Students try to embrace technology

By Alexis Wilson

Published: May 22, 2005

Is student monitoring coming soon to a school near you?

Technology is moving so fast, that something as simple as a soda could keep track of you in the future. This might be made possible through Radio Frequency Identification, which is starting to make its way into schools.

The Wire: A publication of Newsroom 101 and The Oklahoman

Most parents do not like the idea of their child being tracked through RFID, a small computer chip that is inside a name badge that has the student's name, age and grade. Some even have a photo of the student. Developers say that this can help reduce child abductions and might even have the potential to make it to the Oklahoma.

An RFID system is already being used in a school in California.

The system is set up to track attendance by monitoring when students walk into the classroom. RFID also will help school officials find which students are skipping class.

"When a student doesn't go to school, the computer chip in the name badge will automatically alert the police, a California school superintendent said.

This automated attendance could make the teachers' job easier. "With Oklahoma being a small state it would be a waste of money, said Mrs. Thomas, Millwood High School principal. "I, for one, believe it would not work here at Millwood High School.

Daisy Hurte, counselor at Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, disagrees.

"I like the idea of students' attendance being monitored, Hurte said.

If this RFID system is put into play, would it change the security of schools in the metro?

"I believe that security in Oklahoma's schools will stay the same, Thomas said.

In California schools, RFID is used to get school meals and check out books in the library. Some schools in the metro area have started using the name badge system to identify kids.

"The Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics uses electronic name badges to enter and leave the campus and to access doors on campus. But our badges are not that advanced yet, Hurte said.

"Millwood has name badges to allow the students access to the buses, ours only has the students name, photo and grade, Thomas said.

Most students do not like the idea of a computer keeping track of where they are.

"What if we want to go off campus for lunch? What will the badges do then? said Crystal Burdine, a Millwood senior.