Things are getting a tad testy at a Texas school district which is piloting a program that requires students at two schools to wear RFID-enabled ID badges that can be used to track their movement while at school.
Some students are refusing to wear the badges, claiming their right to privacy is being violated. As a result, they may not be able to participate in school activities.
Since Oct. 1, students at John Jay High School and Anson Jones Middle School in San Antonio have been asked to attend class with photo ID cards that contain an RFID chip.
District administrators say the system is being used to reduce truancy that can have an economic impact on dollars the schools receive from the state.
Students who refuse to walk the school halls with the card in their pocket or around their neck claim they have been barred from participating in certain school functions. Some also said they were turned away from common areas like cafeterias and libraries.
One student said educators have ignored her pleas to respect her privacy and told her she cannot participate in school elections if she refuses to wear the badge.
If the program is judged successful, students at all 112 schools in the district could be required to wear the RFID badges.
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