Texas To Track Truant Students By GPS

Kids With History of Skipping School To Wear Ankle Bracelets Equipped With Satellite Technology

(AP)  Court authorities here will be able to track students with a history of skipping school under a new program requiring them to wear ankle bracelets using satellite technology.

But at least one group is worried the ankle bracelets, with Global Positioning System monitoring, will infringe on students' privacy.

Linda Penn, a Bexar County justice of the peace, said she anticipates that about 50 students from four San Antonio-area school districts - likely to be mostly high schoolers - will wear the anklets during the six-month pilot program announced Friday.

"We are at a critical point in our time where we can either educate or incarcerate," Penn said, linking truancy with juvenile delinquency and later criminal activity. "We can teach them now or run the risk of possible incarceration later on in life. I don't want to see the latter."

Penn said students in the program will wear the ankle bracelets full-time and will not be able to remove them. They'll be selected as they come through her court, and Penn will target truant students with gang affiliations, those with a history of running away and skipping school and those who have been through her court multiple times.

"Students and parents must understand that attending school is not optional," Penn said.

Penn said the electronic monitoring is part of a comprehensive program she started four years ago to reduce truancy. She cited programs in Midland and Dallas as having success with similar electronic monitoring measures.

But Terri Burke, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said requiring students to wear the GPS devices full-time raises privacy concerns.

"We're all for keeping kids in school, and we applaud any efforts to make that happen," Burke said. "But the privacy issue: What happens with the bracelet or anklet after school is out? Is that appropriate for the school or courts to know where and what this person is doing outside of school?"

Asked why the students have to wear the ankle bracelet all the time instead of just the school day, Penn cited problems with runaways.

"Sometimes, as I said, students are runaways. Parents don't know where they are," Penn said.

Burke said truant students and runaway kids are different issues.

[colonieny]

AS an ACLU member and a Women and the WOrld Professor, I can see that this is a total invasion of rights for women. Both as the person being tracked and as the potential person a male might be visiting, and the woman does not want to be discovered as the "other woman." For men, who are more danger to soiety , and might harm some women, this is a good idea.
Thus, it should only be used for men. And if women are the "contact" person, their names must be hidden from any coourt records.

[ajmystic]

colonieNy, that is a very biased opinion. Granted, there are more violent crimes done by the male population overall, but that is not a reason to single them out. Females are generally more apt to be runaways and to skip school to go to the mall with their friends. Since we are talking teenagers, it should be noted that the gang affiliated females can be and are as violent as their male counterparts. What about the video of those girls beating up on their supposed friend? Females have a violent streak in them just as men do. Let''s be fair and have both sexes monitored, if that is the court''s judgement.

[voidmaster-2009]

I would not allow my child to be subjected to such BS as this. If necessary, I would even use deadly force to prevent it. It is not just time to put the state in its place, it is way overdue.

As for the idiot-poster who wrote %u201CFor men, who are more danger to soiety , and might harm some women, this is a good idea%u2026%u201D first, you obviously never met my x-wife. Second, your statement reveals that you are far more dangerous to others than is any man.

[CBSTV]

This is the result of many (perhaps well meaning) people who have traded privacy and civil rights for "better security." We are now on a slippery slope.

[dronemonk]

We''ll soon be able to empty our prisons....society at large is shifting so authoritarian/fascist that keeping people behind bars will be a needless and redundant duplication compared to how we treat our (so called) "free" people.

[sistatee-2009]

"Check Johnny''s GPS and tell me where he is."
"He''s in the drug house at 4301 MLK Blvd."
"Now where is he?"
"He robbing the bank at 1220 Jesse Jackson Avenue."
"And now?"
"Parking ramp on Peko, carjacking a ride."
"Okay. Good. Keep me posted."

[aggiekat2004]

"But the privacy issue: What happens with the bracelet or anklet after school is out? Is that appropriate for the school or courts to know where and what this person is doing outside of school?"
------------------

Get over it. These kids are obviously doing things they shouldn''t, or they wouldn''t be in front of a judge and being ordered to wear one of these.

I worked on a $50 million high school project in San Antonio, and let me tell you about the opportunities that these kids have. There was an early childcare lab, so the girls could bring their babies to school. There was a school bank, so they could learn banking skills. There was a cafeteria AND a cafe, where the kids could learn restaurant skills. San Antonio recognizes that not all kids are going to college, but at least are trying to give them job skills they can use.

