Professor World

What accreditation is required in your country to teach children?

I don't mean martial arts specific accreditation, but being accredited as safe to work with children. In Australia it's called a "Blue Card". They do criminal and background checks before issueing. The idea is to keep sickos away from kids. Anyone in Australia who works with children in any area must have one. Could you tell us your country/state as well as your answer please ? Thank you ?

Public Comments

1. To teach academically it used to be one semester of "The Principals Of Teaching",(25 years ago). Now a days I believe the requirement is one year of the principals of teaching and your off and running. Most all of our jobs now have background checks. CA.,USA
2. I don't believe there is any particular standard in the US at the moment although many individual cities and States may have some rulings or laws applicable. As a non-profit association, one of the classes I thaught in San Francisco was located at a recreation center, and I had to provide fingerprints so they could run a background check before allowing me to use their facilities for the class. I don't believe that is very standardized though. Ken C 9th Dan HapMoosaKi-Do 8th Dan TaeKwon-Do 7th Dan YongChul-Do
3. It's the same thing here but it's called a background check and you go through the police.
4. It varies from state to state and city to city. If you are involved in day care like after school programs and preschool programs they require licensing and training and background checks most everywhere. However just martial arts it is buyer beware. Our school requires and does a background check for all employees. And we are strict about being alone with younger students. Makes good business sense. Even an accusation is devastating to a business.
5. In America it's called a "teaching certificate" and it is specific for "level" and "subject" although you can get a general teaching certificiate that allows you to teach on lower levels across a broad span, such as kindergarten, 1st thru 3d grades etc.......you can teach in the arts within a school system if you are invited to teach, fine arts, music,martials arts etc. When invited, you are considered to be an artist in residence.