To Curb Truancy, Dallas Tries Electronic Monitoring

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.'"

Comments

Re:I live in Dallas

[DaveV1.0]

I guess you think it is better that the kids be allowed to skip school, not get an education, and end up working mcjobs or worse as gang-bangers, thieves, drug dealers, or other criminals. Or, do you think they will make anything else of themselves after they "snooze until 2 p.m. before strolling into school" and falling falling so far behind they fail most of their classes.

Maybe you this:

Nearly one-third of American students drop out of school, and Dallas has the seventh-worst graduation rate among large school districts, according to a study released in April by Americaâ(TM)s Promise Alliance, founded by Colin L. Powell, the former secretary of state.

Maybe you missed the part where Pacheco could have been sent to juvenile detention and how his mother is glad he has to do this.

Hey, I know, maybe the truth is that you are worried that you won't have anyone to wait on you at McDonald's, mow your lawn, and do the rest of the shit jobs you don't want to do.

Or, maybe it is that you just can't wait to pay higher taxes to support the ignorant.

Yes, you are ashamed of your city because you believe it is better to let ignorant, selfish, lazy children grow up to be ignorant, selfish, lazy adults who are a burden to the rest of society.

You are a dumb-ass.

Re:I live in Dallas

[DaveV1.0]

No, you fucking dip-shit. They are not tagging all the students and tracking their every move. Maybe you should learn to fucking read.

They are tagging the once that are failing to live up to their civic responsibilities and fallow the law.