I am appalled at the lack of outrage to this story! I really am. It signifies one of two things to me (or both):

1. We in Baltimore are so immune to the pervasiveness of the gang culture all around us, and in our schools, that when an incident like this happens, we just shrug our shoulders and feign shock.

2. Parental involvement/concern is absolutely and unabashedly pathetic when it comes to engagement in Harbor City (and MANY MANY others) that issues like this don't even stir calls for probing answers or explanations.

Im also interested and curious to know why the commenters who are the big North Ave. trumpeters have said nothing about this. Im curious for the line out of the puzzle palace.

Little Melvin had a radio show and did spots on a cable TV show. He was enlisted to talk to young men at times.

The only difference between this and scared straight is that they are not in a prison.

Sex offenders, especially child sex offenders, committed their crimes, in most part, against those who are weaker then they are. Weaker physically, emotionally and/or intellectually, etc...To a prison-hardened sex offender, I'd say a school campus is littered with weaker individuals. And in a considerable number of cases, the target is random. I hope that all sex offenders do get the help they need and overcome their demons, but who gets to be the guinea pig to see if they have? What class? What school? Which students exactly? Think their parents would be ok with it?
As for murder...People kill/get killed for many reasons. Should a former gang member who has made serious mistakes, yet paid their debt to society, who has now has pledged to do all s/he can to prevent others from making their mistakes and also been deemed sincere be prohibited from making the difference to which they have now dedicated their life? If so, it seems like a waste of good intention. But it's a case by case basis. Should we hypothetically allow someone with multiple murders on their record, perhaps including an innocent child victim of a drive-by, to engage young students? I would say that at that point, that person's hypothetical crimes are too significant to gain placement amidst school kids.

Sex offense, on many levels, is more heinous than murder. While the victim may live, it was as if the perpetrator said, "I am more powerful, I am going to take what I want and leave you in a beaten, crumpled heap. Whether you live, die, or live in misery from that point on, is of no consequence to me." While the perpetrator may eventually see the heinousness of the crime, once one is deemed a sex offender, I think it's past the point of no return for the State to then endorse their position on a school campus.

Ex Con's should go through a screening process to ensure the safety of students. If someone has a felony or a violent charge in the past, as much information as possible should be gathered on that individual. I would think their probation/parole officer should be a part of this process as well. I think at least 45 days should pass after their release before they could enter a school. ( I know many are thinking longer but giving back could help rehabilitate the Ex Con too ). There is no "cookie cutter" method here, as stated before approval should be on a case by case basis.

It should go without mention that the Principal be made aware, but I'll mention it anyway. In certain schools and situations Ex Cons can impact some tough to reach students. Despite their mistakes, they do have something to offer at risk youth. It is imperative however that they are closely monitored, given specific guidelines (signed Volunteer agreement) and never left alone with any student or students.

I am a bit confused here. I've worked with people who volunteered in schools and they had to go to North Ave. and do a background check before getting issued a volunteer badge. As an External Programs Coordinator I can see it being a burden to have every single outside partner who comes in the door first go through that process. Especially since North Ave. never actually sent the badges to the people I know despite repeated visits/phone calls/requests after a clean background check.

I'm thinking of an event where I had over 20 different organizations come in to conduct a series of workshops for a day about leadership. If they all had to get screened by North Ave. first it would've effectively killed the event. Obviously I worked with these partners (mostly non-profit employees) and met them in person myself prior to inviting them to the school.

So where does North Ave. currently draw the line and where SHOULD we draw the line? Should everyone who comes in to a school for an hour long discussion have to go through North Ave. first? Is it when they're planning on working directly with kids on a consistent basis? Can we take North Ave. out of the equation and let individual schools do the screening? It would be more efficient but it would also lead to some unchecked mistakes like the one talked about in your story. Can we risk those mistakes but try to minimize them by making principals more aware and holding them more accountable when they do let ex-murderers straight out the pen come to their school?

I've got a ton more to say, I'll save it for another post.

