Father bans school from fingerprinting daughter

[flamesong]

Father bans school from fingerprinting daughter
http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.1452746.0.0.php?act=complaint&ci d=333410

A father has refused permission for his daughter's Oxford school to take her fingerprints - fearing it is step towards a 'Big Brother' state.

Ben Emlyn-Jones's daughter Louisa, 12, attends St Gregory the Great School in Cowley - which is planning to use fingerprint recognition software in its library.

On Tuesday, it was revealed that Windale Primary School, Glory Farm Primary School, Matthew Arnold Secondary School and The Cherwell School currently use fingerprint systems in libraries and Cheney School uses the technology to register pupils.

Mr Emlyn-Jones said: "I am really quite disturbed about it, it reminds me of a Big Brother state.

"There may be advantages in having a fingerprint database, but the price you pay is too high."

He refused to allow his daughter's fingerprints to be taken and was also concerned that the school had not contacted parents.

He added: "It is as if they know it is wrong and have done it secretly, hoping no-one finds out."

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Mr Emlyn-Jones said he was opposed to the principle of biometric data being used by schools.

"Once people are on a computer then the world's your oyster as far as the Government is concerned.

"It also desensitises kids. When they're grown up and they apply for a passport and apply for jobs they won't bat an eyelid about having fingerprints taken or a laser being shined in their eyes."

This week, Liberal Democrats called for Government guidelines to be introduced to control the use of the technology in schools.

But Mr Emlyn-Jones said that would not satisfy his concerns.

He said: "Once the infrastructure is in place those guidelines could be abolished. That's my concern."

St Gregory the Great's learning resources manager Hilja Bassett said the library system, which would be operational next term, was very efficient and secure.

She added: "It can only be used in this one place, in this one way, for this purpose."

She said fingerprints were not stored, just certain data taken from the print.

Parents had been informed through a newsletter, she added, and pupils who did not wish to use the system could still make use of library services.

[Disco_Destroyer]

We need to offer support (maybe without the 9/11 tag) even if its merely to shake his hand

[Mark Gobell]

Good on him.

Where are the teachers standing up against this ?

What about the NUT ?

http://www.leavethemkidsalone.com/

Sign their petition here: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/kidprints/

[Sixy]

[PaulStott]

Good for him!

[Louise]

Good on the man.

I think all schools should refuse to use this type of thing even if they are bullied.

It's sick how they are targeting children to get them used to the big brother state.

[Mick Meaney]

Sad to say this is just the tip of the iceberg. More teachers are calling for the use of CCTV in classrooms, and did anyone catch the "Tag your Tots" nonsense on GMTV?

The UK is being used to test drive new technology that will lead to the creation of a European Big Brother state.

It could be interesting to see how many parents here have called their childs school to ask about the use of this technology. As it seems most schools are not requesting parental permission, it may be the only way to find out.

Also because there's no regulations and no guidelines on how this information be used or how long it can be stored for, it's a potential gold mine for identity thieves.

[PaulStott]

Yesterdays Telegraph had an article saying fingerprinting is due to be set up at the domestic departures section of the new Heathrow terminal.

It says something that this news was shoved away in the travel section, rather than the main news pages.

[Mick Meaney]

[Louise]

Found another article on this subject in the Daily Mail.

Check out the following..........

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_artic le_id=470344&in_page_id=1770

Get the kids while there're young, and they'll think that it is quite normal to be fingerprinted and scaned and chipped (oh yes, it's coming, belive it).

They'll never know the freedom that they would have had without all this happening.

And it might just turn them against the older people who resist this type of thing because they think its just a normal thing.

Also look at: http://www.liveregister.co.uk/

Big Brother is certainly here folks.

[Dogsmilk]

[Louise]

I bet there talking BS when they say that the fingerprints are not recorded Dogsmilk.

I don't trust them when they say that.

