Letter to the editor: Uniform clearances help protect all children

“We make our own criminals, and their crimes are consistent with the national culture we all share. It has been said that people get the kind of political leadership they deserve. I think they also get the kinds of crimes and criminals they create.”

These are quotes by Margaret Mead, our world’s most renowned anthropologist on the studies of ecology and sociology.

I learned this from Mead back in anthropology class at Cal U in the 1970s. She stated that criminals and those on the fringe of a society sometimes know more than the leaders of a society or culture. I know this to be true in Pennsylvania public schools because of the child abuse and criminal record check clearance process.

I know that Pennsylvania licensed child care requires four clearances for people supervising children. I know that Pennsylvania public schools only require three clearances. The one clearance not required by Pennsylvania public schools is the National Sex Offender Registry letter. This clearance is free and easily obtained online or by mail.

So what clearances are required in your school district? The answers should be readily available on school websites, for anyone who wants to know about clearances, including the offenders. In fact, just ask your school solicitor, legislators, Pennsylvania Department of Education and local school district to see if they know or care about these clearances.

There are no good reasons why this clearance letter should not be required by Pennsylvania public school laws and regulations.

Dennis Smiddle

Canonsburg

The writer is a former Pennsylvania child care licensing representative.