Facebook and teachers: Still a potentially dangerous combination for your career
While ex Barrow County teacher Ashley Payne still awaits her day in court over the Facebook page photos of her trip to Europe that landed her in hot water with her principal and to a resignation that she maintains was coerced, other teachers continue to get in trouble over their social networking sites.
Among the latest casualty: A Massachusetts school administrator resigned at the end of last week after posting on her Facebook page that the parents in her upscale town were “arrogant” and “snobby.” June Talvitie-Siple was the program supervisor for science and math at Cohasset High School until school officials found out about the comments.
The 30-year veteran also posted that she was, “so not looking forward to another year at Cohasset Schools.” And she called students “germ bags.” Unlike Payne who limited her Facebook page to her friends, Talvitie-Siple had not restricted the wall of her Facebook page. Parents spotted the comments and alerted the superintendent who asked Talvitie-Siple to resign. She complied, saying that she would have likely done the same thing if she were school chief.
“I made a stupid mistake, it may have cost me my career,” said Talvitie-Siple, who has since changed her Facebook settings and wants other teachers to learn from her mistake.
“I take full responsibility for my stupidity and I hope it serves as an example to kids that they need to be very, very vigilant about their privacy,” she told ABC News
In a case similar to Ashley Payne’s experience, a sociology professor at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania was suspended for a posting to her Facebook page, which she said she had on the highest privacy settings.
Writing in jest, Professor Gloria Gadsden wrote: “Does anyone know where I can find a very discrete hitman? Yes, it’s been that kind of day?” A few months later, she posted, “had a good day today. DIDN’T want to kill even one student. 
. Now Friday was a different story.”
As happened to Payne, someone with access to the “private” Facebook page notified the school of Gadsden’s jokes. In Payne’s case, the anonymous note was written by someone alleging to be a parent whose teen was a Facebook friend of Payne’s. Payne says she had no students as friends and no student has ever been found. In fact, the district has yet to determine the source of the e-mail. You can read here why I am pretty sure another teacher wrote the incriminating e-mail that led to Payne losing her job.
In 2008, North Carolina’s Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools disciplined seven educators for their social networking postings, including an elementary school teacher who posted derogatory statements about her young students on Facebook.
The teacher listed “teaching chitlins in the ghetto of Charlotte” among her interests on her Facebook profile. In her About Me section, the teacher also wrote, “I am teaching in the most ghetto school in Charlotte.”
According to the Charlotte Observer:
John Gresham of Charlotte, who represents the teacher, said she only meant to share her comments with friends with access to her page on the popular social networking site. She now faces possible firing for listing “teaching chitlins in the ghetto of Charlotte” among her activities.
“Facebook pages are only meant to be viewed by people permitted to see them,” said Gresham, who questioned how her private postings became public.
On Thursday, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools spokeswoman Nora Carr said the district allows teachers to post personal information online, but had to take action because it affected the teacher’s ability to interact with students and parents. She called the comments racially insensitive or offensive to students at Thomasboro Elementary School, where she teaches. “Clearly, when there is poor professional judgment, it impacts the teacher’s ability to do their job,” Carr said.
CMS officials plan to send a memo to their 19,000 employees saying that Web postings that can be viewed by the public should be appropriate.
A 26-year-old third-grade CMS teacher who did not want her name used, fearing reprisals, said the district hasn’t clearly specified what employees can and cannot post on such sites. Most teachers think if they keep their profiles private, she said, they’ll be safe.
“Our principal encouraged us to use our profiles to post links like ‘Adopt A Classroom’ to bring in potential donors,” she said. “But, given the recent investigations, he also told us to be careful about our Facebook material.”
CMS announced earlier this week it had suspended the teacher and disciplined four others for postings on Facebook. The action came after WCNC, the Observer’s news partner, discovered the pages on the Web site by searching for people who identified themselves as CMS employees.
Postings include photos of female teachers in sexually suggestive poses and a black male teacher who listed “Chillin wit my n—as!!!” as an activity.
In her “About Me” section, the suspended teacher wrote: “I am teaching in the most ghetto school in Charlotte.” Most students at Thomasboro Elementary are minorities from low-income homes.
Gresham said the district took action against her because officials were embarrassed by news reports. He questioned whether it was appropriate for a reporter to air private postings.
He said the teacher is helping the district with grading while she is suspended, and has been sharing lesson plans.
Teachers nationwide have been fired or suspended for online postings. Among them: A Colorado English teacher lost her job for posting her sexually explicit poetry on MySpace, a Florida band director was fired for a profile that included “his musings about sex, drugs and depression,” and a Virginia art teacher lost his job for posting photos of his “butt art,” done by painting his private parts and pressing them onto canvas.
I still go back to what Tim Callahan of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators said in response to the Ashley Payne incident.
