Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - criminal background checks for being a parent volunteer

ns123 · 07-16-2008, 09:20 PM

Hello all,

Everyone here has always been so helpful for me to resolve issues - either by my posting a question, or either by some one else posting a question similar to what I'm going through.

Here is my situation:

I want to volunteer at my son's school. I have a very strong feeling that working with children is what my purpose is. So to gain experience and to also "give back" I have decided to volunteer quite regularly at my child's school. I find that the more I'm around children the more at peace I feel and the more I see myself becoming the kind of parent and person I want to be.

My child's school wants to do a background check on me. And here's my problem:

1. a background check is not just a criminal background check. It also allows them information to my educational records, my financial records, my employment history, as well as criminal records.

2. who will see the results of this check? How will they safeguard this information?

So, before anyone brings up the what-do-you-have-to-hide argument...
I have no criminal record. I have nothing to hide.

The problem I have with this is privacy. It is not right they have all this information on me, when I don't have this information on them. Basically my argument is: I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

I would gladly consent for anyone seeing my information so long as I can see theirs too. After all, the argument that is used to make sure that I'm safe around kids can be applied to make sure that they are safe around my own child.

And after all, if they can see my credit history and how much money I make, well, I should be able to see theirs right? What's good for them to request of me should be good for me to request of them, right?

Whatever reasons they come up with for me to grant them privacy for their equivalent information, would be the same reason why I would like for them grant me the same privacy.

So, what do I do? Should I bring this up? How do I bring it up without having them think that I actually do have something to hide (which I don't). It's a question of principle.

Please help.

07-16-2008, 09:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
ns123 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 658	criminal background checks for being a parent volunteer - need advice Hello all, Everyone here has always been so helpful for me to resolve issues - either by my posting a question, or either by some one else posting a question similar to what I'm going through. Here is my situation: I want to volunteer at my son's school. I have a very strong feeling that working with children is what my purpose is. So to gain experience and to also "give back" I have decided to volunteer quite regularly at my child's school. I find that the more I'm around children the more at peace I feel and the more I see myself becoming the kind of parent and person I want to be. My child's school wants to do a background check on me. And here's my problem: 1. a background check is not just a criminal background check. It also allows them information to my educational records, my financial records, my employment history, as well as criminal records. 2. who will see the results of this check? How will they safeguard this information? So, before anyone brings up the what-do-you-have-to-hide argument... I have no criminal record. I have nothing to hide. The problem I have with this is privacy. It is not right they have all this information on me, when I don't have this information on them. Basically my argument is: I'll show you mine if you show me yours. I would gladly consent for anyone seeing my information so long as I can see theirs too. After all, the argument that is used to make sure that I'm safe around kids can be applied to make sure that they are safe around my own child. And after all, if they can see my credit history and how much money I make, well, I should be able to see theirs right? What's good for them to request of me should be good for me to request of them, right? Whatever reasons they come up with for me to grant them privacy for their equivalent information, would be the same reason why I would like for them grant me the same privacy. So, what do I do? Should I bring this up? How do I bring it up without having them think that I actually do have something to hide (which I don't). It's a question of principle. Please help.