Student Question

[Kim Rossman]

Adult Literacy Providers and Tutor Coordinators,

 

I have had the following question/situation sent to me for input from the field. Please “Reply All” with your thoughts on the scenario provided below.

 

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences,

 

Kim

Tutors of Literacy in the Commonwealth
925 West College Ave
State College, PA 16801
814.867.0203
http://tutorsofliteracy.blogspot.com/

 

A student tested at a 3^rd grade level and was referred to our tutor program.  When our Volunteer Coordinator called him to ask him if he wanted to join a new group that was forming, he stated, “I can’t meet in a school.”  So, sure enough, I looked on the Megan’s Law website through the PA State Police and he is a registered sex offender.  The group was actually going to meet at a local library, which I still feel is not an appropriate setting for him.  When the Volunteer Coordinator spoke with him again to get more details, he was upfront and did state that he was an offender.  He wants to get a GED to become a welder.  I made the decision not to place him in the group because of the setting.  He was told that because of his restrictions on settings, he would wait for another opportunity.

 

However, if he never made that comment, we would never have known of his record and its implications.  There doesn’t seem to be much guidance on what to do with a serious criminal past and we don’t ask this information of students upon entry.  We realize that many of our students have criminal pasts and want to rehabilitate and better their lives.  However, in a case like this where it was self-disclosed and of a highly serious nature, do we have the right to refuse service to him?  Or, can we have conditions where, for instance, we won’t serve him unless we can inform a potential tutor of his situation and make sure that the setting is a public one where children are not present (as in our agency office, for example)?  It raises some interesting questions!  Your feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

 

[wpalp]

We had a similar situation involving a potential volunteer I met at a program promotion event. After that "wake up call" encounter, we drafted new guidelines and now do a criminal background check on all our volunteers. I also check the Meganslaw website on a regular basis. Registered sex offenders are required to follow strict rules regarding their current status. That being said, there are volunteers in our program willing to work one-on-one with adults who are/were incarcerated. Finding a suitable site is another story. We have the use of a church whose Pastor is very supportive of our program and we do not schedule use of the facility when the preschool, or other events involving children/youth are in session. While we are not currently serving any "registered sex offenders" we are serving adults who were formerly incarcerated.

Hope this helps,

Jacci West, Exe. Director
Wayne Pike Adult Literacy Program
Honesdale, PA 18431

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kim Rossman" <k...@tlcliteracy.org>
To: "Adult Literacy Tutoring Programs Discussion List" <adult_lit_tut...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 8:33:47 AM
Subject: Tutor Program News Student Question

Adult Literacy Providers and Tutor Coordinators,
 
I have had the following question/situation sent to me for input from the field. Please “Reply All” with your thoughts on the scenario provided below.
 
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences,
 
Kim

Tutors of Literacy in the Commonwealth
925 West College Ave
State College, PA 16801
814.867.0203
http://tutorsofliteracy.blogspot.com/

 

A student tested at a 3 rd grade level and was referred to our tutor program.  When our Volunteer Coordinator called him to ask him if he wanted to join a new group that was forming, he stated, “I can’t meet in a school.”  So, sure enough, I looked on the Megan’s Law website through the PA State Police and he is a registered sex offender.  The group was actually going to meet at a local library, which I still feel is not an appropriate setting for him.  When the Volunteer Coordinator spoke with him again to get more details, he was upfront and did state that he was an offender.  He wants to get a GED to become a welder.  I made the decision not to place him in the group because of the setting.  He was told that because of his restrictions on settings, he would wait for another opportunity.

[Barbara Stewart]

Hi Kim,

Very interesting scenario. I am afraid that I don't have any answers. I have had many learners from prison but haven't run into this situation. I am very interested in hearing answers. What do our state level people say?

-----Original Message-----
From: "Kim Rossman" [k...@tlcliteracy.org]
Date: 02/29/2012 08:34 AM
To: "Adult Literacy Tutoring Programs Discussion List" <adult_lit_tut...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Student Question

Adult Literacy Providers and Tutor Coordinators,

I have had the following question/situation sent to me for input from the field. Please “Reply All” with your thoughts on the scenario provided below.

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences,

Kim

Tutors of Literacy in the Commonwealth
925 West College Ave
State College, PA 16801
814.867.0203
http://tutorsofliteracy.blogspot.com/

A student tested at a 3rd grade level and was referred to our tutor program. When our Volunteer Coordinator called him to ask him if he wanted to join a new group that was forming, he stated, “I can’t meet in a school.” So, sure enough, I looked on the Megan’s Law website through the PA State Police and he is a registered sex offender. The group was actually going to meet at a local library, which I still feel is not an appropriate setting for him. When the Volunteer Coordinator spoke with him again to get more details, he was upfront and did state that he was an offender. He wants to get a GED to become a welder. I made the decision not to place him in the group because of the setting. He was told that because of his restrictions on settings, he would wait for another opportunity.

[Susan Keller]

We have this situation.

 

We do ask during intake about the student's criminal background and allow students to self-disclose, but that doesn't always provide complete information.

 

We allow the student(s) in this situation to meet in our building, either in classes or with a one-on-one tutor. We do not allow children in our building, however.

 

The local police here informed US when someone on the list was coming to our building (how they knew--unless those on the list are required to report all activities outside of the home--I do not know). We already knew the student's situation. We have had no incidents serving these students. The fact that the student you describe self-disclosed is a hopeful sign, but everyone involved needs to feel safe, so there are still judgment calls to be made, in my opinion.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Susan Keller

Volunteer Coordinator

Delaware County Literacy Council

2217 Providence Avenue
Chester PA 19013
610-876-4811; Fax: 610-876-5414

www.delcoliteracy.org

 

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From: Kim Rossman <k...@tlcliteracy.org>
To: Adult Literacy Tutoring Programs Discussion List <adult_lit_tut...@googlegroups.com>