We have talked to teachers about their expectations of privacy in this new world. As American citizens, they have a First Amendment Right to have a Facebook page, but we are telling them, ‘Don’t do it.”’
I think it is good advice. What do you think?
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127 comments Add your comment
another concerned parent
August 23rd, 2010
9:08 am
No blog post about the AJC article by Alan Judd yesterday? I’m sure you must have an opinion.
what to think?
August 23rd, 2010
9:13 am
We have talked to teachers about their expectations of privacy in this new world. As American citizens, they have a First Amendment Right to have a Facebook page, but we are telling them, ‘Don’t do it.”’
I think it is good advice. What do you think?
I think he’s right. And I think it’s sad and pathetic that he’s right, and ultimately to the detriment of society that words become so scary that we as a society don’t think we can handle them, and therefore have to suppress the people who use them.
@another concerned parent
August 23rd, 2010
9:18 am
“No blog post about the AJC article by Alan Judd yesterday? I’m sure you must have an opinion.”
It is very immoral of you to bring this up Another. As Shirley Franklin pointed out, the AJC reporting may very well “destabilize” the situation, and your bringing it up risks throwing APS into chaos.
Why aren’t crisis counselors being sent into the schools to comfort the children who have been destabilized and thrown into chaos?
Facebook and teachers: Still a potentially dangerous combination … | Just Useful for you
August 23rd, 2010
9:30 am
[...] Read more from the original source: Facebook and teachers: Still a potentially dangerous combination … [...]
Gwinnett Parent
August 23rd, 2010
9:32 am
Boundaries need to be set in stone relating to a teacher’s privacy. Perhaps written procedures and limitations on Facebook usage should be in place. I would like to see a hands off approach to anything private (i.e. sipping wine on vacation). Granted, derogatory comments should not be made public where everyone can see them and commonsense needs to be used. If a teacher cannot contain him/herself, then there might be a serious issue or threat to the students(i.e. wanting to kill students).
Dr NO
August 23rd, 2010
9:37 am
Chaos is a well respected organization. These idiots with FaceBook pages are only receiving the trouble for which they have requested. Have you people not leared yet.
What a society of Stupids.
You Asked
August 23rd, 2010
9:38 am
Good judgement. It’s not just for public anymore.
AJinCobb
August 23rd, 2010
9:43 am
The practical reality of life is that certain jobs have always greatly restricted what a person can say in any kind of public setting. I grew up in a clergy family and believe me, neither the minister nor any member of the family can ever really say what they think about any subject, except for the most banal and innocuous remarks. I expect it’s similar for teachers. The problem for teachers, particularly young teachers, is plainly that this new era technology has fooled some into thinking that they can have an online life like their non-teaching friends do. It’s just not smart.
This is where anonymity on blogs like this is such a problem. On the one hand, anonymity tends to promote incivility. On the other, how many teachers could make any kind of meaningful comment here under their real names?
I’m a parent, by the way, and have never been nor aspired to be a school teacher.
Maureen Downey
August 23rd, 2010
9:49 am
@AJincobb, I have been surprised at the expectations put on the spouses of clergy. A former neighbor married to a minister ran into that when her husband took a job in a small Tennessee church mainly attended by older people. She wore jeans to an evening function at the church, and set off a small scandal.
come on now
August 23rd, 2010
9:58 am
yea, sounds like some have no common sense.
BUTT art, i mean really, he had to have second thoughts?
Ernest
August 23rd, 2010
10:15 am
It is unfortunate that this new era of technology requires us to be careful of what we say or do, even in environments we might consider safe. The general rule should be don’t say or do anything in a public setting that you wouldn’t want to appear on a webpage. As an adult it is somewhat easy but I do worry about our children…..
November
August 23rd, 2010
10:17 am
Censorship at it’s worst…..folks, if we’re not careful we’re not gonna be able to talk, even in front of our own children lest we be sent to a labor camp
drew (former teacher)
August 23rd, 2010
10:18 am
Choices and consequences. The Law of Logical Consequences has not been repealed. If people want to post intimate and personal information on the internet, they should expect that others will see it.
I guess it’s just another sign that I’m becoming an old fart, but I cannot for the life of me understand why so many people feel the need to post every detail of their life, no matter how personal or intimate, for all to see. Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc…the communications revolution seems to be creating a generation of people screaming at the top of their lungs to the entire world: Look at me! LOOK AT ME!
And then they’re surprised when someone looks?
myrtlebrwn
August 23rd, 2010
10:35 am
Hmmm, I guess teachers aren’t supposed to have any life outside of school? Maybe the parents should spend less time stalking the teachers and whining about these supposed grievances and more time realizing that their children may actually be getting a great education at school.
I haven’t seen anything in your article that most of us haven’t done, thought, said, or want to do.
Okay, I draw the line at the butt art, but that’s just because my behind wouldn’t fit on the canvas.
