NO - Phil Booth, national co-ordinator, NO2ID
With no independent evidence of educational benefit, and severalentirely practical and less heavy-handed alternatives, there wouldappear to be no good reason for fingerprinting children. That this isbeing done without the knowledge or explicit prior consent of manyparents is appalling. In demanding that young children hand overbiometrics for non-essential purposes, schools undermine one of the moreimportant lessons for living in the 21st century - that we should becareful with personal information.
YES - Peter Atherton, head teacher, St Teresa's School
A fingerprint recognition system is in operation at St Teresa's Schooland I have no concerns about it. The system is used to simplify theadministration of our lunchtime money collection and to record what ourchildren are being given to eat. The system does not store fingerprintsbut is used as a recognition tool. Parents were given the option not tohave their children's fingerprints take. However, the overwhelmingmajority are happy with the flexibility and convenience the new systemprovides.
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