GPS electronic tracker foot ring to track the whereabouts of students [Full text]

A pilot project is being implemented in San Antonio, Texas. From the next school year to begin, four districts in the city will adopt new methods to deal with students who often skip classes: Wear problematic students with Global Positioning System (GPS) installed. The electronic tracking device's foot ring to monitor their actions at any time. The court has the right to use the Global Positioning System (GPS) to track the whereabouts of these students to determine whether they have skipped school. Associated Press reported that Bell County, Texas magistrate Linda Payne announced on the 22nd in the four districts under her jurisdiction to implement this plan, the tentative period of six months tentatively, hoping to control the increase in student truancy . According to the data, 20,344 truancy cases were heard in Bell County from 2007 to 2008, compared with 14,114 in the 2004-2005 school year.

The San Antonio Express said that this is the third area in the United States that uses GPS technology to supervise truant students. The first two were the Dallas School District and the Midland School District in Texas. However, this plan has only just begun. At least one group has expressed concern that the authorities will abuse power and infringe on students’ privacy and civil rights.

According to the “Sing Tao Daily” report, the trial is planned for a period of six months. The relevant parties will review the results at that time. If it is ideal, it will consider full implementation in the future and become a permanent measure. Payne said she estimated that about 50 students would wear an ankle bracelet on four campuses in San Antonio. Most of them are high school students. Not all truant students wear ankle rings. Only those students who have been found guilty of treachery or repeated truancy by the court will be forced to wear this kind of foot that cannot be removed on their own. The duration of wearing the foot ring is determined according to the individual's specific circumstances.

According to the plan put forward by the authorities, if the school discovers that students with frequent problems of truancy have to be submitted to the court for review, the court will decide whether or not to adopt this method and monitor the student. The student who is being monitored needs to wear an ankle bracelet all day, and it must not be taken off at any time.