Americans especially have a culture that values privacy and the security of the individual in her person and property. As the Bite Project notes, "The freedom of the individual is perceived to be closely related to his ability to operate somewhat autonomously and anonymously." To the extent that biometrics is measuring and documenting a piece of you, it may feel more invasive than other security methods, and it reduces your anonymity and autonomy. Each school must carefully evaluate the implications biometric devices would have for its community.
Some educational institutions face unique threats, due to facilities and resources that can be weaponized. This includes toxic biological and chemical agents such as germs of communicable diseases and radioactive materials that can be turned into so-called dirty bombs. It is essential to provide the highest level of security possible to ensure that these resources do not deliberately or accidentally cause social harm. Each school must carefully evaluate the potential cost of security breaches.
Schools can use biometric devices without realizing any visions of a Dystopian autocracy. They must consult with members of the community prior to implementation; use biometric devices judiciously and where the potential costs of security breaches are most serious; and institute rigorous safeguards from the very beginning that minimize the potential for abuse.
It is vital that any school using biometric devices do so in a manner that respects the dignity and legal rights of the individuals in the its community, especially if they are minors. Minors are more vulnerable than adults, and schools in many jurisdictions have a legal obligation to act "in loco parentis," which means in place of parents. Some special considerations for minors include potential physical damage, such as whether long-term exposure to a retinal scanner would cause blindness.