How do you feel about DNA mapping and finger printing for kids in school?

I fingerprinted my own kids. And I already have way too many photographs. It's not that I'm not every bit as eager to protect my kids as anyone from abduction, but I do worry that in someone's hands other than mine it could one day work against them. What if he got framed for a crime and his fingerprints were on the same cash register because he worked there. What if someone looked up his DNA unethically because it was accessible? What if... a dozen other scenarios.

I say NO WAY! My child can be photographed, they can have their fingerprints on file...but that is all they get from me. The school system does not have the right to ask for a DNA sample. That involves drawing blood. I am also a little confused why they would even do that, since DNA mapping is astronomically expensive. Why would they even need a blood sample. I would refuse, or switch schools.

I would really have someone in the know look over the permission slip. Make sure if you decide to do this that any permission does not allow them to use data for a subsequent study or studies. And you know what markers they are looking for. (For example they could check for a genetic disease (without your knowledge) that would have an onset at 35- his medical records could have this info and an insurance company or employer could use this to discriminate against him.)

As a general precaution I would say no:

UNLESS YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE IN CONTROL OF THE RESULTS. WHICH MEANS YOU ARE GIVEN THE ONLY IDENTIFIABLE GENETIC RESULTS. ALL leftovers are discarded or any results kept in a computer have ALL identifiers removed. An identifier would be name, age, location, school, address, etc.

The DNA is a swab inside the cheek. To do hair they would have to yank out several, roots in all.

They can do cheek swabs ("swish" the inside of their cheek with a q-tip), hair, or nail clippings. God I watch too much CSI, NCIS, etc etc.

Finger/foot print, yes. DNA, no. I'll clip a finger nail in a bit to keep just in case. I don't want that on file (I'm sure you understand with Major Flake being out there, somewhere).

I understand with the abduction part. But I'm not comfortable with anyone being able to run his DNA right now, being that I don't know if MF's in on file.

I took Johnny to one of those last year.

The DNA thing there was a cotton swab (as said above) and you just swab their cheek and keep it in a plastic baggie in a safe place at your residence.

And they didn't do the DNA sample there, they sent it home with me, and I had to do it myself (I didn't do it, lol).

The only thing they did there was take his measurements, his finger prints and foot print and take his picture and everything was sent home with me that exact day. They kept nothing - as they gave me everything as we went to each station.

It was something just in case of an abduction.

(I took Johnny cuz McGruff the crime dog was gonna be there, lol)

Is this a profile you can request from the school in case your child were to turn up missing? Or is it something the school came up with as a security measure? I would be ok with it if it were for a profile to have in case something happened, but if it's a security thing then I think it's gone way to far.

i would be all for it, if it is a "forced" thing then it is FREE. its a free way of ensuring you have information you need IF your child were to go missing.

EDIT: didnt see the offer thing, but i still wouldnt have a problem if it was free. if it wasnt free then i wouldnt do it, just because i could do it all at home for free.

desmeran - actually, they can fingerprint to see if the person/child has been in an area and touched something. my cousin was abducted and murdered, so im pretty sure i would know.

Attention ______ School District,

I, Mrs So-and-so, Johnny So-and-so's mother hereby refuse to allow my son to partake in your excessive identification methods. If there is not an option to opt out, please let me know immediately as I will be pulling Johnny from school.

Thanks for your time,

Mrs So-and-so

(606)555-1234

__________

There is nothing anyone at any school could say that would justify them taking a DNA sample, finger prints, and a foot print. I said my child's name is x, and if the birth certificate isn't good enough identification of who my child is then screw public school.

no offense to people who do it, but i think it's nothing but a scam.

if a child is missing or abducted, the only thing fingerprints or dna are going to be good for is identifying the body. sorry to be grisly about it, but it's not actually protecting anybody.

I find it strange. Why would they need to offer that? I wouldn't take them up on it without knowing how the info will be used and how it could benefit my child.