Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Air tags, locators on child

    Posted 02-06-2024 06:27 AM

    Hesci (Hello) All!

    I was reading on another forum and I am curious to see everyone's response here. What are your thoughts on your students having air tags, GPS, locator devices, etc ?



    ------------------------------
    hvtvmcehecvres (until we meet again),

    Brent Spears
    He/Him/His
    Lead Teacher
    Bright Horizons @MPTN CDC
    TIECN HELLO Facilitator
    Mystic, CT
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Air tags, locators on child

    Posted 02-09-2024 09:04 AM

    Hi, Brent:

    I would be glad to give you input on missing child matters (based on categories and their statistical realities). While I can't speak to the issue of early educator/edu-carer privacy policies, I can certainly clarify whether locator technologies are efficacious in preventing/resolving instances.

    Our agency does provide training opportunities for staff and admin to understand legal parenting apart issues since parental abductions pose the common risk to the child and facility. Stranger abductions occur between 100-120 times per year in the US and approximately half of those children are returned, whereas there are between 1/4 to 1/2 million family abductions annually. These situations often involve child abuse and intimate partner violence and therefore the dynamics and risks should determine protocols.

    Hope this helps, but don't hesitate to reach out to me through email: shari-parenthelp@childfindofamerica.org 



    ------------------------------
    Shari Doherty
    Program Director
    Child Find of America, Inc.
    NY
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Air tags, locators on child

    Posted 02-10-2024 03:24 AM

    Hi,

    if the airtag or gps locator is a parent way to keep track of their individual child whereabout to guarantee safety especially for those who are being picked up by nannies or a third part , then it is an extension to health and safety on site as it does not violate the center or any other child privacy unless the program has a clear policy prohibiting parental use. However, if a teacher has a child attending a program and known as a flight risk decides to put a locator on a child without parent and program consent then that a problem as she would be invading child/parent privacy and rights. 
    Use of tech and locators should be added clearly to parents handbook and program protocols in our growing tech world use.



    ------------------------------
    Amira Mohamed
    Placer County Office Of Education
    CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Air tags, locators on child

    Posted 02-17-2024 11:08 AM

    Here is the thing about an AirTag, the range is only so far. I put them in my luggage and can find it at the airport. But if it isn't within range you have to ask others to help you find it. If someone abducts a child, or the child runs away, you have to reach out for help from other people with iphones. I'm not sure what situation this is being discussed for. The school should be secure so a child can't get out in the first place. Now, as a parent, I got my 10 year old an apple watch because she walks to an after school program. The program is not officially open before Labor Day or after Memorial Day so she is free to go to the park with her friends. The watch has it's own tracking and I can see where she is at all times, and contact her, versus an airtag where I can't see her if I'm not within range. So, for school use it's a no. For personal use, go with a watch. Save airtags for your personal items.



    ------------------------------
    Katherine Tollett
    Director
    MOLO Bilingual Montessori School
    TX
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Air tags, locators on child

    Posted 03-26-2024 09:37 PM

    Hello Brent, It's understandable that parents just want to make sure where their children are. My kids have their location on at all times on their phones. It's more peace of mind for me that I can just check it to make sure they are where they need to be. Sometimes it's not accurate so issues tend to come up but I would still prefer for them to have it on than not. But this is the parent's choice for their children. When it comes to the schools trying to track them, well that's a different story.



    ------------------------------
    Abigail Paez
    TX
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Air tags, locators on child

    Posted 29 days ago

    Hello all, 

    This is an interesting topic. From my experience, I have not heard of any centers in Mississippi using air tags, GPS or tracking devices at the present time however since COVID many centers have made changes in other areas related to security, so I will share some of those with everyone. Perhaps some of this information could be helpful or spark some ideas.    

    One of the security changes I've noticed relates to the "drop off/pick up process".  Many centers have greeters and the director & staff (usually a rotation of staff) and take turns greeting parents and assisting with children getting in/out of vehicles, gathering diaper bag, etc., signing them in, and walking the children to their classroom.  Centers and parents had an adjustment initially but directors feel it makes their center more secure,  makes the drop off/pick up process much faster, and reduces the traffic in/out of the center. 

    Another security related area I noticed relates to "field trips". When the children leave the center for field trips, all children are wearing bright (often neon) colored t-shirts with the center name and logo, and sometimes a picture related to the field trip. The children are in smaller groups than before COVID and often have more than one teacher and more than one parents as chaperones (also wearing the bright neon field trip t-shirt).  Since the field trip groups are now smaller, sometimes it meant the center had to spread field trip days across the calendar to get everyone covered, but with a little planning, it all worked great and parents appreciated the organizational efforts, the extra attention their children received, and they didn't feel as rushed.  Other centers prefer arm bands such as the ones hospitals use. I used to work at a hospital and gave away lots of arm bands to center directors going on field trips whenever they asked me for them.  Some centers use arm bands "and" the neon t-shirts. 

    A last security area I will mention relates to the "entry points into a center".  During COVID, many centers changed their entry points into their center making it more secure. Some centers now require a person to push the doorbell first and speak into the speaker. Other centers require someone to buzz you in and a camera is over the door watching who enters. Other centers have software connected to their doors and each parent has a code or card issued and they use that to enter.  I won't list them all but there are a variety of secure doorway entries. 

    I am aware the things I mentioned are not air tags, GPS, or locator devices but they are related to security so perhaps something I mentioned might be helpful to someone. 



    ------------------------------
    Tammy Rutland
    Consultant
    Grant Writing LLC
    MS
    ------------------------------

    Original Message