I think that we shouldnt let ex convicts into our schools because I dont think students would feel safe and if we do then we should do backround checks to see if they have changed their ways because I read the article and he got out in september and was hired in october so he couldnt possibly have changed that quick

I do not understand why any school would hire a convicted felon that was realeased on a murder charge, just two months before they hire them. Safety of the students should be more important then having someone that can relate to the students. I wonder if the parents of the students were informed that a convicted felon was working in the school. A convicted felon should not work at a school. You never know if a convicted felon had be rehabilitated or not.

I think that convicted felons should get another chance. Rainbow(laugh, laugh) din't get put in jail for rape so he should be permitted to work around children because he has a story to share with the world and you never know how he could affect someones life by telling his story to a group of teenagers. Teenagers need someone who they can relate to and Rainbow was just the person for that he lived the gang life, he had all the things that a young person could hope for but the way he went about it was all wrong and if he could stop a young person from making the same mistake by telling his story well then more power to him.

I think ex-cons should have a second chance.I say this because some ex-con come home from jail and change for the better and some people dont. But, you can tell the difference in the people who change for the better and the people who dont change at all.We can not blame the school for him being a ex-con and being readmitted into jail. I say this because he honestly got into the school because of what he said he would do . As I quote he said "I want to help young people get there lives together because I been there and done that". That is probably what made them think that Mr. Rainbow was a changed man . But, they dont know what he do outside of that school or job. For example my Uncle just returned home from jail on May4 2009 . Since my Uncle returned home he has been doing a great job. He has been seeing his children and family also looking for a job in the city. But , if he's not in the house he is not watched so we dont know what he do . So there's probably a big chance that he may end up back in jail.

I don't believe in second chances because who knows what is really on someones mind and what they are really going to do. Alot of people take their chances for granted. He was abusing his chance by being a gang leader. He was also probably recruiting gang members while he was at the school. I think that a formal criminal and a sex offender should not be able to work with children, especially if they are a gang leader because everyone knows that in most schools already have gangs in them. And there are young boys willing to be recruited. I think that if they are not going to allow a sex offender around a bunch of children why let a murderer be around them? Both crimes are very serious and if someone commits them I don't think that they should be forgiven. He was faking it the whole time and if he never got caught he probably would be still doing what he was doing. I know it may be very harsh but I don't believe that people should get second chances becuse you can't trust.

I think this whole situation is crazy. The problem is not crazy, but the way it's being handled. Williams shouldn't have been dealing drugs, so he made his bed now he have to lie in it. But I do think students should have guess speakers who can relate to them. Since they are on common ground they'll "bump heads" and can relate to one another. But now we won't be able to have workshops like this, because of incidents like this. Now this is exactly why convicts aren't given a second chance, and he just proved the people who say convicts shouldn't be trusted right.

I believe in second chances but I also believe it is not for everybody. Williams was a convicted murderer. So what! They found out why he did it and still hired him. I personally don't see a problem with them hiring him but they did mess up because he was still in the gang. If it was a rapist it would have been a different story but if it is a murderer, thief, or some type of crimial record just find out why they did it and are they still doing it.

ex cons shold be allowed to work at schools for two reasons. one, students will be more respectful if they think the teacher might hurt them in some way,and two the criminal students in school will be aware that they might go to jail also if they continue the crimes they commit

I think that after ex- convicted murders or ex- jail people get out of jail they should be able to work in schools or where ever they want. The reason is because everybody deserves a second chance to better themselve/ be better in life.They should be able to work in schools after they get a backround check to see if they should work there but keep there eye on them very close.

I think that having convicted felon as a volunteer in a school would be a good idea if that person is truly commited to turning his/her life around.If not it would be a very big mistake.

I dont think that ex-cons should be allowed around stududent but sometimes it may be a good idea.I dont think so because not all ex-cons are the same maybe one ex-con changed their life to a better person an not what they use to be but somtimes ex-con can go an talk to kids about their previous life an what they have been through. They can also tell them that being in jail is not a good place to be in.

I think it is better for schools to volunteer at a school. As lonl as he is monitored closely. I say this is better because students can witness first hand a person that has been through gang conflicts and is in a gang. They can learn from the criminals mistakes and be better than what they were . They can see what happens to gang members. Hopefully after speaking to a gang member students will choose the right path.