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Should Convicted Felons Be Allowed To Teach? - Page 3

Name: Melissa

Comments: The word FELON Is such a broad term and because the world labels one felon along with the res...it has become hard for those of us who made mistakes resulting in getting a felony to make something of ourselves and be set apart from the others. My dream was to teach but because of poor choices I ended up a convicted a felon. I stole money from job...and now because of that I am considered in the same pool as murderers and rapist and even sex offenders. I am unable to volunteer at my sons school because I won't be able to pass a background check. I know I will not be able to teach, but there are other things I am interested in that my felony wont stop me.
I think that the term felony needs to be categorized a bit differently. Never every felon is a hard core criminal, or violent. I am a mom of 3 with a great husband living a normal life. The only problem, once my kids are all in school , finding a job is going to be difficult. If I could get that moment back before making the poor decision I would do it in a heart beat.
Not all felons are the same and people should not be scared of them without knowing...use caution yes, but there are tons of felons like me out there and then there are the ones whom I even fear and I would never want my kids around.

Teach Allowed Felons Convicted Should

This Thread has generated a lot of interest, especially from those not part of our Community but for which input is still warranted. Personally I feel that if a Felon is allowed to teach then it must be done on a case by case basis. Things to be considered are:

1. What was the nature of the crime?
2. How was the felon's time in prison spent?
3. How is life for the felon now?
4. Does the felon have a spouse / kids?
5. Who will the felon be teaching?

Should Convicted Felons Be Allowed To Teach? UFO & Writing Art Education Sciences

I agree that the term FELON is a broad term and it should stay that way.

I agree that some felons do change and that they can trusted. I just do not think we should trust them enough to teach.

Being a teacher is someone you should be able to look on and one that should be held to a higher standard. I will always believe that a teacher who commits a crime or someone who is in charge of children commits a crime they should be removed from teaching or leading children.

Teachers are not the only members of society that needs to be held at higher standards.

Page 3 Teach Allowed Felons Convicted Should

Name: Keith

Comments: Forgiveness.
A powerful word. One that I believe we all need to learn, and use, a bit more in a world where there is so much enmity. One thing that's certain is that we've all made mistakes (some larger han others), yet still we're determined to point the finger and say, "There's the bad guy..." Ironically, most of us are quick to want freedoms for ourselves, but even quicker to take away the freedoms of others...even after they've paid their dues. This is indeed a self-indulgent, discriminatory, asinine concept;one that mirrors the not-to-long-ago days of inequality. Simply, for someone to be denied a opporuntiy (Teaching for example) based solely on a mistakes they've made 7-10 years ago, is the antithesis of what America stands for. Even worse, however, is the fact that by employing these false concepts it rots the core of what truly makes us human....our compassion...and for what, just so we can make ourselves feel better? I believe life is too short to be afraid, to impose one's will on another, to live on the bitter end of the stick. So why not cast aside the precepts we have of people we don't truly know, who could be our fathers, our brothers, our daughters, our son's (Would we not want them to have opportunities if they made a mistake).
Just so you know, I am a felon. Proud to be one too. Not because of the skewed details of my crime, but because of the person I have become as a result of it; someone who's learned that change can be achieved; who can understand the feelings of kids (especially in the inner cities)who feel isolated from their teachers who are paid to preach a ciriculum instead of also teaching them about the real world. This is what I am greatful for.
Moreover, I also plan on becoming a teacher someday, even if it means pounding at the doors of the supreme court or having to teach in Iraq, for that matter. So, if the government or society chooses to close its doors to me based on a mistake, so be it. It simply doesn't matter...
I will forgive them anyway.

Teach Allowed Felons Convicted Should

Yes forgiveness is a big word. Do I forgive people who have caused me or my family pain? Yes I have. I still will say though that a person who has a felony on their record should not teach our children in a class room. If you feel that you have something to teach our young generation then go to the inner cities and help those kids out. There are ways of helping the kids out in places where they are more likely to commit a felony and help them see what they are going in the wrong direction.

To make a point clear I have no problems with giving a person another chance after they have paid their price to society. However there are some professions that are held to higher standards than others and those of a teacher is one of them. Even though you have paid you debt to society teaching is still going to be out of your reach here in the USA.

Should Convicted Felons Be Allowed To Teach?

Name: Jack

Comments: It's funny how we believe that "certain positions" should be held to a higher standard when some of the people in the highest positions (police, politicians) commit crimes routinely that go under the radar. Why worry about someone, who say, made a mistake when they were eighteen that didn't harm anyone outside their family? I have a friend that stole from his mother and received a felony (residential burglary), a strike under California's three strikes law actually, lumping him into the same group as violent offenders (rapist, armed robbers, etc). At the time, even my friend's mother, who'd kicked him out of he house a month earlier, didn't want him to suffer this severe consequence; yet, there was nothing she could do because the District Attorney picked up the case despite her wishes. 10 years have passed since he's made this mistake and still he is limited by this crime. Finding decent work is tough for him because companies rarely look into the details, so all they see is that label Felon/violent offender on his record, not knowing his unique circumstance, and the door is slammed shut in his face. My friend has since authored two novels and plans on perusing a career in teaching (In some states felons can teach if their records have been expunged). Now, the question I pose is if my friend's mother (the victim) has forgiven him and didn't want him to suffer such a harsh punishment to begin with, should he not be forgiven my the Judicial System and granted an opportunity to pursue his goal? He didn't harm any children, nor anyone outside his family? Or should the door continued to be shut on him for a mistake he made against his family so long ago? Or is he just as guilty as persons that broken into a strangers house, leaving him and unfit candidate to teach are youth?

Should Convicted Felons Allowed Teach - Page 3

Name: Jacob

Comments: I feel like I should say something, I mean, not all felons are the same. Me? I was barely 18 and I called a bomb threat in at a school. Stupid, I know, but hey, I was a kid. So now here I am, 5 years later, and still struggling at life. I have no addictions to any substances, illegal or legal, and still find it hard to find a place in this society. You say you don't care? I paid for my mistake, and hell, it was a non violent, non drug related crime, I shouldn't be disbarred from society, cast aside like some leper, just because of it. I am smart, and I am going to be a teacher, because I love children, I love the look they get when they learn something new or figure something out. The children really are our future, and if we don't have competent teachers, then we're all doomed. Now, answer me this, would you want someone teaching your children who's only doing it temporary, just for money, and doesn't care about the kids, or someone who wants to do it because of the kids, someone who has a passion burning inside them to reach out and enlighten the minds of our youth? I'm the latter, and I'll be damned if I let the government and society, and closed-minded bigots, stop me from pursuing my dreams.

Should Convicted Felons Allowed Teach Sciences Education Art Writing & UFO - Page 3

Name: Brandon

Comments: Hey, just a note: I am a convicted felon. I would like to teach. I was convicted of several felonies involving fraud and bad checks and would like to work with at risk youth. I have been a successful technology/computer support person and call center trainer and can teach quite well. However, society won't let me teach. Since 911 I can not get a job and am now facing homelessness as are my children. My record is now a weight I will carry to the grave, though my crimes were committed some 20 years ago. So, you folks tell me. If a felon can't get a job and doesn't want to go back to crime what is left? How about once a debt is paid it remains paid and nobody has the right to force additional interest payments. Hmmm...that would almost be what was intended. Though violence and other obvious crimes should bar some lines of employment.