You always do me proud Ichabuddy.
td
August 23rd, 2010
10:41 am
Don’t we live in the United States of America? Is not one of the main reason this country is great is because we have the right to free speech? These people that are turning in teachers for having wine glasses on the table or saying the parents are snobs are the problem. Everyone that loves freedom should rise up and publicly ridicule them for trying to censor another citizens right to free speech. I will do it. You people that are trying to take away someones freedom should be flogged in public. You should be shamed for being trying to control another human beings words. You are a disgusting person as far as I am concerned.
Just my free speech thoughts.
Northview (Ex)teacher
August 23rd, 2010
10:41 am
Northview parents,
You are snobby and arrogant and many of your kids are pains-in-the-butt.
td
August 23rd, 2010
10:43 am
BTW: Where is the heck is the ACLU? They should be raising cain over this kind of crap.
AJinCobb
August 23rd, 2010
10:46 am
@td,
Many Americans have a very narrow definition of “freedom”. The freedom they love and cherish is their own freedom from taxation. That’s it. Others’ freedoms, particularly freedom of speech, no, they’re not really in favor of that.
td
August 23rd, 2010
10:48 am
And to the school systems that are even thinking about asking for or forcing the resignations of these teachers, what in the heck are you teaching our children? Not any morals or values that I would like you to teach my children. Lets see, you kids must conform to group think and can not have any independent thought? The bill of rights does not matter for everyone in our country? If you do not like what someone says then tell on them instead of dealing with it?
td
August 23rd, 2010
10:52 am
@ AJinCobb, I know exactly what you are saying. We the people need to stand up and tell these people to get a life and we are not going to be censored because they get their little feelings hurt. These people need to grow the heck up and deal with it.
td
August 23rd, 2010
11:00 am
drew (former teacher), I know I disagree with things Maureen writes on this blog and really disagree with some of the statements by some of the bloggers. I would never write the paper and tell them Maureen should be fired for what she said. Matter of fact, I will come stand by her and fight to my last breath for her right to say it and for the other bloggers right to say it. This is the signal we should be sending too and teaching our children.
An advocate for public education change & choice
August 23rd, 2010
11:00 am
The expectation of data privacy when posting on the social networking sites that have become in alot of cases quasi-required business tools (i.e. facebook, twitter, linkdin et al.) is of rising concern.
The legal lines are very blurry and to the best of my knowledge there has not yet been a precedent legal case to bring some clarity to the surface. I think the simple rule in today’s climate is to expect that nothing you post on these sites are private (dispite the settings they these sites offer). Surely there are many corporate concerns who specialize in gathering up data from these sites and repackaging it into all kinds of tools that used by employers for background checks or even collection agency’s trying to hunt down debtors.
This is not the first or the last we will hear of such cases. I expect the watershed case to hit the court system within the 2-3 years that will blow the lid off of one of this country’s most widely known secrets.
It’s time for data privacy laws to be updated to fit the 21st century landscape.
Claneygo
August 23rd, 2010
11:33 am
The days of political correctness need to die. What someone does on their own time, is their own business, and should remain that way, period.
teachSS
August 23rd, 2010
12:06 pm
While I agree that any hateful comments about students, parents or the community should not be posted on Facebook, other personal things that are not illegal should not be used against a teacher. Teacher’s are college-educated adults and have adult lifestyles. I recently read of a teacher from the North that had pics posted of her at a party without her knowledge. Nothing illegal in them, just her with a group of women at a party with a male stripper (he wasn’t naked). The school fired her and she got her job back after suing….this is what SHOULD happen if a school chooses to dismiss a teacher in this situation. Personal, legal activites by an adult (teacher or not) should not be used against them.
Lynn
August 23rd, 2010
12:44 pm
School systems can be sued for violating First Amendment rights. Please read them and then you will know what I am talking about. Teachers have a right to post what they will!! As long it’s not direct threat to what or whom they teach.
Burned a Bridge
August 23rd, 2010
12:48 pm
How about students getting chastised for posting comments about their teachers? I made the mistake of befriending one of my grad school professors on facebook (we’re the same age and became friends – or so I thought). Then one day I wasn’t even thinking and posted “I hate this stupid assignment” out of frustration for a particularly difficult project and another student chimed in on it and it was an assignment that said professor had written. Needless to say I burned a bridge there because the professor didn’t take the comments so lightly. I don’t blame her but I certainly wasn’t meaning to call her stupid. She told all of her colleagues about what had happened and all of a sudden the professors weren’t so kind to me anymore – especially the professor handling my thesis!! Although in the end I think he realized what a hardworking student I was and created his own opinion of me.. a good one. I think teachers and students alike need to be careful what they say on facebook or other social networking site because it could come back to haunt you. Best to abide by the rule “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”
Private School Guy
August 23rd, 2010
12:54 pm
I think there is a difference between posting something personal and something inappropriate relating to your work activities. But criticizing public policies on the part of of a local school system or or a state in which you are a tax payer and voter is another thing teachers should be concerned citizen not worker drones. But making posts (textual or visually) of legal activities such as smoking, drinking or wearing a bathing suit should not be forbidden. Our president has been photographed doing all these things. I would much rather my students see me sipping wine in a good restaurant than stuffing my mouth with unhealthy food in a burger joint.
