doesn't call the Human Rights Watch on me.

    sarcasm
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