Would this make you uncomfortable?

[Edensmum]

Parent volunteers in the classroom having alone time with kids? DD had a parent volunteer in the classroom yesterday. It happened to be a friend of mine, so I know what happened. The teacher suggested she take a small group on a nature walk. I have no problem with her but I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with dd leaving school with someone I don't know. There is no background check for parents Etc.

[Melaine]

Heck no. That is totally inappropriate IMO, and I wouldn't be comfortable doing it myself if I volunteered either.

[Octobermommy]

Not appropriate and I would assume it is against the rules.

[ciw]

There is no background check for parents Etc.

That is unbelievable to me. Even the churches around here require background checks for parents who want to volunteer in child-related activities.

I would be fine with a parent who has had a background check working with students outside the classroom but inside the school building. I know some parents who volunteer who spend their time at tables in the hallways directly outside the classrooms where they work with children individually or in small groups. I don't think I'd like the idea of a parent taking children outside the school -- background check or not.

[YouAreTheFocus]

Yeah, that's crazy. I'm totally fine w/ parents volunteering in the classroom (w/ the teachers present) or going on a field trip (w/ the teachers present). But taking a group of kids solo? No way.

[maestramommy]

Wow, is that even legal? Was the nature walk confined to school grounds?

[longtallsally05]

Parent volunteers in the classroom having alone time with kids? DD had a parent volunteer in the classroom yesterday. It happened to be a friend of mine, so I know what happened. The teacher suggested she take a small group on a nature walk. I have no problem with her but I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with dd leaving school with someone I don't know. There is no background check for parents Etc.

Absolutely not acceptable. Inform your school's teacher & administrator at once that this has to stop. No adult should have access to the children alone, and you will not consent to your daughter having alone time with an adult (or even older child) volunteer. Even if nothing bad has happened yet, the possiblity is looming overhead. If nothing else moves them, remind them that they are opening themselves up to liability.

[ett]

That is not appropriate at all!

[boolady]

Is it a public school or private school?

[TwinFoxes]

Not appropriate and I would assume it is against the rules.

:yeahthat: I think I'm on the low end of paranoia, but that's just doesn't seem right. Is it a private school?

[brittone2]

Absolutely not acceptable. Inform your school's teacher & administrator at once that this has to stop. No adult should have access to the children alone, and you will not consent to your daughter having alone time with an adult (or even older child) volunteer. Even if nothing bad has happened yet, the possiblity is looming overhead. If nothing else moves them, remind them that they are opening themselves up to liability.
:yeahthat:

[crl]

Well, two years ago I volunteered at ds' school with a fifth grade class. Ds was in K, but did not want me in his classroom. I led a reading group. We did not leave school grounds but we did leave the classroom and there was no teacher physically present. I did not have any sort of background check done on me. I was never alone one on one with a student.

Frankly, I thought it was odd that they were so trusting. But obviously I know I'm okay. . . . .

Catherine

[janine]

did the school advise you that no teacher would be present? A no-no for sure...what were the teachers doing?? What if a child disappeared on the nature walk (something a background check wouldn't prevent)- who is ultimately responsible? yikes.

[egoldber]

FWIW, in our large school district, parent volunteers (no background checks) often take groups of students around on field trips to large locations like the zoo, Smithsonian museums, Mt. Vernon, etc.

[TwinFoxes]

FWIW, in our large school district, parent volunteers (no background checks) often take groups of students around on field trips to large locations like the zoo, Smithsonian museums, Mt. Vernon, etc.

Wow, really? With no other chaperone? Something for me to look forward to. Not.

[Edensmum]

It's a public school, smaller Charter school, but public. There were no permissions asked. It is expected that you will volunteer or donate a certain amount each year. I'm fine with parent participation, but not down with her being alone with an adult I don't know who is not employed by the school. I need to ask more details of friend to know how far they went. The woods, but I honestly don't know how far school property extends.

[justlearning]

I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with dd leaving school with someone I don't know. There is no background check for parents Etc.

There are no background checks at my son's school either, yet parents are asked to drive kids in their personal vehicles for field trips (some as long as an hour away). So in comparison, taking kids on a nature walk on or close to the school property doesn't seem as bad.

I can understand your concerns but it wouldn't have bothered me. It would definitely bother me if my child went somewhere one-on-one (not a group) with a parent volunteer.