samlee
August 23rd, 2010
12:56 pm
I am a teacher in a small town. I have a Facebook account but I do not have any students as friends. I have explained my reasons to my students. I do not post any thing offensive, nor have I ever had a picture taken of me doing something offensive. However, other acquaintances have posted things that show up that I consider offensive. Generally, I delete those people as friends. I understood when I became a teacher that I was being held to a higher standard than others. If you don’t want to set and example for kids, don’t become a teacher.
Marie
August 23rd, 2010
1:08 pm
My son lost his job as a firefighter (he had never been written up for any reason and had high commendations on his work) because a youtube video was posted by someone of he and another firefighter wrestling in their exercise room at work. That is what firefighters do with their downtime….clean up trucks and exercise. He is now blackballed and cannot get a job in that field for anything. It’s ridiculous what’s going on with our loss of the “freedom of speech” in this country. Everything has to be politically correct. I am even nervous posting this on here…..
Mac
August 23rd, 2010
1:10 pm
This is out of hand! Teachers are people/humans and are not perfect. They fall victim to the same natural urges the rest of us have, to express themselves. And though I agree in cases that are of a teachers breaking a law then by all means punish away but for a teacher to lose their jobs/careers over such petty stuff (drinking and being caught acting like an idiot which is not illegal last time I checked) is stupid. WHO HASN’T? Really! Who hasn’t wanted to vent about the “Germ Bag” kid screaming in the store (”Germ Bag” is nice,I call them little S****), who hasn’t had a few beers and posed like an idiot for some pictures? Let he without sin cast the first stone! Cut these people some slack! I can think of a million ways our tax dollars can be better used rather then ruining teachers lives over such stupid things. Can we get back to the cause, the kids education. As a parent I don’t give a lick what my son’s teacher does after hours as long as they are professionals while at school and around my child and can do their jobs well. Okay, I feel better. Thanks for letting me vent. Have a great day!
Noah Little
August 23rd, 2010
1:13 pm
@Lynn — It’s a bit of a leap between “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press” and the notion that there must be no consequences to what we say or write. Of COURSE exercising your freedom of speech has consequences. That’s why it’s called freedom of speech, and not freedom from consequences.
Marie
August 23rd, 2010
1:14 pm
doesn’t anybody remember the French Revolution? Welcome, Citizen and Citizenesse
Bethann
August 23rd, 2010
1:18 pm
I agree whole heartedly with samlee. As teachers, we ARE to be held to a higher standard. We CANNOT think that we have the right to be offensive, derogatory, or even just a bunch of complainers. I have to wonder about this generation of teachers- is it true what they say about people deciding to teach simply to have summers off? What has happened to common sense, or common decency? Please use your brains, people!!! You are giving our collective profession a really horrible image!
Katie
August 23rd, 2010
1:21 pm
Okay, I’ll say it: I LOATHE Facebook. Never had a page, never will. No matter how many privacy protections you put in place, a motivated parent or student or even colleague will get in and use your information against you.
Like it or not, teachers are public figures. We live our lives in the public eye, and we must act accordingly. We are role models whether we want to be or not, and we must consider that when we say or do things that others will know about. Witness the fallout from Obama’s comments re: the mosque. What he said was true. But he’s still dealing with the political fire because of who he is. The same is true for anything we may post online. And yes, that’s why I use a pen name on this blog.
Like it or not, Facebook should not be a place for teachers. Even if a teacher dismissed for Facebook sues and wins, his or her career is over. Winning the battle but losing the war is not worth it.
Reputation Defender : Reputation Management, Internet Privacy, and Social Media Quick Hits
August 23rd, 2010
1:32 pm
[...] School Administrator Fired After Criticizing Parents on Facebook [...]
Future Teacher
August 23rd, 2010
1:41 pm
As a future teacher, I’ve already taken down any post or comment off my page that anyone, colleagues or students or admins, might use against me. (Note: I work with kids now and have neither kids or parents as friends, either current or past). In fact, I’m thinking of just removing the whole thing. Unfortunately, Katie is right; any motivated student, parent of colleague will find a way to get “dirt” on a teacher whether it’s material that is okay or not. It’s not right, but it’s fact today.
However, concerning the teachers posting awful comments about their jobs or students, if they feel the need to publicly post their anger or frustration, by all, they need to be fired. They are obviously in the wrong line of work.
