Thread: John Wrenshall & background checks

So, now that this case has been publicised and the guy's background posted all over the net it seems pretty obvious that AUA doesnt do background checks - which is suprising given the amount of Kids/teens they teach and the reputation its strives to maintain. That said, AUA is just following the norm and doesnt stand out from any other training provider.

I'm all for criminal background checks for ALL teachers and Im sure the 99.9999% of non-kiddy fiddling TEFLers are also. Indeed, I'd like to see a petition sent to the MoE by the TEFL army insisting on it. So how about asking your schools/institutes to start their own individual petitions and send to the appropriate authorities?

If the MoE receive enough names, perhaps background checks will be fully implemented and the TEFL army will be seen to be taking a proactive step to cleaning up its own ranks. Certainly can't hurt given the dire reputation TEFL Teachers currently have.

If the employers can't get their shit together, perhaps its time for the employees to manage & guide its employers a little on this. Afterall, most TEFLers do strive to be perceived as professional.

I wonder what the reputable international schools policy is?

I'll work on it if this thread generates enough interest.

Tho I'm not in Los, if a petition of any sort were set up, i'd duly sign it as a past teacher (with references) and a potential future one. Great idea DE!

The only problem could come when the thai authorities muck it up and accuse (or worse jail) further innocents, but something must be done. On that, I agree.

Yeh - it is a good idea.

Perhaps some kind of online petition would be better, one that can folks can log onto and simply add their names and occupation- it would be run by one dedicated administrator.

Indeed, some western TEFLer at AUA could suggest it to the Captain, gain his buy in to idea in general as well as the Captain personally backing the AUA employee to run the website as well as providing the financial resource. when the list grows - which Im sure it would - the Captain could present it officially to the appropriate authorities - AUA thus leads other training providers by example and corrects its mistake. The Captain has already been reported as commenting on the offender - fixing the problem is the next best step.

"We never dreamed he would be involved in this kind of thing. He was very meticulous, and so polite and quiet," said school director Adul Pinsuvana, who remembered Mr. Wrenshall as a soft-spoken instructor who bowed in a respectful manner, similar to the way of Thai people.


The reasons are obvious:

A westerner is the principle force in launching the idea - specifically a TEFLing, AUA westerner. If that needs to be altered to the Thais as the instigator, then fine.

Its overseen and legitimsed by AUA's Chairman and this goes some way towards it self regulating and regaining some ground having employed a convicted kiddy fiddler.

Given the rep that AUA strives to maintain, your average Thai may start to be reminded that 99.999% of TEFLers are dedicated professions. Also, the AUA edge could see the Thai press picking up the story and gaining the right kind of coverage for TEFLers rather than the ongoing Kiddy fiddling stories.

An AUA folks fancy making the suggestion?

Apart from being wrong about most TEFL teachers - you might want to re-read the thread mate, I am suggesting that the Thai Chairman of AUA presents it to the concerned authorities.

Thank you. You are the only one making sense here. It's a dumb idea.

Does the OP even know what he is talking about? Even if they had done a Background check on John Wrenshall it would have come out clean.

this is Thailand. You are asking for people who work for peanuts to do more work.

Originally Posted by Desertexile

the TEFL army

My understanding is that he has previous convictions as was reported in the press.

Maybe its just a bit of wishful thinking on my part, regards ridding the industry of Kiddy fiddlers. Perhaps I dont know what I am talking about Mustafa - I havent taught a class in 7 years nor do I ever intend to set foot in a plave where tefling is even going on. I take it you arent a teacher?