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Heart gadgets check pupils' anger
Sophie Goodchild, Health Editor31 Oct 2008
LONDON schoolchildren are being given heart-rate monitors to curb anti-social behaviour, it was revealed today.
The gadgets are used by athletes to track the intensity of their heart rate during exercise.
Central and North West London health trust is now testing the devices in Westminster schools to help curb playground fights and classroom disruption. Children with behavioural problems aged seven to 15 wear the monitors strapped to their chest during lessons, break and at home with their families, after nurses and psychologists have worked out each child's "danger level" heart rate. The device bleeps when this level is reached. Teachers or parents alerted by the monitor can then take action to calm or distract the child.
Anthony Scrafton, a therapist at the Marlborough Family Education Centre which has been running the trial, said: "The monitors help children recognise their own trigger points and take action to calm themselves or avoid situations which make them angry."
Reader views (9)
What about a good canning instead.
- Linda, italy, 03/11/2008 14:07
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Kids are being brainwashed to accept total surveillance and continuous electronic monitoring, so that they become good, obedient ambassadors for the New World Order. It's too late to stop this from happening, because the media have succeeded in pursuading us that the all this intrusion is for "our own good".
- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE ., 03/11/2008 11:35
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Will it electrocute them if they play up?
- Frank, Home Counties, England, 01/11/2008 15:27
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To say a heart monitor will measure a person's "aggression" is the biggest load of rubbish I have heard in years! there could be any of a thousand reasons as to why the heart rate might rise...simply being afraid of a teacher is one.
- Charles, London NW, 01/11/2008 06:27
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Another nasty little step toward an Orwellian nightmare society.
If children are inured to thus kind of intrusive, controlling nonsense, what will they have to accept in the future? Perhaps these devices can be rigged to automatically administer tranquillizing drugs to "problem children". Or electric shocks. Maybe the number of alarm events can be recorded and placed on record, and used by future employers to avoid hotheads?
This makes me sick. It's just a substitute for proper teaching, sufficient staff, good school conditions etc.
Heart rate monitors my eye. Someone should be very ashamed.
Plus - no more snogging behind the bike sheds, eh? Things might get too exciting and set off the alarm.
- Paddy, London, 31/10/2008 17:29
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I was an angry child (a long time ago) and am sure the first thing I'd have done if someone had strapped a monitoring device to my chest would have been to rip it off and smash it!
- G Miegl, Hampstead, London, 31/10/2008 15:28
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I don't understand why it's sick. It seems to be that anything that will help reduce aggression and violent behaviour is a good thing. Full marks to the health trust for being pro-active in this.
- Penny, South London, 31/10/2008 12:59
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Avoid situations which make them angry! I'm angry reading this crap. Whose the boss nowadays, the kids or the grown ups. God help us all.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent, 31/10/2008 12:33
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This is SICK.
- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE ., 31/10/2008 10:32
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