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Current Events => General Discussion => Topic started by: bijou on November 10, 2010, 12:42:17 PM

Title: ACLU urges schools to lift ban on all parent volunteers with felony records
Post by: bijou on November 10, 2010, 12:42:17 PM
Quote
GRAND RAPIDS -- The American Civil Liberties Union is urging the Grand Rapids Board of Education to consider circumstances of parents with a criminal past before banning felons from volunteering in their child's classroom.

Like most Kent County school districts, the city schools prohibit felons from volunteering, regardless of the nature of the offense or how long ago the conviction. It applies the same standards to volunteers as employees.

"Our research has revealed that some other school districts in Michigan employ a more individualized screening method for their volunteers," Thomas Logan, board chairman of ACLU of Michigan's Western Branch, wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to Superintendent Bernard Taylor and the school board. "For instance, Battle Creek reviews each case individually." ...
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/11/aclu_urges_grand_rapids_school.html

Title: Re: ACLU urges schools to lift ban on all parent volunteers with felony records
Post by: true_blood on November 10, 2010, 02:29:07 PM
Thank God for the ACLU, huh?! ::) :whatever:
Title: Re: ACLU urges schools to lift ban on all parent volunteers with felony records
Post by: bijou on November 10, 2010, 02:48:45 PM
Thank God for the ACLU, huh?! ::) :whatever:
Sure, a school can always do with more felons. :sarcasm:
Title: Re: ACLU urges schools to lift ban on all parent volunteers with felony records
Post by: cavegal on November 10, 2010, 02:53:18 PM
Because well a know the ACLU knows best...................NOT......................... :censored: 
Title: Re: ACLU urges schools to lift ban on all parent volunteers with felony records
Post by: ExGeeEye on November 10, 2010, 03:01:10 PM
Given what passes for "felony" these days, it might be due a little review.

They aren't all rapists.
Title: Re: ACLU urges schools to lift ban on all parent volunteers with felony records
Post by: thundley4 on November 10, 2010, 03:03:07 PM
Given what passes for "felony" these days, it might be due a little review.

They aren't all rapists.

True. Banning them should be done on a case by case basis.  IIRC there was some school that banned parents from even attending school functions if they had a felony conviction.
Title: Re: ACLU urges schools to lift ban on all parent volunteers with felony records
Post by: vesta111 on November 10, 2010, 04:27:41 PM
True. Banning them should be done on a case by case basis.  IIRC there was some school that banned parents from even attending school functions if they had a felony conviction.

What the hell is a felony conviction.??

I have wondered about this for years as the term sounds so awful,  but now I hear that some times a felony can involve theft of anything over $1000.00 dollars such as stealing a car or up to murder.

Now, how can one ban a man who has paid his debt to society from becoming involved with their children's education or sports????

Interesting problem here.
Title: Re: ACLU urges schools to lift ban on all parent volunteers with felony records
Post by: ExGeeEye on November 10, 2010, 04:37:22 PM
Agreed.

1.  Felonies are, frankly, too easy to commit by anyone, let alone by people who're trying to commit a misdemeanor.

2.  I think for any infraction, whether parking sideways or knocking over a bank, whatever the sentence is, once it's completes, it ought to be as though the person had never offended.  No one should have to carry the equivalent of Jean Valjean's "yellow passport".  Don't agree?  Then harsh up the penalties until you do.

3.  Some crimes can never be repaid.  Taking a life, for instance, or rape.  The question comes down to sentencing: will we take the offender's whole life, whether all at once on the gurney, or by degrees with a life sentence?  If not, then we have to be willing, out of whatever sense of mercy and grace, be willing one day that the offender will walk around free.  Really, truly, as free as you or me.
Title: Re: ACLU urges schools to lift ban on all parent volunteers with felony records
Post by: true_blood on November 10, 2010, 07:12:15 PM
Given what passes for "felony" these days, it might be due a little review. They aren't all rapists.
I do agree with this.
Title: Re: ACLU urges schools to lift ban on all parent volunteers with felony records
Post by: ExGeeEye on November 10, 2010, 07:29:23 PM
Agreed.

1.  Felonies are, frankly, too easy to commit by anyone, let alone by people who're trying to commit a misdemeanor.

2.  I think for any infraction, whether parking sideways or knocking over a bank, whatever the sentence is, once it's completed, it ought to be as though the person had never offended.  No one should have to carry the equivalent of Jean Valjean's "yellow passport".  Don't agree?  Then harsh up the penalties until you do.

3.  Some crimes can never be repaid.  Taking a life, for instance, or rape.  The question comes down to sentencing: will we take the offender's whole life, whether all at once on the gurney, or by degrees with a life sentence?  If not, then we have to be willing, out of whatever sense of mercy and grace, be willing one day that the offender will walk around free.  Really, truly, as free as you or me.

Grr.  Didn't mean to do that.  Just wanted to correct my spelling.