So if the little jerks are still refusing to go to school, more power to this judge. Stick a transmitter on ''em...they''re up to no good.

[aggiekat2004]

Funny thing...all of the illegals seem to want an education...

[jsilver2th]

Can''t get a college loan but the good old boys can afford a shock collar for ya...

Posted by SistaTee:
"Check Johnny''''s GPS and tell me where he is."
"He''''s in the drug house at 4301 MLK Blvd."
"Now where is he?"
"He robbing the bank at 1220 Jesse Jackson Avenue."

That''s some racist noise-

[erasmus81]

"Before we know it they will be injecting chips in them as babies..." Posted by IrishWench at 11:20 PM : Aug 23, 2008

With all the really stupid parents out there that are raising kids, this might be a good idea.:)

Just kidding.

[shanev137]

The Waffen SS is alive and well in the US.

[erasmus81]

shanev137

I liked your joke on the "No Joke:Failed Humor May Invite Abuse" article.:) Cute!

[nathan8804-2009]

Ok let me see if I get this... A kid that skips out one too many times gets a tracking device. While a kid that is home schooled with no actual standards can do what ever they want. There has been no crime here yet the kid is tracked 24/7. If the parents agree I would say its ok as the kid is underage. However, based on what the judge says it seems the parents have no say.

I would like to see that judge tagged like the dog she is. As a public servant paid with public dollars I would like to know where and when she spends our money.

[pirmin3]

Why waste time and money tracking these losers?? Spend it on the kids that stay in school and want to learn.

[usmcvn1]

Hey! I got an idea, lets texas invade and spread democracy!!

[pirmin3]

"Hey! I got an idea, lets texas invade and spread democracy!! Posted by usmcvn1"

Good idea and they have oil too!! Win win.

[yankeerebel7]

What liberal thought of this idea??

[airboatboy]

How about a choker chain and a quick yank instead?

[apprxam]

Why spend so much time on the ones that don''t want to be there and nothing to improve the fortunes of those who do? Hell, they should be doing this for hard, cold criminals.

San Antonio has plenty of troubled children who need attention and don''t require constant technological babysitting. I''m sure it would be cheaper and a much better use of resources. The state can''t force people, and that includes children, who don''t want to make their conditions better if they choose not to.

More books and better teachers with better pay. Spending money on programs which volve police only leads to more tension. The task is to raise the expectations and opportunities for those sitting in class, waiting for the education that they need to move on. Sadly, the GPS bonded truants will probably need that in the future. Help those who want it.

[apprxam]

Liberal?....hhhmmmmmmmm...this appears to be a Police-State driven program. More money, more power.

[apprxam]

I think that Justice o da Peace, Penn, is seeing this from too narrow a view. Yes, children should attend school, but this is a waste of time. If the parent don''t or can''t or won''t control those children, then maybe it is too late already.

This could very well be a backdoor way of tracking criminals, but I fail to see how this prevents mindless idiots from committing crimes; they''ve no conscious to stop them.

The critical point of any matter is to recognize those willing to accept the gifts of education. Let''s put our best effort to save the worthy. Liberals spend too much time on the hopelessly unfit, and not enough on the one with potential.

[yankeerebel7]

Exactly...a "police state driven" program. More big government, more liberalism.

[o_nolan1]

Let''s just go with the status quo and see how competitive a society we have to keep up with the likes of China and others. Sounds like a harsh program, but parents aren''t doing their jobs, so someone has to.

[beboldin09]

This is only a sign of things to come (anti-Christ, mark of the beast)

[brianbwb-2009]

"We are at a critical point in our time where we can either educate or incarcerate," Penn said, linking truancy with juvenile delinquency and later criminal activity."

But your "ankle cuff" solution is tantamount to "incarcerate them now, then imprison them later".

Any law requiring someone not convicted of a crime to wear monitoring devices is a violation of quite a few constitutional clauses, the right to privacy, the right to assembly being just two, and it violates the principle of free association.

Last time I checked, I could find no law prohibiting skipping school. Education is a right, but not a mandatory requirement.

Besides, if the US education system taught tools that were useful in real life, cutting away the propaganda indoctrination, there would be far fewer dropouts.

