There are no educational benefits.

Examining the claims of the Governors and the Manufacturers.

Common sense should inform us that all the educational benefits of he library system are in how you use the database of books borrowed and the progress of children that can show. The educational benefits are not inherent in using a biometric identity system. But I don’t want to rely of common-sense and apparently self-evident statements. So I have questions.

If the educational value of the information is dependent on input, how important is it that the identity of children is properly input? I ask because the three non-biometric methods of input: PINumbers, Swipe-Cards and BarCode, are all more reliable than the biometric method. Each are over 99% reliable, yet the IdentiKit, when independently tested showed a reliability of 81% - a figure that must seriously effect the value of the information on the system, and therefore the educational benefit of the whole system.

Far from enhancing the educational benefit, then, the biometric module actually diminishes it.

The governors also state

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                                                                      ... given the young age of the children, we are happy that the current fingerprint system works well with this age group versus some of the alternatives.

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Covering this as an educational benefit, If this statement were true (and the system reliable) this might encourage children to use the library. But there is no evidence that this is more true of the biometric system than SwipeCards or PINumbers. So I wonder on what basis this assertion is being made? Did the school properly trial the different systems to see which alternative worked best? Perhaps there is properly gathered evidence from other schools?

Except that there isn’t. Or any independent research proving benefits to children of using the biometric system. In fact, when asked to investigate Dr Sandra Leaton Gray, Director of Studies, Sociology of Education from Homerton College, Cambridge reached the conclusion that, "I have not been able to find a single piece of published research which suggests that the use of biometrics in schools promotes healthy eating or improves reading skills amongst children.... There is absolutely no evidence for such claims."

The governors’ assertion is based on nothing other than the vendor’s literature, selective quotes and their own supposition. This is not a valid foundation for a statement of this kind.

While we’re on the subject of preparing children for their lives (which is what education is for) I wonder if the governors know of any independent research regarding the effect on children of repeatedly using biometrics on a daily basis in a familiar setting?

The Governors state clearly in their letter to me that the start of my campaign “has allowed us to explore this area fully once more,” If that is so, then they have already considered all of these issues. If not then they clearly do not understand the scope of the issues and are clearly not competent to make decisions regarding this issue.