Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\cocoartf1138\cocoasubrtf470 {\fonttbl\f0\fswiss\fcharset0 ArialMT;}
{\colortbl;\red255\green255\blue255;\red26\green26\blue26;\red255\green255\blue255;\red0\green0\blue239; }
\margl1440\margr1440\vieww10800\viewh8400\viewkind0 \deftab720
\pard\pardeftab720
\f0\b\fs24 \cf2 \cb3 Image Source: {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/Lawsuit-against-Northside-ISD-tracking-system-4176148.php#photo-3906206"}}{\fldrslt
\cf4 \ul \ulc4 San Antonio Express}}\ \
BY NICHOLE CARTMELL\ ANCHOR LAUREN GORES
\b0 \ \
Texas public school districts can now require students to wear locator chips while they\'92re
on school property. The federal ruling comes after a case regarding a student who felt
the technology was in violation of her rights. {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/20536464/judge-school-can-move-girl-in-id-tracking-case"}}{\fldrslt
\cf4 \ul \ulc4 Here\'92s KRIV with the details}}.\ \
\b \'93A judge ruled the school district can transfer Hernandez to another campus if she
doesn't accept the district\'92s accommodation of wearing a badge without the tracking chip.\'94
\b0 \ \
\pard\pardeftab720 {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://threatpost.com/en_us/blogs/judge-rules-against-texas-teen-who-refused-wear-smartid-badge-010813"}}{\fldrslt
\cf4 \ul \ulc4 Threat Post explains}} 15-year-old Andrea Hernandez refused to wear the ID for
religious and privacy reasons, saying the locator chip is considered a symbol of Satan
or "mark of the Beast" warned of in biblical scripture.\
\ But the judge ruled in favor of the school
district because Hernandez\'92s refusal to wear the ID is a secular choice, not a religious
concern. The judge also disagreed with the argument Hernandez's constitutional right
to free speech was violated. He says...\ \
\pard\pardeftab720
\b \cf2 "... the First Amendment rights of public school students 'are not automatically
coextensive with the rights of adults in other settings' and must be "applied in light of
the special characteristics of the school environment.\'94
\b0 \ \
\ \pard\pardeftab720
{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.kens5.com/news/Judge-decides-in-favor-of-NISD-in-SmartID-case-against-student-186077712.html"}}{\fldrslt \cf4 \ul \ulc4 KENS reports}} Northside Independent
School District argues the Student Locator Project pilot program makes students safer
and helps boost attendance records used to calculate state funding. Officials said even
a 1 to 2 percent boost in attendance could increase revenue by more than $2 million.\
\ But there is a chance the Hernandez family
will appeal the judges decision. And her case is already gaining national attention. {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/09/16427652-texas-school-can-force-students-to-wear-locator-chips-judge-rules?lite"}}{\fldrslt \cf4 \ul \ulc4 Reuters reports\ulnone }}The
American Civil Liberties Union is among the rights organizations opposing the district's
use of this type of locator technology.\ \
The president of the nonprofit Rutherford Institute is quoted {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/Lawsuit-against-Northside-ISD-tracking-system-4176148.php#ixzz2HUE7NyMV"}}{\fldrslt \cf4 \ul \ulc4 in the San Antonio Express
saying}}, \b \'93By declaring Andrea Hernandez's objections
to be a secular choice ... the district court is placing itself as an arbiter of what is
and is not religious.\'94 \b0 \
\ Hernandez has until the start of the spring
semester to decide whether or not she\'92ll accept the district\'92s policy to wear the
school ID or return to her home campus.\ }