© KPLCTVMark of the Beast: A Louisiana public school's decision to purchase palm scanners to speed up lunch lines and payments has been met with religious opposition.
"I was very, very mad," said parent Mamie Sonnier. "Disappointed."
Many parents felt that way on Monday after reading a letter sent home with their children from Moss Bluff Elementary School. The letter introduced a new program, the palm vein scanner, to move students through the lunch line at a faster rate. With almost 1,000 students, Principal Charles Caldarera says the system will reduce errors.
"We are so large," said Caldarera. "With an elementary school, they all come through line, and most of them eat here. It would make us more efficient and more accurate. We've had parents complain in the past, because they felt like their children weren't eating, that we assigned them a charge for the day, and they might have been right."
Caldarera says the school is acting on a recommendation from school food service director Patricia Hosemann. But he says the letter gives parents an option.
"We sent this letter home for parents to be aware of it, and to let them know that they can opt out," said Caldarera. "They can opt out and say, hey, I don't want my child involved in it. That's quite alright. It won't make any difference. The children will still be able to eat in the cafeteria."
Sonnier says she's against the palm vein scanner because of her beliefs.
"As a Christian, I've read the Bible, you know go to church and stuff," said Sonnier. "I know where it's going to end up coming to, the mark of the beast. I'm not going to let my kids have that."
Caldarera says a lot of parents agree with her, but he says it's just technology.
"I think a lot of this has to do with religious beliefs," said Caldarera. "I think some people feel it's something with the Bible, mark of the beast. It's technology that is used throughout our lives. Everywhere."
He says the system isn't on campus yet, so students' palms won't be scanned any time soon. But Sonnier says if the program comes to campus, her children aren't participating and won't be around it either.
"I'd probably pull them out of the school, and transfer them to another school," said Sonnier.
Caldarera says they are trying to implement the program as soon as possible, but if you are a parent and don't want your child to participate, you must contact the school by Wednesday.
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