[109293] in Cypherpunks
[FP] Bar-coded IDs for students, teachers - Bresnahan
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Vladimir Z. Nuri)
Wed Mar 17 01:08:57 1999
To: cypherpunks@cyberpass.net
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 99 16:05:39 -0800
From: "Vladimir Z. Nuri" <vznuri@netcom.com>
Reply-To: "Vladimir Z. Nuri" <vznuri@netcom.com>
From: "ScanThisNews" <mcdonalds@airnet.net>
Subject: [FP] Bar-coded IDs for students, teachers - Bresnahan
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 19:54:14 -0600
To: "ScanThisNews Recipients List" <scan@efga.org>
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SCAN THIS NEWS
WorldNetDaily
FRIDAY JANUARY 08 1999
YOUR PAPERS, PLEASE
Bar-coded IDs for students, teachers
Controversy erupts in rural West Virginia
By David M. Bresnahan
© 1999 WorldNetDaily.com
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_exnews/19990108_xex_barcoded_ids.shtml
A stubborn teacher and a small group of students and parents in a rural high
school are saying no to a policy in which every faculty member and pupil are
required to wear a visible ID tag, complete with picture and bar code.
They are standing in the community of Elkins, West Virginia, on religious
grounds and are being treated with scoffs and ridicule by some school
officials. One school board member has even left threats on his answering
machine to use "satanic power" on his critics.
Randolph County School District has implemented the use of ID tags that
incorporate a photo and bar code at Elkins High School. Students, faculty,
and employees must wear the tags on a cord around their necks in plain view
at all times.
Philip Hudok, a physics and chemistry teacher with 22 years of service has
taken a firm stand that he will not wear the tags. He says the ID tags
wrongfully assign numbers to people, which, he says, the Bible warns
against.
"I sent letters to the administration prior to the first day of
implementation that I could not and would not be able to participate in the
ID badge program. I refused on religious grounds and a Nazi-like, 'papers
please' mindset," explained Hudok.
In addition to pointing out references to the "Mark of the Beast" in the
Book of Revelation, Hudok also cites Chronicles Chapter 21. A portion of it
reads, "1: And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number
Israel. 7: And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote
Israel."
Article 3, section 15 of the West Virginia Constitution states: "... nor
shall any man be enforced, restrained, molested or burdened, in his body or
goods, or otherwise suffer, on account of his religious belief ... "
Apparently the Randolph County School District officials haven't read that
provision.
Initially the principal, Tom Pritt, agreed to permit Hudok to wear a badge
of his own making. The handmade badge said simply, "EHS Physics Teacher."
Superintendent of Schools Glen Karlen has stated that the ID tags are to
provide for a safer school environment. He says they will prevent violence
in the school.
"The primary purpose of the ID system is to protect the students and the
staff. There is no intention to infringe on anybody's rights," Karlen
explained to the school board.
The tags give a visual means to determine if there is someone in the school
who should not be there. They are also used as admission to school events
and activities, and the bar code provides a cashless payment system for
school meals.
Police and drug-sniffing dogs were not wearing the authorized visitor's
passes of the school when they conducted a failed drug raid on Nov. 19.
Hudok complained to the school board about the event.
Students were selected at random and lined up against walls while dogs
sniffed them for drugs. Hudok and students claim the dogs urinated on
students' personal belongings and in the halls. No drugs were found.
"Not so much as an apology has ever been issued," remarked Hudok.
[snip]
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_exnews/19990108_xex_barcoded_ids.shtml
[snip]
After an appearance on a talk radio show by Hudok, the school board and
administration has been flooded by calls. One school board member, Mark
Rizzio, was getting so many calls he left this message on his answering
machine:
"You have reached 666. If you would like to leave a message we will get back
to you as soon as possible. If that isn't quick enough we will use our
satanic powers to get back to you even sooner."
"The school board members' phone numbers are in the phone book, so I gave
them out on the air," said Hudok.
He believes the school board is trying to get the controversy to go away.
Not only did Karlen tell the press that the issue was settled when it
wasn't, on Thursday he canceled school after a small storm.
"Today was a snow day, but actually there wasn't that much snow," said Hudok
in a phone interview Thursday.
"I think they're trying to regroup and decide what they're going to do," he
said.
Hudok now has some help on the way. The Rutherford Institute has agreed to
take on his case, and is planning a nationwide fund-raising campaign to
provide a legal defense fund.
What does the school administration think of Hudok's plans for national
attention to his cause?
"I think they're in a real frenzy down there," said Hudok.
----------------------------------------
David M. Bresnahan - Investigative Journalist
P.O. Box 1168, West Jordan, UT 84084-7168
off: (801) 562-5362
fax: (801) 562-1341
book orders: 800-338-8824
website: http://talkusa.com
e-mail: david@talkusa.com
----------------------------------------
Contact information provided by:
THE FREEDOM NETWORK--TFN
http://www.scott.net/~dg
----------------------------------------
Elkins High School
100 Kennedy Drive
Elkins, WV 26241
(304)636-9170
Fax:(304)636-9168
Enrollment 1040
email: stlewis@access.k12.wv.us
http://www.wvonline.com/ehs/
Pritt, Tom (Principal, Elkins High School)
Files Creek Rd
Elkins, WV
Last Verified: Aug 1997
(304)636-7585
Rizzio, Mark (School Board Member, Elkins High School)
Beverly, WV
Last Verified: Aug 1997
(304)636-4142
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