To Curb Truancy, Dallas Tries Electronic Monitoring

The New York Times is reporting that a school district in Texas is trying a new angle in combating truancy. Instead of punishing students with detention they are tagging them with electronic monitoring devices. "But the future of the Dallas program is uncertain. Mr. Pottinger's company, the Center for Criminal Justice Solutions, is seeking $365,000 from the county to expand the program beyond Bryan Adams. But the effort has met with political opposition after a state senator complained that ankle cuffs used in an earlier version were reminiscent of slave chains. Dave Leis, a spokesman for NovaTracker, which makes the system used in Dallas, said electronic monitoring did not have to be punitive. 'You can paint this thing as either Big Brother, or this is a device that connects you to a buddy who wants to keep you safe and help you graduate.'"

Re:Really...

[jockeys]

well, if you are house arrest and wearing an ankle tag you have 2 choices, as well:

1. Big Brother
2. a buddy who wants to keep me safe and help me make parole


Is there really any doubt in anyone's mind what this is?

Sucks to be Bryan Adams

[Anonymous Coward]

Seriously, that principal just has it out for him.

Re:Really...

[Woundweavr]

a buddy who wants to keep you safe and help you graduate.

You know, like an older sibling.

Re:I live in Dallas

[Anonymous Coward]

I have _never_ been more ashamed of this city than I am now.

Er, I believe you misspelled the word "city". It's actually spelled "Nation".

Re:Really...

[rbochan]

Big Buddy!

Bryan Adams High School?

[GogglesPisano]

While Dave Leis' touching characterization of the device as "a buddy who wants to keep you safe and help you graduate" clearly comes straight from the heart, many students at the high school have expressed concerns this rule "cuts like a knife".

A spokesman for the school administration added that "We can't stop this thing we've started.".

Marketing is EVIL

[Anonymous Coward]

I see, it's all a matter of Marketing.

Those aren't "shackles", they're "Safety Restraints" designed to make sure you don't injure yourself while trying to escape!

This isn't "hard labor", it's "Exercise Time"!

That isn't "gruel", it's "Nutrient Density Compound"!

That ankle bracelet, it's not "Big Brother", it's "Big Brothers/Big Sisters" (minus the Big Sister)!

Re:Really...

[mobby_6kl]

Or, better yet, a truancy bot! [pbfcomics.com]

Re:Really...

[cthulu_mt]

OT but why all of a sudden am I getting a "slow down cowboy" after four minutes? That never happened when I was logged in before.

Then maybe you should, Hold your horses!
yuck yuck yuck yuck
See what I did there?...I made a stupid joke! How do you like it mcgrew?

Monitoring Bryan Adams?

[NobodyExpects]

While many Canadians will be glad to hear that they are monitoring Bryan Adams, the rest of us are left to wonder, wouldn't it have been more in the public interest to monitor Celine Dion?

Re:Really...

[ArcherB]

a buddy who wants to keep you safe and help you graduate.

You know, like an older sibling.

Ah, memories. My big brother and I used to get high before school. I wonder if this device will help with that!

Re:The alternative is much worse

[SydShamino]

I fail to see how forcing someone by law to be somewhere involuntarily for 6 hours / day 5 days / week 39 weeks / year for about 12 years can not be considered a form of imprisonment.

Yeah, no kidding. Just this morning my six year old insisted that he be allowed to stay at home eating candy and playing with blocks, but I instead forced him to go to prison%H%H%H%H%H%Hschool where he'll learn about numbers and colors. I hope he doesn't call the Human Rights Watch on me.

sarcasm

Nerd v2.0

[hyades1]

How long will it be before that poor little bastard who always used to get stuffed into his own locker will be sitting in class with nine or ten of these things strapped from his ankles to his knees, and the threat of severe bodily harm hanging over his head if he complains.