Future Teacher
August 23rd, 2010
1:43 pm
“nor” not “or”
RJ
August 23rd, 2010
1:44 pm
You mean to tell me that just because a teacher said she didn’t want to kill even one student, which was obviously in jest, their career can be on on the line? Really?! So when I say I could’ve killed my kids for doing something really stupid DFACS will come in and take them away? This is becoming ridiculous. This is why I rarely post anything on Facebook and am very careful when I do. Teachers are held to higher standards than just about any profession, but respected the least of all.
I Support Education
August 23rd, 2010
1:44 pm
@Private School Guy: President Obama has been photographed drinking? Alcohol? Oh my! That’s not what I voted for! Another reason to run him out of town!
Oh, wrong blog! LOL. I have personally boycotted Facebook for a few reasons… 1) to avoid being friend requested by folks I haven’t seen or talked to in almost 25 years 2) to avoid to have to explain posted comments to those friends (some comments are not meant to be commented on) 3) To avoid being tagged in photos from 20 years that have been digitized and posted (I WAS a party animal) 4) TOO KEEP SOME OF MY LIFE PRIVATE AND TO MYSELF.
I have been watching security alerts and such regarding Facebook. It seems that by avoiding FB, I have avoided scammers who steal my personal information and hack my email account, and fake dislike buttons, and oh yeah, all of a sudden my private page is so public because FB admins changed a setting.
When they get their act together, maybe I’ll join. To tell the truth, FB reminds me of AOL in the early years of the internet. Everything accessible through one portal. Y’all are going backwards FRIENDS!
Intelligence?
August 23rd, 2010
1:46 pm
“Educators” posting derogatory things on a public system like facebook, that can end their careers? no wonder the schools are so messed up with these morons in the classroom.
BOB
August 23rd, 2010
1:47 pm
Here the problem with using Facebook. Most people don’t know how to setup to use Facebook for friends only. Here an example if your friends with say Bill while Bill friends can see your page since you don’t have it setup right. Many users do not know this.
I Support Education
August 23rd, 2010
1:50 pm
psst… if you want to vent, get a new free email address, open a twitter account (that DOESN’T include your real name) and post there. If you must post rants about students and parents, post there. BUT be careful about mentioning the name of your school or district or using any Proper Names…. Teachers, You CAN vent online and anonymously, you just have to be shrewd about it.
Cissy
August 23rd, 2010
2:03 pm
1. Fair or not, teachers have always been held to a higher standard of behavior than the general public.
2. Posts on Facebook WILL be perused and, in many cases, shared even when they aren’t “meant” to be shared. Facebook is a PUBLIC MEDIUM. It’s not a diary; it’s not a private phone line. It’s not even a multi-owner (”party”) line. It’s PUBLIC. Expectations of “privacy,” especially from a company whose founder has had to be forced to allow people to increase their level of privacy, are not reasonable. If you don’t want everyone to know what you’ve said, don’t say it on Facebook.
3. Teachers like to say that they are “professionals.” Other professionals, including accountants, doctors, therapists, lawyers, and ministers, have a legal obligation NOT TO TALK about their clients. It follows that teachers, if they want to be considered professionals, should not talk about their “clients,” i.e., their students and the students’ parents. Teachers who share publicly the sort of comments the teachers in this story shared on Facebook are lucky that they are not facing legal action for breach of fiduciary duty.
3.
AJinCobb
August 23rd, 2010
2:06 pm
Some of this is very sobering. My high-schooler, an unusually aware young lady, is always fretting over how friends post pictures from social events and “tag” everyone. Although she’s a good kid and doesn’t attend the wrong kind of parties, she still worries about being caught in some goofy photo that she wasn’t even aware was taken, and a potential employer will be looking at it 10 years from now. It’s a real concern. Removing one’s FB account isn’t the solution, either. That doesn’t stop people from typing your name when they’re tagging. Furthermore, my teen is actually not all that fond of social media (unlike most of her contemporaries) and would be quite happy to get rid of her FB account, but – ridiculous as it may seem – it’s essential for school projects. Whenever high school students are assigned a group project these days, they all assume they’ll collaborate via Facebook messaging. It’s just not practical to say “sorry, I don’t use FB” to classmates, I’m told.
interested observer
August 23rd, 2010
2:18 pm
Anyone who uses Facebook should understand that whatever is posted can easily be made public. If you don’t want someone to see something, don’t post it.
To many people use social networking sites to vent, oblivious to the fact that everything they say, every picture they post, has the potential to be seen by anyone. A lot of them will pay dearly for that oversight, but teachers who get caught with inappropriate postings have no one to blame for themselves. The same is true for any other group of professionals.
Just because you can post something doesn’t mean you should.
I Support Education
August 23rd, 2010
2:20 pm
@AJinCobb: I agree that using FB to collaborate on school group projects is ridiculous. If the school systems (esp Cobb) wanted students to do this, they should offer their own secure version of FB or online collaboration tool. (I wonder how much “collaborating” realy done via FB messaging. It’s a parental hoax I tell you — kids pulling wool over parent’s eyes.)
seen it all
August 23rd, 2010
2:26 pm
First of all,
Teachers are not public figures. They are private citizens who have the same rights to privacy and decency as any other person. What makes them different is that SOME people seek to find ways to criticize and destroy them.
