I hate our society

[bladespark]

I hate it. I hate consumerism and I hate body image and I hate politicians and I hate the media and I just hate it all, but right now what I hate most is that after FIFTEEN YEARS of regularly volunteering at elementary schools, (Since I was fourteen!) today when I went to volunteer at the one I now live next door to, I was not greeted with joy, nor gratitude nor welcome. I was greeted with a three page application more thorough than some I've had for jobs, and a FREAKING CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK!

And I HATE that it's gotten that bad, that somebody can't even be allowed to be in a supervised position in the presence of children without paranoia.

Comments

[silveradept]

Some of that might be legal requirements more than paranoia. If I recall rightly, convicted offenders aren't permitted anywhere near schools or places where children gather. It still sucks that you have to go through all of that just to volunteer, but such is the way of things when people are concerned about abusers in relation to positions of trust.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

15 years. If this is a law it's a brand new one, and it sucks.

[silveradept]

That it does. But you'll have more than enough people arguing that it's going to keep the children safe from dangerous predators. You might even have the Catholic priest scandal to thank for the increased scrutiny.

I'm sure that you'll pass just fine and be able to continue volunteering, though.

[thalass.livejournal.com]

Man, that sucks. It used to be here that you could organise a church or school fête thingy easily, and without much fuss. Nowdays you have to have ambulance on standby, and the insurance company's approval, and probably council permisison, ect... blarg.

[gas-mask-dragon.livejournal.com]

Yup. It sucks

[wolfmare.livejournal.com]

Heck, the school I grew up going to was so far out in the country that we didn't ever have volunteers for anything, let alone security measures and forms to fill out for it...

Then again, everyone knew everyone else, and who to politely dissuade. Plus, seeing as most of the parents in the county had a 'shotgun policy' when it comes to their kids... It wasn't needed.

Still, kinda sad it's come to that.

[emirasan.livejournal.com]

That's ridiculous, and in a public school too. Here on base if you want to volunteer you just fill out one little form asking what you prefer to volunteer in and how to contact you. After that it's either wait for a call or go to the school, sign in, grab a little volunteer tag and go help somewhere. Was pretty much the same back at the old school too. One little form then go in whenever. It is sad that some schools think it has come to having to go to ridiculous lengths to keep the kids safe.

[rabbitsystem.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we have that in the UK as well. Since a few years ago the church has to get criminal record checks for everyone who works with the kids, from creche to Sunday School to the youth clubs. It's a pain.