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Open Question: Is it worth it to have background checks?
Consider these (somewhat recent) articles on child abuse by martial art instructors...
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-05-10/news/os-osceola-rape-arrest-20100510_1_martial-arts-instructor-martial-arts-studio-molestation-charges
http://rivertowns.patch.com/articles/croton-martial-arts-instructor-found-guilty-in-sex-abuse
http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/39111977.html
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/mcallen-47234-police-abuses.html
...ad nauseum
Now, I had to undergo a background check, which required me to submit to fingerprinting and a police check, before I could teach my students. This is a requirement of law in many states.
But as you can see, the articles show that these perpetrators were caught on their first charge. That is, a background check would have come up clean, despite potential cases that have yet to be brought up.
I don't know the statistical representation of our MA community that the articles show, but it nevertheless shows that we in martial arts are vulnerable - both as students and as instructors.
What I'd like to know, do you think that a background check would have prevented any of these instances?
If you are an instructor or an assistant - even an informal one - and teach children (under 17) do you have to undergo a background check? If so, how often?
If you are a parent, do you ask for a background check on your child's instructor? Assistants?
I was appalled recently, in a discussion with an instructor who receives marketing tips from a large marketing group, a rather evil empire who I'll leave nameless since it's not the subject of my question (although it's initials are NAPMA). And of the tomes of information he gets in regards to billing maintenance, marketing gimicks, even teaching tips... nothing warns him that he should not have any places where observers can't see where children can go; that bathroom doors should be plainly visible to observers, etc. In other words, other than technical safety tips (like, "rest once in awhile"), nothing in regards to in-dojang self-defense - both for the children and for the instructor - is mentioned. And in his state, it does not require that he have a background check if he teaches children.
Do you have blind corners in your school?
As an instructor, whether you must have background checks, and whether or not you actually submit to them, do you practice in-dojang self-defense? How? How do you handle it with your assistants?
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