That being said– I DO NOT POST ANYTHING ON FACEBOOK. I DO NOT HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE OR MYSPACE. I DON’T TWIT, TWEET, OR ANYTHING ELSE. WHY? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE INTERNET IS LIKE AN OPEN BOOK. I AM CAREFUL WHAT I DO ON ANY COMPUTER CONECTED TO THE INTERNET- HOME, SCHOOL, OR OTHERWISE.
AGAIN– WHY? READ THE STORIES OF THE ABOVEMENTIONED EDUCATORS.
Learned your lesson? Any questions?
Besides who needs myspace anyway? I already have a space and I don’t want you to see my face.
td
August 23rd, 2010
2:29 pm
I can not believe what I am reading on here today. There are no such state or federal laws passed that says a teacher has to check their free speech rights when they are outside of the classroom. BTW: for you teachers on here wanting to restrict the rights of teachers, do you know why teachers were originally given tenure? Yes, to protect their free speech rights within the classroom. Should we do away with tenure now? I am starting to feel bad for my children on where this country is going when even teachers want to take away their own rights:-(
Hey Teacher
August 23rd, 2010
2:40 pm
Before the internet, teachers were told not to be seen drinking alcohol in public, especially in small towns like Winder. In my case, my first principal gathered all of the first year teachers and told us not to attend the faculty happy hours (of course we ignored that, but checked first to make sure there weren’t any parents in the bar LOL). When my mother taught school in the 1960’s, she had to quit teaching when her pregnancy began to show. Teachers have always been held to a higher standard, the difference today is how fast information moves through social networks like Facebook. Scary.
AN
August 23rd, 2010
2:50 pm
So I taught school 3 years ago. At the time I didn’t have a facebook page. Since leaving teaching, I have started one and have been friended by old teacher friends.
I have been floored by how many teachers are a) friends with students b) post personal religious beliefs and c) who have made comments about the district/school.
Certainly everyone has the right to their opinions, but those opinions in many cases don’t need to be expressed to students and parents.
Chris Potts
August 23rd, 2010
2:52 pm
One of my dearest high school friends, a teacher, recently went missing on Facebook.and I didn’t understand why until now. Turns out she wasn’t worried as much about embarrassing content, as she was about the parents of her students trying to track her down on school-related matters. Facebook certainly has its pros and cons, but what a shame that my friend feels the risks just aren’t worth the rewards. Guess we’ll have to resort back to e-mail, phone calls or good ole’ snail mail!
Phlash
August 23rd, 2010
3:03 pm
This is what happens when people “think out loud.” It’s bad enough that such blogs have to tell us utterly pointless things about people (number of bowel movements per day, etc), but these “educators” HAD to know their posts would be read! Unless, of course, these teachers thought (as I do) that no one really reads Facebook posts because they are completely lame. Alas, I suppose people DO waste their time reading what others are doing in their mundane and unremarkable lives.
cobb mother
August 23rd, 2010
3:06 pm
Dah! anyone can go on your site and friend someone while you are not looking. My daughter has had friends, friend other friends parents while she is at their house and gone into the bathroom and left her i-phone in the bedroom. I asked why was Mrs. S her friend, it was because so and so friend her. My 10 year old randomly accepts everyones friend request that comes in our computer. I have to go in and delete.
Springs
August 23rd, 2010
3:12 pm
When will people learn what I’ve been telling my kids for many years. Nothing posted on the internet is private. So-called “Friends” will turn against you the first chance they get. I’ve never been on Facebook or any other social networking site and I never will. If it’s important, you can call me and tell me about it.
Tom
August 23rd, 2010
3:12 pm
@Drew – right on the money!
White boy
August 23rd, 2010
3:37 pm
What if the situation were reversed and the suspended CMS teacher was black and she commented on Facebook that she taught a bunch of little Klanners in training?
I am as white as a gallon of milk and you would call me a redneck if you knew me, and it really pizzes me off that a teacher would not only think something like that about little children, must less be stupid enough to put it in writing. Makes you wonder how having disdain and disrespect like that in her heart manifests itself in her relations with her students.
Shame on her and she should have her a## thrown to the curb.
Lea
August 23rd, 2010
4:16 pm
The rule we are told in our district is “Don’t put anything on your page you wouldn’t want on the front page of the newspape.r”.
beyond the pail
August 23rd, 2010
4:42 pm
Drew, Cissy, Interested Observer, Seen It All – You are exactly right.
