What are the restrictions on becoming a teacher?

Question

What are the restrictions on becoming a teacher, in regards to a past criminal record (misdemeanors)?i would like to go to school to become a teacher, but i have some misdeameanors on my record from younger days (criminal mischief & disorderly conduct). i would like to find out how damaging this will be, as far as any restrictions on my ability to get a job, not to mention whether or not i will need to discolse this information to prospective employers, but, i'm not really sure where to start. any help would really be appreciated!

Answer 1

Print or grab an application from your local school and it will ask if you've have any criminal history and they usually require you to explain it. Also, in Maine, they require an actual fingerprinting and criminal history check before being hired. Good luck!  

Answer 2

Assuming your past 'indiscretions' were minor (and do not involve harming a child), instead of worrying about your disclosing your past and seeing it as a detriment, shift the way you look at it and instead, use it to your full advantage to help you get a job.  Let's face it...lots of kids today are troubled and many come from broken and unstable homes.  You can say that you, yourself, got into a lot of trouble as a teenager, and that's what inspired you to become a teacher...you want to reach out and help kids so that they don't make the same mistakes you did.  

Instead of looking at your past as something you are ashamed of, look at your progress as something you are proud of.  Having been a teacher for 13 years in an urban public school setting, I can tell you that honestly, many teachers who had 'perfect' childhoods and upbringing often have a difficult time relating to the problems and baggage that many of today's students face.  

So use your past to your advantage...if YOU bring it up, saying something like..."You can see that when I was a teenager, I got in a lot of trouble and did really dumb things that I regretted...I want to make a difference and help kids so that they don't make these same kinds of mistakes."  or "I understand and can relate to a lot of the problems that some kids face..as you can see from my record, I made a LOT of dumb mistakes when I was a kid and got into legal trouble.  If I can help and prevent even just one kid from making those same mistakes, it'll all be worth it to me." You get the idea.

By being upfront and honest and by YOU bringing up these things as one of the motivators of why you want to teach and work with kids, your past problems may actually give you a leg up!  To back this even further, as you go through school, volunteer and work with kids as much as you can...places like the boys/girls club, etc.

Teaching is not just a job...it's a calling.  And if you are called to this great profession, follow your heart and don't worry about your past!

Best wishes!

Answer 3

Well, what you can do is apply to be a volunteer at the local school. If they allow you to do that then you should be able to become a teacher.BTW they check your record out pretty well before they will let you in the classroom so do that!

Answer 4

You should specify which state.

Answer 5

You'd stand a better chance of having any misdemeanors expunged from your juvenile records.  Once that happens, it's like they are forgiven & forgotten.  

The competition out there is fierce.  Do everything you can to make yourself look the best.