Haven't you been paying attention? Why are you even questioning this?

The number one threat to Homeland Security in the U.S. today is retired schoolteachers: They have rulers, compasses, and chalk, and they're not afraid to use them.

I had to be fingerprinted (and my prints cross-checked with multiple federal agencies) in order to volunteer at a school for one week. It's been this way for a while, meant to make sure that pedophiles and drug dealers don't have access to kids. It's overkill but then government agencies (including schools) are all about the overkill, and there are more important things to worry about.

I was teacher's aid in Virignia back in '89. I had my fingerprints taken then.

It isn't about terrorism. It's more about someone who will be around kids daily in a position of trust. I feel more comfortable if whomever is working with my kids has been vetted by the FBI or local organization of similar kind.

taz, you're making light of the situation. Retired teachers have STAPLERS.

AND STAPLE REMOVERS.

Those damn things can take an eye out. And what do you think they do with all the pocket knives, pornographic magazines, narcotic substances and handwritten notes they confiscated during class sessions? They don't keep that stuff in their desk drawer when they leave - they take it home with them!

"Today the classroom, tomorrow, the world."

"Those who can, do. Those who can't, plot to take over the world diguised as retired schoolteachers."

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man how to plot to overthrow an international fisherie, and you're probably a retired schoolteacher."

I've met ex-felons I'd be more comfortable having teach my kids than some people I know with no fingerprint records. I really don't see any purpose in treating all teachers and school volunteers as potential criminals, particularly if they've been doing their job for so many years already anyway. It's hard enough to attract good people to the job, without limiting the pool to those who don't mind being treated like a criminal.

Thanks for the insightful comments about the dangers of retired teachers, though. I guess I should have remembered they were early proponents of sensory weapons deployed against large groups, like fingernails across a chalkboard... (^_^)

I've been fingerprinted in the US, had to do that to get my temporary work permit. That didn't bother me. The mandatory syphilis and HIV test did though.

Also, the purpose of the substitute teacher is to flip out and kill people.

Forget about your dang mandatory fingerprinting, I want to see some mandatory smell checks. I want to see some bomb sniffing dogs sniffing a few retired butts.

Not for any good reason. Just because I think it would make for some fun photo-ops.

I've met ex-felons...

I read that as "ex-melons".

And dabitch, mandatory HIV test? WTF!

I have to apply for a background check in order to go on a field trip with my 3rd grader. Hope I pass.

fwiw i was a volunteer ESL tutor at a public grade school a year or two ago... no fingerprints and (as far as i know) no background check. however, i was neither a substitute nor retired... just some weirdo off the street lol. do they check for both convicted felons and sex offenders or just the latter? and/or, are convicted felons allowed to work w/ children?

btw it was a very rewarding experience. if you like kids, i would highly recommended volunteering at your local school... children can *really* benefit from the one-on-one/individualized instruction. it's a shame that some people would be deterred by background checks, but understandable.