Uneducated teachers

[geocup]

My point is.. I think it is disappointing that so many institutions and parents do not care about the back ground of teachers and just go for what looks 'good'. Actually, I am stunned that there are no criminal background checks here too. Seriously, anyone, could be teaching your child. There should be a mandatory police checks.

 

[geocup]

I agree with you AmyH. I believe that people who set up play groups/educational institutions/language learning centres should have criminal checks. As well as teachers!! Seriously! Can not believe that this is not done here. Parents need to be more confident to ask about the background of their child's teacher.

 

[carang]

i would have no qualms whatsoever about having background checks. i think it would be a VERY good thing. but i would extend it to sports coaches, too.

and just for info: 99% of my classes REQUIRE someone to accompany each child. we do offer a couple of classes for older children that do not require that each child be accompanied.

 

[AmyH]

In the UK it is standard practice to have police checks- even if somebody is going to complete repairs on the school grounds they have to be checked. Again, I wrongly assumed that this was standard practice in Hong Kong but obviously not. This should be mandatory.

 

[geocup]

There should be standards that teachers meet that include educational and experience.

 

[carang]

I also agree that ONLY qualified teachers should be in schools. This holds true for ALL primary and secondary schools. In the past, most schools here didn't have qualified teachers. I think that the gov't is slowly catching up with the rest of the world when it comes to this. I remember back in the mid 90s, I taught English to 3 or 4 "teachers" from local schools. Not one was qualified to teach, rather they had degrees from other disciplines.

 

[geocup]

Again, AmyH, I agree with you. I so strongly believe that any one who enters a school premises should be checked. The school bus drivers at my school really make me nervous!

 

[AmyH]

I remember my son had a virus when he was 18 months old and his whole body came out in bruises. The doctors at the hospital were very good and diagnosed the issue quickly but the bruises needed to be documented by them in case of abuse etc... They sat my husband and I down and explained that the photographer had to take pics of my son naked, he was a male photographer and he has been vetted to ensure he was safe to do that job and the pics would be held by the hospital on a secure network etc... I had never considered that he was not safe up until that point!

 

[geocup]

Anyway, I wrote something and lost it. Ai ya! ...... basically, it is my job to check kids on their arrival at school and take note of anything on their face, arms, legs. Even a mozzie bite on the face I call the parents. It's my job to make sure they are ok.

 

[prone_to_wander]

I think it is ridiculous to make everyone who comes into a school have a background check. It is completely paranoid to go around thinking everyone might possibly harm your kid. I'm not suggesting we be lazy with our children, but there are few boogy men and we should (statistically) be looking within our own families/friends for anyone who would harm our kids.

And I am one of the unqualified teachers you are talking about. I have a degree, although it isn't in education. I think that although qualification has a place, there is too much emphasis on it. I think I'm a great teacher. I work hard educating my students. I have a great deal of experience teaching in different settings. However, if you were looking at qualifications only, you would miss out on all of the rich experience I have. Only looking at qualifications is a very narrow point of view.

As a side note: There is a great need for English teachers, which is why sometimes a warm, English speaking body is hired.