i tried to resist posting, but couldnt... how about just calling the school and asking (calmly, politely, non confrontationally) what the object in question is, does, and why they strapped it to your offspring? then, maybe examine the booger for an id tag (which it will have) and do a web search for it, using the manufacturer, and model number... once you actually know what it is and does, then decide on a course of action... sounds like a pedometer or tachimeter, as fastening it to a shoe sets it up for a fairly harsh environment, and hardly insures it being brought to school daily (as opposed to say hooking it to his bookbag, which would be a fairly constant companion)... "check it out before you freak out" is usually a sensible policy