[niccig]

Our school has similar requirements for volunteering. Today I went with DS's class to the school farm - about 10 min walk away. The teachers were with us. I've also gone on field trips, where we drive a group of children. The teachers are with us but at some locations the staff split us up into several groups, so there isn't a teacher with each group. Eg. at an art museum we had 6 groups with 2 parents and a docent in each group. We can also volunteer with reading groups etc.

No background checks are done. This is a small private school and I know all of the parents in DS's year level. He's in a grade 1/2 and I'm still getting to know the Grade 2 parents. Honestly, it doesn't bother me that he's with another parent, probably because it is not 1:1.

I can't make all the field trips, and last year DS fell and scraped his knee. Another mother picked him up, carried him down the hill (it was a hike), comforted him while another Dad put neosporin and a band aid on the scrape. I've had kids come up and give me a hug. They want DH to chase them on the playground, and another Dad has to swing everyone around. I like that my child can go to one of these parents for help if I am not there. DS's school works hard at having a sense of community and it pays off. I'm 45 mins away on school days and parents that live closer have told me to call them if I forget DS's lunch etc, as they'll go to the school for me. I've had a mother call and I've picked up her DC. We all help each other and the kids know us because we volunteer.

[chozen]

this concerns me, how in the world would you know about that parents back ground. im glad you posted this question because once again i would have never thought this would be ok with any school, not now a days.

[div_0305]

Alone, one on one I would not be okay with. But from your post it sounds like it was a small group of kids. I think that's okay, but I don't understand why the whole class couldn't go on the nature walk with the help of both the teacher and parent volunteers.

[janine]

this concerns me, how in the world would you know about that parents back ground. im glad you posted this question because once again i would have never thought this would be ok with any school, not now a days.

And even if the parent has a perfectly clear background check, that does not mean they are experienced with managing a group of kids on a nature walk. What if a child ran off - had an allergic reaction to a bee sting, a whole host of things. And parents did not have to give approval beforehand? Seems like they are outsourcing official teacher responsibilities which I would NOT be ok with.

[hoodlims]

Illegal. Students should never be out of sight of the teacher. I am a teacher and when I was preggo and had to pee, I had to call a certified aide in, or contact the front office to get my classroom covered by someone qualified. Never a parent, never alone, never for that long!

[SnuggleBuggles]

I have been that parent. Ds1's first grade teacher had me host a "lunch bunch" with lunch and games for kids who earned the privilege. **However** I had all my clearances- state, child abuse and FBI fingerprints. Clearances should be mandatory because they protect the school, the volunteer and the child. I'd push your school to get these.

But, no, it wouldn't bother me very much at all if I knew the other parent (as well as anyone knows anyone...).

Beth

[SnuggleBuggles]

You should have the charter school really review whether this is ok. Some states are far less forgiving to any misstep by a charter and look for reasons to revoke a charter. Additionally, we found that our state requires a more stringent volunteer screening than for public or private schools in my state.

Beth

[gatorsmom]

Heck no. That is totally inappropriate IMO, and I wouldn't be comfortable doing it myself if I volunteered either.

:yeahthat: Background checks protect the students AND the parent volunteers. At our last 3 schools- 2 private, one public- everyone got background checked. At our last 2 Catholic schools, the schools had the parent volunteers go to a one day training to talk about safe/unsafe touching, how to recognize abuse, etc. They said that at no time should a volunteer be alone with a child and if you find yourself in that situation, you should tell the teacher. It made me feel better to know how strict they are.

[arivecchi]

Yikes. I cannot volunteer at my son's school without undergoing background checks and training. This would make me really uneasy and I would report it to the principal.

[egoldber]

Wow, really? With no other chaperone? Something for me to look forward to. Not.

Well, for example, in first grade we all (students, teachers and parent chaperons) rode the bus to Mt. Vernon. Each parent was assigned 4-5 students to be in charge of escorting around Mt. Vernon. But each group was on its own.

[AnnieW625]

I would be okay with them staying on the school grounds as long as there is a large group of kids. I would not be okay with the kids going off campus without their teacher or aide or another faculty or staff member from the school.


Well, two years ago I volunteered at ds' school with a fifth grade class. Ds was in K, but did not want me in his classroom. I led a reading group. We did not leave school grounds but we did leave the classroom and there was no teacher physically present. I did not have any sort of background check done on me. I was never alone one on one with a student.

Frankly, I thought it was odd that they were so trusting. But obviously I know I'm okay. . . . .