TD – Free Speech is NOT the the same as Freedom From Consequences (which does not exist, by the way)
bootney farnsworth
August 23rd, 2010
5:05 pm
item one:
its not censorship. you can still say damn near anything you wish. the goverment won’t toss you in jail.
there is NO section of the constitution which protects folks from the social, moral, financial, ect consequences of their use of free speech.
bootney farnsworth
August 23rd, 2010
5:08 pm
item two:
like it or not, educators, clergy, elected officials ect (excepting Beverly Hall) live in a glass house. higher scrutiny comes with the territory.
bootney farnsworth
August 23rd, 2010
5:11 pm
item three:
in this day and time, any teacher who is stupid enough to post that kind of stuff on facebook deserves to get run.
there have been more than enough examples of people getting in hot water due to facebook ect comments — if you’re not smart enough to look at trends, see the cause and effect in action, and not vent under an alias in a neutral site
you don’t need to be in a classroom. you’re too stupid to teach.
bootney farnsworth
August 23rd, 2010
5:12 pm
item four:
anyone stupid enough to put their business out on facebook has just
surrendered their right to privacy.
cynthia
August 23rd, 2010
5:20 pm
The misuse of the word discrete by a university professor speaks volumes.
bootney farnsworth
August 23rd, 2010
5:25 pm
@ Maureen,
its not just clergy spouses, it their family and friends et al.
back in the dark ages when I was in HS, I dated a preacher’s kid.
three things still resonate to this day:
1) once we held hands walking her home after church. people complained about inappropriate behavior.
2) another time she got ill at church and passed out. I was nearest to her and caught her. I carried her to their family car with her parents clearing a path. more complaints of improper behavior.
3) my favorite: I was working in my own yard, miles away from her/her family. it was hot, so I tossed my shirt (I was about 50 lbs lighter in those days – wouldn’t dream of it now). someone driving by saw me and yup – complained.
amazingly enough, I quit seeing her soon afterwards. too much drama.
and so many people wonder why preachers kids run so wild when they get the chance…
the simple fact is, some professions come with an expectation of a higher expectation of behavior standards than others. no one is forced to enter these professions – if the standards are too high, reconsider.
bootney farnsworth
August 23rd, 2010
5:28 pm
deal with it people.
next time you apply for a job, you can damn sure bet someone is gonna google you, with special attention to your facebook and myspace pages.
some a modicum of taste and keep your private business
ready now…
TO YOURSELF
bootney farnsworth
August 23rd, 2010
5:32 pm
I dated a Elementary school teacher eons ago who taught in a small town south of Atlanta.
in public, she would take my arm, and that was it. no drinking with dinner. when we had a big/special event we went downtown Atl where neither her students or their parents were likely to run into her.
anonymous?
August 23rd, 2010
6:25 pm
This article quoted a 26 year old third grade teacher who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal. Way to protect her identity. I’m sure CMS officials won’t be able to narrow that one down…
Sara
August 23rd, 2010
6:28 pm
Teachers have a right to their privacy, BUT FACEBOOK IS NOT PRIVATE!!!! You can’t expect to have privacy when other people can see what you are doing – that is the definition of NOT being private.
Now, look at this from the perspective of a student. How would you feel if your teacher called where you live or where you go to school ghetto – even if it is? How would you feel if that teacher wasn’t as nice as you thought she should be? I know if I were a student who knew about said teacher’s postings, I would think the teacher was racist or worse. Perhaps the teacher isn’t, but the post gives the APPEARANCE of negativity and impropriety to the students and parents – it doesn’t matter if it is true. Teachers need to realize that they have very PUBLIC positions. Kids look up to them and kids need encouragement – not to be bought down by some teacher who is unhappy about where he or she has to teach. If you don’t like the school where you teach, go find another job – don’t put the kids or the parents down. You need to just move on.
Private School Guy
August 23rd, 2010
6:37 pm
There are no end to the things that I have seen held against someone by a supervisor – being gay, inter-racial dating, being Catholic, being jewish, being from up north, not being from up north, not being gay, not being Jewish, not being born again. Ain’t the human race grand? They could not fire a person for these reasons but could make work unpleasant.
Atlanta mom
August 23rd, 2010
6:37 pm
Lea,
That’s exactly what I tell my kids. “Don’t put anything on your page you wouldn’t want on the front page of the newspaper”
And how about: “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything”? It’s one thing to speak to a friend in private, but why would you post anything in cyberspace and think it won’t come back to bite you in the ……….?
I understand teenagers might not get it, but no excuses for adults.
Kim
August 23rd, 2010
6:41 pm
I am curious about the absence of comments about the flip side of this — can students and parents post negative things about teachers? I am not taking any side on this argument, just curious.
William Casey
August 23rd, 2010
6:55 pm
As a retired teacher/coach, Facebook is a wonderful tool for keeping in touch with former students and players. One of my big gripes as a teacher was that I seldom knew how the kids turned out. Facebook makes that possible. It’s a good deal!
benny
August 23rd, 2010
6:58 pm
In 20 years I have never had anyone from PAGE or GAE talk to me about anything. That is why I dropped them as they are basically just ripping teachers off. I am sure someone will take exception to this but the truth is the truth. Even the local yokels in the schools that represent these two impotent organizations will not brief teachers. USELESS.