[Dogsmilk]

[Disco_Destroyer]

[Reflecter]

Saying the prints are not recorded is just the sales teams speil regurgitated to the teachers and passed on to the parents and press. It's pure propaganda. They are reversible and useable by the polices systems. The only thing stopping that is that the systems aren't networked at present and aren't hackable from the outside. Nothing a trip to be serviced or a routine maintenance session wont see imaged and uploaded to government systems at some later date. Hell by then they'll just say "well it'll save us reprinting them all further down the line, inconvenience spared etc"

I have to chose primary schools for mine soon and I note several in my area are already listed as using such systems. I intend to write to all the schools and help update the LTKA site stats for my area if any schools are forthcoming.

Maybe wise we all do so and get the country fully mapped for who is playing NWO ball already. LTKA could probably use the help and our kids sure could.

[Louise]

I've found even more links related to this subject:.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/07/kiddyprinting_allowed/

Be sure to read the related storys at the end of page 2 as well.

Also.........

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/07/344228.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/A15693113

http://notsaussure.wordpress.com/2007/03/04/fingerprinting-children/

I'm going to be really honest here, i don't think we can trust the police either.

I think their duty is to the state and NOT to the people.

If push came to shove they would be on the side of the state and make all the people submit to the will of the state by force if required.

They would sell the people out to whatever the will of the state was.

I'm sorry but that's the way i feel.

I wish i could post all this info on the other website but i have been well and truly banned.

Banned for spreading the truth and trying to wake people up.

[Dogsmilk]

[Hagbard Celine]

Hi everyone!

Just to let you know: the father in that article is ME!

Thanks very much for your support. It's good to know that the word is getting out. We can't trust political leaders to do the right thing so it's Poll Tax time again, folks! We have to organize grass roots resistance within our own communities.

I couldn't believe it when my little girl came home from school telling me that the teachers planned to take her fingerprints. As I said in that interview, we received no requests for permission at all. Since that article was published the school claim that they informed us with an announcement in ther newsletter. This is not enough by far! They send home permission slips when they just take the kids down the road to the sports ground yet they do this barely a whisper; even if it is true.

If you go to the leavethemkidsalone website, you'll hear some shocking stories about the unethical methods the authorities are using to try and create this database of children's fingerprints.

The truth is: They know that the present adult population is going to refuse the national identity card, so they plan to indoctrinate the next generation.

[Dogsmilk]

Respect to you, sir, for taking a stand.

[Sixy]

Hi Hagbard Celine!

Just wanted to add my well done for doing what you did!

I hope that other parents follow suit and that others in education understand the implications of fingerprinting children.

Again, well done!

[flamesong]

Hi HC,

Long time no hear from!

Good on you for standing up. Ian in Oxford told me about it.

[klutch]

lol omg, we had this in my school. I was forced to go hae my print taken. although i have already had my prints taken, i didnt think it was right how the school added more information to the database.

[gericom]

Good for you, HC. We need many more parents to follow your example.
In their hearts, the government KNOW that the older generations will not subject themselves willingly to having thair biometric details taken and stored, so, it's a case of "let's catch them while they're young". So what if it takes a bit longer to impliment the "Database State", we can wait until the oldies die off (a few more chemtrails should do the trick), then the youngsters will be "all ours", to do exactly what we want to with them.

[Mark Gobell]

Monday 23 July 2007 16:08

Department for Children, Schools and Families (National)

New data protection guidance published for schools

Guidance on how the Data Protection Act 1998 applies to the use of biometric data in schools is published today by Becta, the Government's schools ICT agency.

It advises schools to fully involve parents in any decision to introduce biometric or fingerprint technology to run cashless lunch queues, school libraries and attendance systems.

It restates schools' freedom to run their own affairs - including introducing new technology to free up teacher time and making day-to-day administration easier.

Schools choose biometric systems because they can speed up lunch queues; remove the need for children to take money into schools and remove any stigma with peers from pupils claiming free school meals because they are not identified. They also mean schools do not have to pay for the replacement of lost swipe cards and other identification.

Head teachers also choose to introduce biometric attendance systems at the school gate to save teachers time in taking registers and prevent unauthorised access to school premises. Similar systems can be used to record pupils' attendance at each class to identify whether particular pupils are not attending particular classes - and prompting schools to take action.

Today's guidance underlines that headteachers and governing bodies should be clear and open with all parents and pupils about this and all aspects of their education.

