Biometric Fingerprint Scans
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Biometric Fingerprint Scans
Just come across an article about our favoured state school having introduced a system for fingerprint scanning to pay for school meals and to record 6th form attendance. Feeling rather uncomfortable about it. Is this common practice in state secondaries now?
DD's school operate a thumb print system. We put money on through the internet. Children with free school meals automatically have money on theirs, so eliminates the opportunity for other children to be aware of this need.
DD's also has that she has coeliac disease so if she inadvertently picks up some food that she should not eat the computer can tell her.
DD's also has that she has coeliac disease so if she inadvertently picks up some food that she should not eat the computer can tell her.
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DS's school have used it in the library for ages - prevents boys "borrowing" each others tickets and then losing the book. They are changing to fingerprint recognition in the canteen after half term - can't lose a finger (hopefully - although they did scan 2 fingers just in case!), free school meals credited automatically and deducted exactly the same way as everyone else, list of allergies/intolerances etc recorded so child can't accidently pick something up with the wrong ingredients. Record of purchases held so parents can see what their children are spending all that money on! (Mike1180 - DS is topped up with £20 on an almost weekly basis - he is so scrawny though - eating his way through that much he should be the size of a bus )
I know it sounds a bit "big brother" and just a step away from DNA testing but we have assurances that the info is only held for the specific purposes of library and canteen and I'm satisfied with that.
I know it sounds a bit "big brother" and just a step away from DNA testing but we have assurances that the info is only held for the specific purposes of library and canteen and I'm satisfied with that.
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I have no objection to it in principle.It has been in place for a while at DDs' school.
I did find that they were spending money faster.They are not allowed to go to the canteen every day due to budget constraints and I found they were spending their allowance quicker.When I asked them things like
"Well how much does a bottle of milk cost ?"
They were vague,
"Don't know, just used my finger"
So I no longer top up via the internet.I give them the cash to load in pound coins into the coin meter type thing on the days they are allowed a canteen lunch.As we are on a tight budget, I think it is important that they remember there is real cash invoved in the process!
I did find that they were spending money faster.They are not allowed to go to the canteen every day due to budget constraints and I found they were spending their allowance quicker.When I asked them things like
"Well how much does a bottle of milk cost ?"
They were vague,
"Don't know, just used my finger"
So I no longer top up via the internet.I give them the cash to load in pound coins into the coin meter type thing on the days they are allowed a canteen lunch.As we are on a tight budget, I think it is important that they remember there is real cash invoved in the process!