[beboldin09]

Besides, if the US education system taught tools that were useful in real life, cutting away the propaganda indoctrination, there would be far fewer dropouts.
Posted by brianbwb at 07:42 AM : Aug 24, 2008


You are correct, if public schools stopped forcing liberalism and implanting it into the minds of the innocent, there wouldn''t be any drop outs.They could start by ending the teaching of the biggest propaganda lies of them all, Darwinism.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Students and parents must understand that attending school is not optional," Penn said. "

Penn is full of BS, attending school is not mandatory, it is only a right. If you want to attend school, no one can legally deny you, but if you don''t want to, no state body can legally force you.

[formrusmcsgt]

Penn is full of BS, attending school is not mandatory, it is only a right. If you want to attend school, no one can legally deny you, but if you don''''t want to, no state body can legally force you.

Posted by brianbwb at 07:45 AM : Aug 24, 2008

Good morning, brian.

All states have a minimum attendance age.

One can''t drop out in kindergarten.....

[formrusmcsgt]

You are correct, if public schools stopped forcing liberalism and implanting it into the minds of the innocent, there wouldn''''t be any drop outs.They could start by ending the teaching of the biggest propaganda lies of them all, Darwinism.

Posted by BeBoldin09 at 07:44 AM : Aug 24, 2008

Utterly absurd.

I challenge you to provide a source that attributes dropping out of school to the teaching evolution....

[beboldin09]

Evolution gives our kids an excuse to believe in natural selection and survival of the fittest, which leads to a belief that they are superior over the weak. This is a slippery slope. One of the Columbine shooters wrote on his website, "You know what I love? Natural Selection! It''s the best thing that ever happened to the Earth. Getting rid of all the stupid and weak organisms." This sick young man wore a T-shirt with the words "Natural Selection" at the time of the murders, and carried out his killing spree on the birth date of Adolph Hitler. All of this took place at the very school where he was taught evolution and Darwin''s theory of natural selection.

Darwin''s theory led to the idea of "Eugenics", where social engineers could monitor and manage choices to marry and have children. Darwin''s own cousin coined the term and campaigned for using human genetics as a means to breed a superior breed of humanity. Many people in American history and abroad adopted this belief, and 33 states created legal programs of forced sterilization to prevent the "feeble-minded" and "human weeds"This social engineering is at the core of Darwinism - just in fast forward.

Many Darwinists believe that nature or natural selection could use a little help from man, and through social engineering, we can produce a highly gifted race of people.

(continued)

[beboldin09]

By force, we can accomplish what nature does blindly and slowly. Man can engineer this process more efficiently and timely, and must direct its own course. If this sounds familiar, this was the basis for Nazism. Darwinism devalues man, and I believe helped to eliminate a moral compass in Europe that could have prevented the atrocities of the holocaust.

Adolph Hitler duped an entire generation using Darwin''s evolution. He sought to preserve the "favored" race in the struggle for survival. First, he would eliminate those he deemed weak and impure as to protect his race (disabled, ill, deformed, deaf, blind, Jews, Gypsies). Second, he sought to expand Germany''s borders in order to make room for the expansion of the favored race. Elimination of useless eaters - this is how the fittest survive. We all know how that turned out. Ultimately, some 11 million people, possibly more, were exterminated, all in the attempt to speed up evolution.

(continued)

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by BeBoldin09

Your position is so irrelevant and counter to the purpose of education as to be laughable. Darwinism vs. religion? Not even remotely relevant, I speak of business administration, economics, IT, electronic, mechanical, and civil engineering, agriculture, and most of all, the modern arts.

The propaganda I speak of that should be discarded includes the jokes called history (his-story) and social studies, which are nothing more than lies. We can also reserve advanced maths and sciences for those students so inclined, but to require it of students who are uninterested, or who lack such aptitude is ridiculousness at the core.

Your anti Darwinism BS belongs in your church, I will never agree to using my tax money for the teaching of your superstition, you have your choices of churches for that.

