MAP Forum

Working with children seems like a pretty obvious thing to do as a MAP.

I'm curious as to why it's seemingly quite uncommon.

If you don't work with children, why not?

Conviction mainly. I used to volunteer with kids until I got hit with that (unrelated to the volunteering). Fortunately I live in a country where you can get even some of those kinds of convictions struck from records after a set time, so never know what the future holds.

I always mused over being an elementary school teacher, but other passions took me to another professional route.

By the way, I have heard that one has to go through a "pedophilia" test before becoming a teacher - this is in Italy. Is this true in other countries too? If so, how would you pass the test without being dishonest?

I hate lying. If someone outright asked me if I was a MAP, I'd end up being really confrontational, and probably end up destroying my life as a result. So far, I think the only reason why that hasn't happened is because people are too afraid to ask. They suspect, but I'm a can of worms they don't want to open. Confronting me clearly isn't worth it. Once you know, I'll drag you into the black hole with me; do you want to take that risk? Knowing my secret gives me power over you.

If I’m being honest the only reason why I work with children is because ever since I was little I wanted to be involved with teaching somehow. It wasn't cause of my attraction it was because I genuinely have a passion for what I do!

FairBlueLove wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 6:22 pm I always mused over being an elementary school teacher, but other passions took me to another professional route.

By the way, I have heard that one has to go through a "pedophilia" test before becoming a teacher - this is in Italy. Is this true in other countries too? If so, how would you pass the test without being dishonest?

Italy just became my least favorite country

Bookshelf wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 12:59 pm Conviction mainly. I used to volunteer with kids until I got hit with that (unrelated to the volunteering). Fortunately I live in a country where you can get even some of those kinds of convictions struck from records after a set time, so never know what the future holds.

Try to get your record expunged, and then apply for jobs overseas with a clean background check (assuming there is nothing legally prohibiting you from doing so).

You might also be surprised to learn that if a country doesn't require a background check as part of its visa process, many schools simply don't ask.

FairBlueLove wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 6:22 pm I always mused over being an elementary school teacher, but other passions took me to another professional route.

By the way, I have heard that one has to go through a "pedophilia" test before becoming a teacher - this is in Italy. Is this true in other countries too? If so, how would you pass the test without being dishonest?

Surely this test can't be difficult to pass? Screening processes often rely purely on honesty from the applicant/patient.

PorcelainLark wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 8:50 pm I hate lying. If someone outright asked me if I was a MAP, I'd end up being really confrontational, and probably end up destroying my life as a result. So far, I think the only reason why that hasn't happened is because people are too afraid to ask. They suspect, but I'm a can of worms they don't want to open. Confronting me clearly isn't worth it. Once you know, I'll drag you into the black hole with me; do you want to take that risk? Knowing my secret gives me power over you.

I don't like lying either, but well... if you're a MAP, you'd better get good at it. Society leaves us with no choice, even if we're not breaking any laws.

eveeve wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 9:27 pm If I’m being honest the only reason why I work with children is because ever since I was little I wanted to be involved with teaching somehow. It wasn't cause of my attraction it was because I genuinely have a passion for what I do!

This is a nice answer. You must be an awesome teacher!

Kids in large groups can annoy me, especially boys.

Boys can be hard work, running round with guns, doing kung fu kicks, yelling, I couldn't stand a room full of them.
Girls in large groups are fine but I just don't see myself teaching. I don't think I have the skills or patience to be an educator but I have a lot of respect for those who do.

I don't feel capable of working with children. I'm a bit serious but I'd find it hard to get angry at them when necessary. And I get nervous around them. Not to mention I am not a fan of school.

1: Working with children is (currently) incompatible with my activism, I don't want to limit my activism to online spaces only (as exclusively-online activism WON'T change anything without activism IRL too)

2: My personality tends to go from 0 to 100 on most things, if I can't be 100% myself with children then I prefer to avoid them altogether.

(as a clarification this issue is NOT about self-control)

3: I have no previous academic experience about pedagogy or working with children, I personally don't think I would be a bad teacher but it wouldn't be a professional one either.

4: I don't feel any urge to meet children in any way, I feel good enough with adult friends and I think i can live all my lifetime without children if needed (despite I recognize that would be pretty sad)