Just Thoughts and Nothing Else

I was at my son's elementary school today picking up supplies and other school information. One of the papers I was given quickly caught my attention. The PTO was letting me know that as a parent volunteer this year I would need to give my driver's license to be swiped at the office upon every visit to the school. Last year they wanted each parent volunteer to fill out and submit a form for a background and finger print check. It was explained that the district wanted to be sure that all school volunteers were not registered sex offenders. Last year I never bothered to fill the form out, and was never given any issues upon entering the building. This new letter further explained that because most parents were non compliant last year due time and cost involved that a new way would be implemented. The district decided to purchase devices for every middle and elementary school (both High school's already had them)within the district. Now upon arrival at school volunteers will go into the office to sign in ( as usual), hand over our license or state I.D so that our name and birth date can be checked against the sex offender registry. The letter also stated that the check will not "retain" information.I'm not sure exactly what that means since it will only obtain sex offender information? None the less I have mixed feelings on the issue. In part it feels like an invasion of privacy (which is why I didn't comply last year) but I also feel more reassured knowing that the adults in the building are not sexual child predators. So what do you do as a parent? I will comply and show my license even though in some ways I feel it is unnecessary, costly and an invasion of my privacy. I guess what it comes down too is this; I am more concerned with protecting my child with all the new technological advances that are available rather than take a stand against my rights being violated ( to some extent). I know that if I or "we" don't take a stand somewhere that it is very likely many of our rights as a "Free American" will be violated. I guess this is just not where or when I am ready to take that stand..., but just wait till the day comes when I get ticketed for speeding through my I-Pass lane (if they can read the plate they can surely detect my speed) look out!! I will surely stand on my soap box then!!!