The Anaheim Union High School District in California is using GPS units to track truant students, according to the Orange Country Register. Students who have more than three unexcused absences from school are being given the GPS units, developed by AIM Truancy Solutions.
"Every school day, the participants receive an automated phone call reminding them to get to school on time. They are then required to enter a code that tracks their location during their departure for school, arrival at school, lunch period, departure from school and at 8 p.m.,' according to a recap of the article by PCWorld.
"The devices cost between $300 and $400 apiece. All together, the six-week program costs about $8 per day for each student, or $18,000. It's estimated that schools lose $35 per day for each absent student, so AIM Truancy Solution's program is a cost savings."
The threaded discussion that follows the story in PCWorld is interesting. Most of it focuses on the accuracy of the math, with a couple of comments about the threat of "juvie" and the poor quality of schools. Interesting in itself, and an example of how smart, technocratic thinking can quickly dominate educational issues. But what about the social aspect of having schools track students from first thing in the morning to night? Is this an example of schools and parents working together to ensure better futures for their children? Or is technology being used in too controlling a fashion?
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