Schoolchildren fingerprinted

Yes, my youngest grandson was fingerprinted, his mum was a bit taken aback, but I don't think she has said anything to the school.

Where did this happen? Has the school given an explanation? Was it just for fun?

Oh, it's only a way of paying for their lunches. Totally harmless. At least there can be no more lost/stolen lunch money. Grandson loves loves having "money in his fingertip" to buy delicious, and healthy snacks when he gets hungry.

Great idea.

It's not that new an idea. When I was in charge of our school library years ago the computer system we used had thumbprinting as an option for the children (infants) to log in and return and borrow books. I was uncomfortable with it then and wouldn't enable it.

They just touch a screen Bags. (I just hope they give that screen a wipe from time to time. )

That does sound a good idea, jings (especially the occasional wiping of the screen!).

So it's not a bit like the fingerprinting and iris imaging they do at airports.

....but how long do they keep the fingerprints?

Till the child leaves the school I would think. It's only one finger.

It's every bit like fingerprinting at airports Bags in that there is a record of the child's print.

Article from 2010 explaining the system and voicing concerns.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/libertycentral/2010/jul/16/fingerprinted-child-school

Interesting article Ana !

Very. There should have been a public debate!

Anyone know if, say, the police' could pin a crime on a kid using one fingerprint only?

no they couldn't - the fingerprints are stored electronically at school, and despite popular CSI programmes it wouldn't be that easy to to transport a fingerprint to a crime scene, and the child's fingerprint wouldn't be in the uk police system to check

Hmm, records of a teenage schoolchild is a bit concerning. As far as I know, one print is sufficient.

One of my daughters ex pupils was sent down for murder, recently .

The fingerprint access systems schools and other organisations use is nothing like conventional fingerprinting, where an image is available for copying or checking.

The systems only take a digital image of a person's fingerprint. This is stored as some sort of numerical code but can't be transmitted or transferred from the system.

There are lots of more learned and technical explanations online which would make my brain explode. But I have no problem with these systems, which actually cut down the amount of bullying in schools by doing away with the need for children to have cash or cards.