Yesterday when I came back from work, I was watching on the news about some measures taken by Prince William County regarding visitor I.D system at all public schools. Anyone who wishes to visit should present an official I.D. The school would scan the bar code to verify all information about the person. Once cleared by the database maintain by the county, a printout sticker will be given including the visitor’s name and picture, as well as the school. The intent is to make sure all visitors are accounted for and also to keep the school safe.
From the Manassas Journal:
Visitors can show any government-issued identification card, school division spokesperson Irene Cromer said. The ID card could be issued by the United States government or the government of another country, she said
http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/demand-pwc-schools-only-accept-us-issued-id/
Most parents seem to support such decision by the county. At the same time, a few Spanish-speaking parents are concerned and believed that their personal information would be shared with the immigration service. As a result, to quote one of them: “I am not going to send my children to school”. Now, what can we do to help those people understand that verifying identification is good for children safety?
4 comments:
This is a great topic to blog about, and it's frightening! What does the schools say about that shared information? Are they planning on taking it to the police? I agree with the Latin parents who are worried. If this keeps their kids out of school, what next?
Immigration vs. illegal immigration. What irritate me about the whole issue is despite being two profoundly different issues, each with their own unique set of arguments people continue to try and merge them together. I feel that the underlying motive is to use that as a longterm stategy to legitimize an unlawful act, confuse the entire issue and neutralize any opposition. Guess what: It's working! For me there is no in between. Legal immigration is not nor has it ever been a problem. Illegal immigration is and should always be a problem.
I have heard of signing in to school and getting a pass but never thought it would come to the point where you have to scan id and a printed out pass of picture would be on it. I think this is a good idea for the safety of children because I found the security at schools tends to be lax on some of these areas. I feel that some areas need to be enforced more, while others need to be reconsidered. For instance I have six-teen year old sister who plays varsity basketball for high school and they won’t allow her to ride home with me on away games it is a Virginia state law that says they may only ride home with the parent. I would think with written permission r verbal permission they would allow a sibling to take her home. So they are just doing this for Prince William schools or are they trying to expand it. What are your personal feelings on this issue, do you think it is going over the edge or should it be enforced?
Been there, done that!! I actually live in Prince William County, and my sister went to Bull Run Middle School last year. Everytime I went to pick her up, they would escort me into the office, and ask for my identification. Then, they would take a few minutes to verify that I am who I say I am. After verifying that the person I had come to pick up was really my sister, then they called her over the intercom to come to the office. But, hold up-the story continues. When my sister came into the office, one of the staff members went up to her and asked her if she knew me! After she said yes, they asked her who I was and she told them I was her sister. Then they asked her what my name was. After getting their facts straight, they let me leave with my sister. What an enquiry huh?! I couldn't believe that this is happening in schools, but now I am used to it since it has happened to me everytime I go pick up my sister from school. So there really is no doubt that Prince William County Schools have become strict!
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