Catherine

Just curious, but how did you get away with that? It is my understanding that in public schools in the state of California each classroom volunteer needs to have DOJ paperwork done. Some private schools require it also.


At our last 2 Catholic schools, the schools had the parent volunteers go to a one day training to talk about safe/unsafe touching, how to recognize abuse, etc. They said that at no time should a volunteer be alone with a child and if you find yourself in that situation, you should tell the teacher. It made me feel better to know how strict they are.

We have to sit through a 3 hr. training once and then every three or four years do a 90 minute refresher. I will attend the class at the end of the month.

[ha98ed14]

Wow, really? With no other chaperone? Something for me to look forward to. Not.

IMDH'sE, the teacher goes with the whole class and 4-5 parent chaperons. The all travel there together by school bus or train. When the group arrives at the destination, they break into smaller groups of 4-5 students each lead by parent volunteer. The teacher also has a group of 4-5 students that usually includes children who need extra close monitoring. The group meets up periodically though out the day depending on the length of the trip. Lunch is a full check-in/ head count, but even in the smaller groups, the chaperon is counting kids. It's not perfect, but without it no one would go anywhere.

FWIW, I *just* went to HS Day at the LBAq. There were lots of school age kids exploring the museum outside of their parents' line of sight. I think there's some risk going to places like the zoo, museum, etc. because creepy people can go to those places too. Here, the big trip is going to the Missions with California history. Without parents, he could never take all 32 of them. Luckily it's a great community with lots of parental support.

[crl]

Just curious, but how did you get away with that? It is my understanding that in public schools in the state of California each classroom volunteer needs to have DOJ paperwork done. Some private schools require it also.



h.

Well, I wasn't trying to get away with anything. The school asked for volunteers and I volunteered. No one ever mentioned paperwork or background checks to me. I also volunteered last year, but that was in ds' classroom and I was not alone with students unless one wondered back in to the classroom during recess to get something.

I don't know the law on this; I have never checked. DS attends a long established regular public school in the San Francisco school district. His principal has been a principal in this district for about ten years and all of his teachers have been teaching here for at least that long as well. Maybe they are all unaware of some legal requirement?

Catherine

[MommyAllison]

Well, for example, in first grade we all (students, teachers and parent chaperons) rode the bus to Mt. Vernon. Each parent was assigned 4-5 students to be in charge of escorting around Mt. Vernon. But each group was on its own.

My first reaction when reading the OP is that yes, I'd be very uncomfortable with that. But Beth's response reminded me that every field trip I took in school was run the same way she described, and I am fairly sure that background checks were not done. Usually we were in very public areas, but there were hikes through the woods too, where nobody else could see our group.

I think part of what makes me uncomfortable about the situation the OP described is that parents had no idea it was going on, as opposed to a field trip where there is advance notice, and I assume all parents who wanted to chaperone would be allowed to.

[alien_host]

Technically at DD's (public) elementary school all parents must submit a CORI form to volunteer at school. I think the form is good for two years? I'm very surprised that other schools don't do this. I'm not 100% sure everyone has actually submitted a form, but it is listed as a requirement.

Even at preschool you had to be CORIed to volunteer or chaperone a trip. To be honest, at preschool they did not encourage volunteers, I'm guessing b.c they didnt' want to do the CORI forms.

[SkyrMommy]

Alone, one on one I would not be okay with. But from your post it sounds like it was a small group of kids. I think that's okay, but I don't understand why the whole class couldn't go on the nature walk with the help of both the teacher and parent volunteers.

:yeahthat: Especially as in some situations there will be a teacher present for the activity, but not necessarily in the same area just because of what the field trip or event is. As long as it's a group and sanctioned by the school I wouldn't be worried.

[reneed]

I am a classroom mom in DS's prek class one day a week and did not have a background check or anything else done for that matter. I don't know if the difference is that this is a small catholic school and I have been with the parish since I was born. I didn't give it much thought, but now that you're saying it, there should be background checks done! I am also never alone with a child. I help the teacher and the aids in the classroom and help keep an eye on the kids at recess, but that's the extent of it

[Melanie]

Yes, it would. At our school we have to be fingerprinted and run through some database, and have a TB test, before being alone with the children. And even then, I don't really feel qualified (I have no teaching background) so I personally try to limit it. But I figure nearly 10 years of parenting and I'm qualified to at least keep them safe, or make a good effort of it. ;)