[beboldin09]

To be certain, racism is not a scientific theory, but it is a large part of evolution, and if allowed to go unchecked, we may be damned to repeat history. There is a place to discuss micro-evolution, in that people and species have adapted over time to their environment and circumstances. I choose to believe that this, too, is of God, but it is evolution none the less. When scientists look at the intricacies of cell structures, or the wonders of the human body, male and female, they simply cannot make a case that all of this occurred by happenstance or natural selection. Why not simply embrace the opportunity for a discussion that there may be some intelligent design to this process? Throw in the case that there is still no fossil record or evidence to support Darwin, and all you have left is a theory. If evolution were true, then there should be countless numbers of transitional forms (e.g., 100% reptile; 75% reptile - 25% bird; 50% reptile - 50% bird; 25% reptile - 75% bird; 100% bird and many transitional forms between each of those). Our science labs and museums are loaded with fossils, and yet, none support Mr. Darwin.

(continued)

[formrusmcsgt]

Posted by BeBoldin09 at 07:56 AM : Aug 24, 2008

If you wish to characterize evolution as evil because some demented souls used it''s tenents for their own warped personal goals, you''ll have to condemn religion as evil as well for the Jim Jones'' of the world.....

[beboldin09]

None of Darwin''s theories can be replicated or proven in a laboratory, and yet, by blind faith, many still believe in evolution. The Religion of Darwin is the only one accepted in the public school, and the time has come to change that fact. Some people think that I am misguided to believe in the Genesis account of creation. I happen to share a similar view about people who believe that all species evolved or morphed from a single cell. The beautiful thing about this country is that we all have a right to believe in whatever we choose. I may disagree with your science fiction, and you may disagree with my Bible, but we should be free to discuss each others theories, and none should be excluded from the dialogue. Such discourse is not a violation of the Constitution, but rather is encouraged by the First Amendment.
--------------------

Your anti Darwinism BS belongs in your church, I will never agree to using my tax money for the teaching of your superstition, you have your choices of churches for that.
Posted by brianbwb

-People can be "Anti-Darwin" anywhere they''d like in this country. This is America. Not communist China. We have the freedom to speak up, speak out, anywhere, anytime, any place. It''s not against the law to be "anti-Darwin" in public schools.

[beboldin09]

If you wish to characterize evolution as evil because some demented souls used it''''s tenents for their own warped personal goals, you''ll have to condemn religion as evil as well for the Jim Jones'' of the world.....
Posted by formrusmcsgt at 08:00 AM : Aug 24, 2008

Jim Jones was evil. He was a cult leader. He had his own "religion" indeed. Just like Hitler did...demanding that people follow him (the Nazis).

[formrusmcsgt]

-People can be "Anti-Darwin" anywhere they''''d like in this country. This is America. Not communist China. We have the freedom to speak up, speak out, anywhere, anytime, any place. It''''s not against the law to be "anti-Darwin" in public schools.

Posted by BeBoldin09 at 08:01 AM : Aug 24, 2008

While true, it doesn''t give you the "right" to turn our public schools into dogma indoctrination centers.

[formrusmcsgt]

Jim Jones was evil. He was a cult leader. He had his own "religion" indeed. Just like Hitler did...demanding that people follow him (the Nazis).

Posted by BeBoldin09 at 08:03 AM : Aug 24, 2008

As was Hitler, but you demonize evolution, not Hitler - so you must demonize religion as well, not Jones....

[beboldin09]

While true, it doesn''''t give you the "right" to turn our public schools into dogma indoctrination centers.
Posted by formrusmcsgt at 08:04 AM : Aug 24, 2008

-I see, but it somehow gives secularists the right to indoctrinate students into believing in Darwinian dogma right? Your double standards are well noted.

Kids should be given a choice in public schools. They shouldn''t be forced to learn about Darwinian evolution in the "Science" classroom and not given any other options. That''s not how this country was founded.

[beboldin09]

As was Hitler, but you demonize evolution, not Hitler - so you must demonize religion as well, not Jones....
Posted by formrusmcsgt at 08:05 AM : Aug 24, 2008

I just demonized Hitler by calling him evil. I demonized Jim Jones because he started his own cult religion. Just like Hitler did with the Nazis, demanding that all follow him. (Heil Hitler!)

[brianbwb-2009]

"Good morning, brian.
All states have a minimum attendance age.
One can''''t drop out in kindergarten....." Posted by formrusmcsgt

I posit that rather than attendance, it is the minimum age requirement for the application of education.