This could involve explaining what biometric technology is; how it will be used; what is involved; what data will be held and stored; why it is required; how it will be secured; and how long it will be retained.

It also advises that schools should recognise some parents' or pupils' concerns over the introduction of biometric technology and offer alternative systems, like smartcards, to access the same services if they want to opt out.

The guidance also describes how biometric systems are designed simply to validate a pupil's identity - not hold any other data. It is stored as complex algorithms or number streams, from which it is currently technically impossible to recreate an actual fingerprint image.

The guidance, produced in conjunction with the Information Commissioner, sets out how Data Protection Act 1998 applies to the use of biometric data in schools - building on Becta's existing guidance on data security and the data protection law.

The Data Protection Act requires that:

* schools cannot use biometric information other than for the express purpose for which it was collected. This means that data taken for the use on in a library, can only be used for that purpose;

* schools process all personal data fairly and lawfully. This means that schools ensure that all pupils, or their parents if schools judge they cannot understand, know what personal information they have on record and how they intend to use it;

* schools cannot pass on biometric information to any outside organisation nor can third parties access this information;

* schools cannot keep personal data for longer than it is needed for its specified purpose. Pupils' biometric data should therefore be destroyed when they have left the school.

* schools put appropriate security in place to safeguard personal data from unauthorised processing and accidental loss, destruction or damage. Becta gives clear guidance to schools on data and ICT security.

Schools Minister Jim Knight said:

"Becta and the Information Commissioner already give schools clear guidance on how to comply with the Data Protection Act. This additional guidance helps schools by confirming how the law relates to biometric data and advice to schools on operating within it.

"I have seen at first hand how well these systems work. They can speed up lunch queues, remove the need for children to carry money and take away the stigma of singling out those on free school meals. Moreover, they can enable schools to register pupils more easily as they move from class to class.

"I want parents to be fully engaged with every aspect of their children's education - this is at the heart of today's guidance. We give schools complete freedom to run their own affairs and I back every head teacher's right and professional judgement to choose technology to improve their day-to-day running. But it's plain common sense for them to talk to parents about this and all issues relating to their pupils to demystify how schools operate.

"Schools are well used to handling sensitive information like attendance registers, behaviour records and home addresses. But we are absolutely clear that they have to comply with data protection laws. That means that this data can only be used for its stated purpose; cannot be shared with third parties beyond this stated purpose; and it must be destroyed when a pupil leaves their school".

Becta Chief Executive Stephen Crowne said:

"This guidance makes it clear to schools what their responsibilities are under the Data Protection Act.

"Each school must make their own decisions over the systems they employ. Biometric technology can offer a means for streamlining the day to day running of the schools, but they must be aware of the sensitivities that surround this technology. Schools must ensure that they engage fully with parents and pupils and consider the provision of alternative systems if there are strong objections to the use of biometric technology.

"Becta and the Information Commissioner give clear advice to schools on data protection and ICT security. Becta leads the national drive to improve learning through technology. We do this by working with industry to ensure we have the right technology for education in place."

Full article on GNN here, with associated links:

http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=301810&NewsAreaID=2

[Hagbard Celine]

[Hagbard Celine]

[Hagbard Celine]

[Hagbard Celine]

[gericom]

H.C. I was standing in a queue yesterday, and got talking to a couple of people just in front of me, they were parents they told me of two children, one eleven year old, the other younger. I mentioned this thing regarding fingerprinting at schools, and the mother was curious and asked me for more details. I briefly explained to her about how schools are now fingerprinting children without their parents consent, and she was truely horrified. She had no idea that this was on the agenda. "I won't let my two be done" she replied firmly.
All this time her husband had been standing listening to our conversation without saying a word. Then he spoke.
"So what's wrong with that?" he said, "anything that'll keep our kids safer, surely it has to be a good idea."
His wife replied, "Don't you see.......(guys name), how this will end up? Our kids details will be stored, it'll be just as though they are criminals."
Then, before we could say too much more, they had reached the head of the queue.
"Think about it" I said to her. "I shall" she replied. "Thank you."

[Hagbard Celine]