Reply to Should parents who volunteer in schools be fingerprinted and subject to background checks?

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Reply to "Should parents who volunteer in schools be fingerprinted and subject to background checks?"

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[quote=Anonymous]I think it's important to note that fingerprinting and background checks are only one part of a comprehensive plan for keeping kids safe.  I also think they can be a barrier to parent participation.

My preferences would be as follows:

[b]Paid Staff:[/b]  Fingerprints, background checks and a variety of other steps taken to protect children including

-- a rigorous interview process
             -- reference checks
             -- mandatory classes on recognizing the signs of abuse and what to do
             -- mandated reporting 
             -- school policies about open doors, and teacher/student contact outside of school
             -- supervisory practices that include regular check ins, 
             -- etc . .

[b]Unpaid staff who are in positions where they have access to children alone, such as student teachers, coaches, unpaid afterschool class teachers, or tutors/mentors[/b]: The same as above.

[b]Informal volunteers:[b]  (e.g. Parents volunteering within their own child's school or on fieldwork, students such as high school students "interning" in elementary classes, or peer tutors, one time volunteers such as someone who comes in on career day, a senior citizen who comes in to work on the flower garden etc . . . ) No fingerprints or background checks, but requirements that they are never alone with students other than their own child, don't help in the bathroom, and other similar rules.  Plus volunteers wear ID that clearly identifies them as such so that staff members know to maintain supervision.[/quote]

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