No child gps required - Mum allows her nine year old take subway alone

In the interest of balance, some parents have the opinion that the apron strings should be cut to allow children the freedom to go off and be children.  Much like the older generation will have experienced.  In the Sunday Morning Herald today there is an article about an American lady with some views that go against much of modern parenting practice. "Lenore Skenazy takes her two sons to the park and leaves them there. They can meet other kids, perhaps even find their own way home. They play outside alone and walk to school unaccompanied. In her home country she was dubbed America's worst mom after making a controversial decision in 2008 to drop her nine-year-old son in downtown Manhattan to take the subway home alone." She has started a movement called Free Range Kids, in which she wants parents to teach their children vital social skills and how to be more independent by loosening the reins on their activities.  Among her tips, she wants parents to turn off their mobile phones, because children are getting too used to parents making all the decisions on their behalf. She has attracted plenty of vitriole. "Her son's subway trip unleashed a flood of responses ranging from accusations of child abuse to fond recollections of getting lost in the bush and embarking on train trips." Although I don't suppose many parents of young children these days will share her views, those of an older persuasion will hark back to the more carefree days of their youth. It occurs to me that perhaps child tracking could be a way for parents to allow their offspring the freedom to go off on their own more often, while still feeling a sense of security that they still know where they are.  Perhaps, far from bringing about a "big brother" style of surveillance, it could actually bring about more freedom for our children.  It's a paradox that I hadn't previously thought about. The full Sunday Morning Herald article can be found here

Another toddler wanders from School

If you think that lightning doesn't strike twice, well think again!  It makes you wonder what goes on in schools when such young children can slip out undetected. This incident bears a striking resemblence to the one I previously posted.  In this case a five year old girl wandered, but at least the school did call Police who found the girl ten minutes later. "Superintendent Paul Dakin said six adults were in charge of watching the children during recess but when they did their count of children, they came up one short. The teachers were said to have contacted the principal about the missing child, who then called both Revere and State Police. A few minutes later, a state trooper found the girl on Ocean Avenue. She had apparently crossed a bridge over MBTA train tracks and avoided traffic. While the child appeared to be unharmed, an internal investigation into the incident is under way. " Originally, I thought that I would not bother with child tracking methods for normal school days, but now I'm having second thoughts! The full news article can be found here

School did not call Police when toddler went missing

While researching the use of child tracking systems I have come across some mixed reactions about the subject.  Recently I read an interesting debate in which a Teacher was very upset by the idea of parents tracking children in her care.  Whereas I sympathise with her feelings that she is not being trusted by the parents to do her job, unfortunately not all teachers and schools were created equal. In an incident reported this week, a five year old boy ran away from his Kindergarten, then crossed a two lane road and made his way home.  It beggars belief that a school would not call the Police when a toddler in their care goes missing!  The fact that he could even leave the premises without being stopped must be alarming for all parents whose children attend that school. The mother had a subsequent meeting with the public school officials, who agreed that the Police would be called when a child goes missing in future.  Thankfully, this common sense policy is in place before a tragedy occurs. Does your child's nursery or elementary school have a policy for dealing with instances of missing children? The full report can be found at myfox

Attempted Child Abduction in a Shopping Centre

It's easy to be complacent and assume that such things would not take place in a busy place such as a Shopping Centre.  This is one reason why I think that a child tracking device can be a useful tool. The incident occurred yesterday. "A close call at Toronto’s Eaton Centre has resulted in a woman facing multiple charges. Police say, a 3-year old boy and his mother were in the shopping centre, when another woman grabbed the child’s hand and pulled him away. The suspect let go of the boy after being confronted by the mother. Thi Luu is to appear in court on Friday, charged with Abduction of a Person Under 14 and Obstructing an Officer." Report from Durham Radio News

Police Use Of GPS Tracking

Although not specifically about child tracking, an article in the Washington Post illustrates the controversy surrounding the use of GPS tracking devices. "Across the country, police are using GPS devices to snare thieves, drug dealers, sexual predators and killers, often without a warrant or court order. Privacy advocates said tracking suspects electronically constitutes illegal search and seizure, violating Fourth Amendment rights of protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, and is another step toward George Orwell's Big Brother society. Law enforcement officials, when they discuss the issue at all, said GPS is essentially the same as having an officer trail someone, just cheaper and more accurate. Most of the time..... judges have sided with police." As the technology becomes ever cheaper, it is likely that covert Police use of the devices will become widespread.  A tracking locator device is far cheaper than providing dedicated officers to trail suspects, and doubtless safer too in some circumstances. So is this abusing civil liberties, or simply an extension of policing methods that are already employed?  Should there be more public accountability regarding the use of methods? You can read the full orginal article at The Washington Post