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Kid-tracking RFID badges binned by school
'Badges? Badges? We don't need no stinking badges...'

By Jo Best

Published: Thursday 17 February 2005

The US primary school that was forcing its young pupils to wear RFID identification badges at all times has dropped the scheme, following an outcry from the pupils' parents and the American Civil Liberties Union.

The school, Brittan Elementary in Sutter, California, had originally introduced the scheme to monitor pupils' attendance and track if any un-badged individuals were on school grounds. However, parents had objected to the scheme, citing both health and civil liberties fears.

The month-old scheme has now been shelved as InCom, the company who supplied the tags for free, has terminated its agreement with the school, according to reports.

School principal Earnie Graham told parents at a special meeting: "I'm disappointed, that's about all I can say at this point."