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Should Convicted Felons Be Allowed To Teach?

I heard on the news this morning, where I live, that one of the public schools has a convicted felon working as a substitute teacher.  The person was convicted of forgery and served his time.  The reason it was on the news was some people were expressing their concerns about this person teaching their children.  Plus, they are voicing concerns that if they let one convicted felon teach as a substitute, they fear others will think that they can teach in the schools as well.

Should they allow convicted felons to teach our children, even if they are just a substitute teacher?  How would you feel if you found out that there was a convicted felon working at the school that your child attends?

Teach Allowed Felons Convicted Should

I guess it would depend on the crime.

Some are pretty obvious...
Is it ok for someone who was convicted of a violent crime to teach children? No
Is it ok for someone who was convicted of a child related crime to teach? No

Others??
Is it ok for someone convicted of Unpaid Parking Tickets to teach Children?
Is it ok for someone convicted of participating in a demonstration or rally to teach?

It all depends... in this case I can see no reason why he should not be allowed to.

If criminals were not allowed into positions of authority then what would we do for a government??

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Others?? Is it ok for someone convicted of Unpaid Parking Tickets to teach Children? Is it ok for someone convicted of participating in a demonstration or rally to teach?

These are valid points, wanlorn, but those listed above, are also just misdemeanors.  These are a far cry from felony charges like this one particular man that is a subsititute teacher.  He is a convicted felon for forgery.  Yes, that isn't near as bad as let's say, grand larceny or a violent crime.  But our public school system here is hurting terribly for teachers.  

Me personally, I don't know if I would want a convicted felon to teach my child or not.  I am not saying that the person couldn't have been rehabilitated, but it is hard to say what I would do in that particular situation, until it happens.

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If criminals were not allowed into positions of authority then what would we do for a government??

:spock:  Um, I hope at least one of the government officials wasn't a criminal.  ;)  lol  

Teach Allowed Felons Convicted Should

I do understand what Wanlorn says and I agree with him. Now I don't know much about American law maybe you Mss can explain me what's the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony charge?

I personally think if the crime the guy committed is serious or child related, definetly will say no way!!! but if the crime is not a serious one I don't see the problem with that because after all, the people that go to jail and fulfill a sentence they're free of any charge on the eyes of the law...we cannot just separate them and segregate them from our society.

Teach Allowed Felons Convicted Should

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I don't know much about American law maybe you Mss can explain me what's the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony charge?

Sure, LDS.  Let me try to find the easiest way to explain it.  Um, ok, a misdemeanor is like a parking ticket, or being arrested for protesting at a rally, unpaid traffic tickets, petty larceny (theft of items worth under $100).

Felony charges are like being busted for large amounts of drugs, drug trafficing, drug manufacturing, forgery, murder, and grand larceny (theft of items worth over $100).  But of course, every state has their own category of charges for misdemeanors and felony charges.  But last I checked this was the way felonies and misdemeanors were.  ;)

But the schools here are strict with background checks (checking to see if the person is on the level with law enforcement) on their teachers, because they are trusted with kids at school.  I know about the background check being done, because my dad is a teacher.  They ran a background check on him as well.  I remember him telling me that he had to sign consent for them to run the background check on him.  

But like I said before I don't know what I would do until that situation arises.  But I would look into it before I did anything about it.

Should Convicted Felons Be Allowed To Teach?

I have to chime in here and say absolutely NOT.  We give an inch and a mile is taken.  If any convicted felon is allowed to teach in our public schools, then EVERY convicted felon would be allowed, no matter what the crime.

It can't happen.  Just because the schools are hurting for teachers is no excuse to allow a slackening of this rule.  I don't want my child in the hands of an "ex-con" -- rehabilitated or not.  We have enough awful things happening in the schools already.

If they feel inspired to teach, let them teach in the prisons, or teach in adult school situations.  But not young children.  It would be a disaster.

I know this is a harsh opinion.

Roz

Should Convicted Felons Allowed Teach

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I have to chime in here and say absolutely NOT.  We give an inch and a mile is taken.  If any convicted felon is allowed to teach in our public schools, then EVERY convicted felon would be allowed, no matter what the crime. Roz

That's not entirely true; there are some professions that will bar people with prior offenses related to honesty but not other offences - although IMO it is often hard to see the difference.  

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As regards the original question.  I think it depends on the type of felony (there are also degress of felonies).  I believe the definition of a felony is that the punishment is one year or greater in jail - misdemeanors are less than one year.  

It is also often the case that people that have made mistakes have worked hard to put their life in order.

I know we want to protect our children but do we want to teach them that one mistake and you're an outcast for life.  We all make mistakes and we need for young people to know that we can overcome mistakes and still lead meaningful lives.  Personally I'd rather have someone who has commited forgery and admitted it was wrong and a mistake teaching my children than someone who has had an abortion - which is perfectly legal - and telling my children there was nothing wrong with it.

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Name: Renee

Comments: This is such bull. I am not a felon, but someone very close to me is a felon. Because she made mistakes when abusing alcohol which resulted in an individual breaking their pinky finger, she will be labeled a felon for the rest of her life. To those of you that have never had to deal with a situation like this, consider yourself lucky. It can happen to anyone. Her illness is now under control, but her label is not. I taught for 20 years before retiring and I know she would be an excellent counselor or preschool teacher, but because small minded people think of felons as all being the same, she will not get that chance. Lets give those that deserve it a second chance..