It is more like "by age x, a child should have access to education". This allows those parents who can afford it to engage a private tuition program, "home schooling" as it is called nowadays, or if one or both parents, or other family members are qualified teachers, they can educate the child themselves. It is not "by age x, a child must be physically present at a public building."

It is also a sad truth that in many inner city environments, the education received "on the streets" far better prepares a child to survive the environment they are in than most of the required subjects taught at school.

A proper education can indeed give the tools necessary to escape such an environment, but due to socio-political factors outside the control of the people, are not guaranteed to work, there are a lot of degree-holding McDonalds employees out there.

[formrusmcsgt]

-I see, but it somehow gives secularists the right to indoctrinate students into believing in Darwinian dogma right? Your double standards are well noted.

Kids should be given a choice in public schools. They shouldn''''t be forced to learn about Darwinian evolution in the "Science" classroom and not given any other options. That''''s not how this country was founded.

Posted by BeBoldin09 at 08:08 AM : Aug 24, 2008

There are 2,500 different religions in the world today all with their "explanation" of the origin of the species.

Who would determine which version should be taught as "fact"?

Archeology, anthropology, and microbiology all support evolution.

None of the sciences supports creationism.

[liberty1st]

It is time to end compulsory education. It is and has always been a violation of parental jurisdiction. We would be better off if we eliminated public education and let parents figure out what is best for their child.
As a home school parent I can not believe that parents will have worse results than the government schools.
Why is it we all have the same education? How about a little diversity of thought.
In the end all State Schools are for is to make a good compliant citizen who will never question what government does.

[formrusmcsgt]

I just demonized Hitler by calling him evil.

Posted by BeBoldin09 at 08:09 AM : Aug 24, 2008

Adolph Hitler duped an entire generation using Darwin''''s evolution.

Posted by BeBoldin09 at 07:57 AM : Aug 24, 2008

So you retract the previous post I assume.

[beboldin09]

Archeology, anthropology, and microbiology all support evolution.

None of the sciences supports creationism.

Posted by formrusmcsgt at 08:12 AM : Aug 24, 2008

That''s your opinion, but it''s not the Final Say. But you''re missing the whole point.

Kids aren''t given a choice. It''s either learn about Darwin in schools, or nothing else.

AGain, that''s not how our country was founded and that''s definitely not in line with our Constitution.

[formrusmcsgt]

It is time to end compulsory education.

Posted by Liberty1st at 08:13 AM : Aug 24, 2008

Yeah, what we need is a generation of illiterates.

Sheesh.

[beboldin09]

Adolph Hitler duped an entire generation using Darwin''''''''s evolution.

Posted by BeBoldin09 at 07:57 AM : Aug 24, 2008

So you retract the previous post I assume.

Posted by formrusmcsgt at 08:14 AM : Aug 24, 2008

Retract what?

I am allowed to demonize evolution if I so please. Just like you are allowed to demonize any religion you choose to demonize if you so please.

Evolution is a belief system just like belief in God and Creation is.

[formrusmcsgt]

I am allowed to demonize evolution if I so please. Just like you are allowed to demonize any religion you choose to demonize if you so please.


Posted by BeBoldin09 at 08:16 AM : Aug 24, 2008

Your post blames evolution for Hitler''s eugenics program, not Hitler himself and you know it.

[liberty1st]

People who can not read are what come from public schools. Read the history of literacy in this country. It was higher before compulsory ed.

[beboldin09]

Ultimately, there are only 2 ways of thinking when it comes to our origins

One that starts with the revelation (Biblical record) from God as foundational to ALL thinking (biology, history, geology, etc)...which would be called a Christian world view; or ,starting with man''s beliefs (evolutionary history) as foundational to ALL thinking--which would be called a Secular World View.

Let''s take dinosaurs for an example. Whether one is an evolutionist or accepts the Bible''s account of history, all the evidence for dinosaurs is the same. All scientists have the same facts--they have the same world, the same fossils, the same living creatures, and the same universe.

So if the "facts" are the same, then how can the explanations be so different?

The reason is quite simple. Scientists only have the present to work with--dinosaur fossils only exist in the present. Yet scientists try to connect the fossils they find to the past. They ask: "What happened in history to bring dinosaurs into existence and form their fossils, and cause them not to be around today?"

(continued)