Comments on: Should a teacher’s Facebook posts ruin her career?

By: Judith Julian

Judith Julian — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:47:40 +0000

I am a teacher in Duval County, Florida. I was just put on a disciplinary action 1 step for posting, verbatim, the words of a new principal at our school. I did not state any names, either of the principal or the school. The worst I wrote was at the end of the post where I stated, “I’d like to say go FY”, exactly written like this. I was told I was to remove the fact that I am a DCPS employee from my page. How does this not fall under freedom of speech protection? This prinicpal also told me I was borderling on slander. And what right do they have to pull our facebook pages? Surely they could spend their time more wisely doing something, like, oh, I don’t know…educating children?

By: David Mach

David Mach — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 07:24:31 +0000

To prevent good teachers (and other public figures) from making bad posts, I have created Ten Commandments for Teachers on the Web. Please share it with your nontenured teaching colleagues, friends, and family. http://tinyurl.com/2dmy9bw

By: Where Are We Headed with Facebook in Business? «Papercut Edge

Where Are We Headed with Facebook in Business? «Papercut Edge — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 19:22:36 +0000

[...] Should a teacher’s Facebook posts ruin her career [...]

By: If ‘Big Brother’ really is watching, tell him to get some damn business! « EducationCEO's Blog

Wed, 05 May 2010 04:38:49 +0000

[...] I started thinking about Ashley Payne, the Barrow County teacher who was fired over her Facebook page last year (wait, it gets better). ‘Supposedly’ a concerned parent wrote a letter [...]

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:01:10 +0000

The question here is not whether or not she was doing something inappropriate. Evidently, that is subjective–I think getting drunk and going to vulgar (even if popular and legal) games is inappropriate (for any age) and at the very least lacks creativity, but that’s my opinion. It’s the OPINION of most on this page that there’s nothing wrong with it and that’s fine. In this case, however, the school district is given the responsibility to make that decision and when you accept a position as a teacher you are putting yourself under it’s rules. As an ex-teacher (high-school), I can tell you that you start learning about your “rights” before you even graduate from college. If this woman did not know her rights or was too flustered or not confident enough at that moment to assert herself, then that is unfortunate, but still her fault. Luckily, we live in a country of endless second chances. She can sue (and is exercising that right) and has hopefully learned a valuable lesson. I think everyone would agree that there has to be some line for what is inappropriate behavior and there must be consequences to enforce those expectations. (Otherwise we’d have anarchy). Most people don’t seem to agree with where the line is being drawn in this case (an example in itself of the moral decay in our country) and that is you’re right. Teachers do have to be more careful with their behavior because of their job (If you don’t like that, there are other professions to choose from–they all have pros and cons). This case hopefully makes teachers more aware and sensitive to what they do and that’s never a bad thing.

By: Crystal

Crystal — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:02:59 +0000

Sounds to me like it may have been the work of the principal himself. No one, unless privy to the information prior to or a vendetta against that person, would take action that quickly with absolutely no information/evidence except an “anonymous” e-mail, and then give them no alternative except resignation…..and through intimidation at that! He left her no choice by telling her she couldn’t win and the PSC would pull her license or he could suspend her and then not tell her what the consequences of suspension were, except to make it sound final. I hope she wins her fight…..we need more teachers that really care about there job and less political views of administration…..

By: CIndy

CIndy — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:07:53 +0000

What if Ashley is out at a restaurant and orders a beer or wine and one of her students or student’s parents enter the restaurant. Should she hide the beverage? No! It is not illegal for a teacher to consume alcohol as long as they are of legal age. It is not illegal for anyone to post pictures of them doing so either. Only in Georgia!!! Are these people a bunch of bible carrying hicks? Sounds like to me the parent was disgruntled and was looking for something wrong. I also bet the parent the reported the pictures probably is less a role model than the teacher. Sometime the worse parents are those who drink alcohol, smoke and curse in front of their own children but expect the teacher to be a perfect role model. Why would they be looking at her facebook page if they were not a facebook friend of hers. How can they even be sure that the contents of the mug or glass was beer or wine? Where they there? The wine glass could have had cranberry juice. Sounds like with no proof that it was wine how do they just assume it was. I think we all know that they were looking for a reason to fire her. If they weren’t happy with her teaching performance, they should have mentored her and helped her. She probably only had been teaching for a year or two.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:06:12 +0000

Simply absurd. The contract is completely unconstitutional. Drinking is legal, plain and simple. You cannot restrict legal activity.
The evangelical theocracy of the South rears it’s ugly head, I fear. They would rather enforce medieval religious doctrine than get their kids a good education.
I hope she sues. She will win. The principal, obviously a spineless idiot, should lose his job.
We are in a period of polar opposites: reactionary extremism and intolerance from the religious right and an era of absurd, infantile expectation of perfection from public servants by my sad “ME” generation of parents. A toxic brew that is dismantling the progressive, tolerant and humane strides made in the middle of the last century. Yet another example, here.
It is time to strike back, with liberal humanist decency, against both the materialists and the intolerant religious right.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:30:33 +0000

I think that the school district should NOT fire someone for having a facebook page. I think they should not even monitor the pages very often. If it is reported that someone is doing something really illegal (such as sex with a minor) or assaulting minors, maybe an inquiry should be made. I think that something such as having a drink at a restaurant or a bar, or attending a place where a gambling game is and showing a picture should not be a problem. After all, most teachers are over the legal age to participate in these activities. If this is a concern to parents, the teacher may want to make his/her profile private or not take friend requests from students.

By: future educator

future educator — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:52:54 +0000

Let’s be realistic here folks. She’s in her early 20’s and slipped up. Regardless of policy and polotics, she’s human. If an adult beverage is all she had, so be it. Educators are not the highest paid profession but parents want them to walk on water! I know my children’s teachers are not perfect, but I’m not going to request their resignation. How is it that America can overlook professional athletes and actors for their crazy mishaps? Those are who our youth emulate. You continue to buy the sports apparrel,dvd, and music to some of those idiots. Educators are always on a witch and no one stands up for their careers. All those crooked pastors,preachers, and priest get some remorse from the media and public. Some of you posting have probably had a DWI, domestic violence, and some other “humiliating” experience. I know what type of career choice I am making, but my shoulders are broad enough to bare it. JUST VENTING FOLKS. But really, cut her some slack.