Atlanta mom
August 23rd, 2010
7:08 pm
““Does anyone know where I can find a very discrete hitman? Yes, it’s been that kind of day”
You think if a student had posted that he/she wouldn’t be in an alternative school the next day?
TL
August 23rd, 2010
7:25 pm
I do not think that teachers’ personal lives should cause such a problem but I absolutely do agree with firing the teachers who post derogatory statements about students. We need those teachers in those classroom caring about those children and about their futures. If they call them derogatory names, what are they doing in the room? There is no WAY a teacher can effectively teach a students if she thinks negatively of them. She just won’t put enough into it to make a difference.
ScienceTeacher671
August 23rd, 2010
7:27 pm
@Kim, haven’t there been court cases that found students couldn’t be punished for posting inflammatory things about teachers and administrators on the internet?
Johnny
August 23rd, 2010
7:30 pm
I think Facebook should redo their privary act before it comes out of hand. By the way anything that goes on the internet will come back and haunt your a**
wolf
August 23rd, 2010
7:47 pm
It seems that we hold those who educate our children to such a high standard, they must rise beyond mere mortals in every sense. They are never allowed a human bit of negative emotion, or to vent their true feeling,because, after all, they are educating our children. As for the parents of these children… not so much.
Robert
August 23rd, 2010
7:56 pm
Private School Guy,
You’re actually wrong, people CAN be fired for being gay. That’s why LGBT groups are pushing for ENDS (Employment Non-Discrimination Act). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employment_Non-Discrimination_Act
Chicagojeff
August 23rd, 2010
8:03 pm
In Law Enforcement.. and we’ve already had a number of officers and supervisors fired for internet/facebook postings. We talk about it in roll call and counsel younger officers about making good choices. Common sense will keep you safe IMO.. Whining about political correctness is silly.. just use your damn head.
White boy
August 23rd, 2010
8:19 pm
Sara–right on.
Chynadoll131
August 23rd, 2010
8:53 pm
Don’t post where you work morons. And don’t be friends with anyone you work with. I teach, and if anyone searches for me, they won’t find me. You can leave the “work” section blank. Your real friends know where you work.
YesI'maFacebookingUsingTeacher
August 23rd, 2010
9:24 pm
Too often teachers forget that we are scrutinized more than others. People of other professions can get upset and call someone by a derogatory name or post something adult themed and get away with it….teachers can not! My fellow educators please wake up and realize that you need to keep your “clean/boring” image for the public and let loose in private…..FYI THE INTERNET IS NOT PRIVATE!!!!
Jeff
August 23rd, 2010
9:42 pm
When dealing with privacy online, I always refer to the trash-can-on-the-street method that the police use. While your garbage is on your property, the police have no legal right (without a warrant) to search through your garbage. However, when you place your trash can on the street for pick up, the garbage is then considered “public property” with anyone having the right to access it, including the cops. Now, why would you automatically assume that posting something online would have any expectation of privacy. For those teachers who wish to bad mouth their parents/students, get a spiral bound notebook at Wal-Mart for 19 cents and use it! I don’t understand where these people get their notions that anything online is safe. Someone will ALWAYS spill the beans about what has been/is being said online. Don’t ever assume anything is safe. And please use some common sense. With all the recent shootings in schools/on campuses, why would you seriously, as a highly educated professional, “make a joke” about shooting students? Umm, what we’re lacking here is some darn common sense.
Angela M. Alexander
August 23rd, 2010
9:42 pm
I am deeply saddened that children are left in the charge of people you’d think could be trusted. Unfortunately, colleges don’t offer Common Sense 101 or Character 101. I believe this is greatly needed.
booklover
August 23rd, 2010
9:58 pm
I’m sure this is too nuanced of an argument, but here goes:
1) Of course it’s stupid (Not to mention unprofessional) to post negative info about your students.
2) As far as criticizing the district, last I checked, teachers are not mindless serfs but TAXPAYERS who have as much as right to criticize a public institution as anyone else. In fact, if I know something is amiss at my school, don’t I have a responsibility to let others know about it? (facebook isn’t the right medium, though)
3) I’m tired of being fed this “cultural sensitivity” spiel here in GA when few are sensitive to my culture. I grew up in the beer-drinking upper midwest. Almost every time my family went out to eat, we would run into one of my teachers, or some other “public” person, and guess what? Almost all of them were drinking! Even the priests! In Wisconsin, it is still legal for parents to give their children a beer at a bar, regardless of age. You can cluck-cluck all you want to, but that’s my culture.
4) Speaking of other cultures… yeah, I grew up in the midwest, went to college down south, then lived abroad for a few years, then moved to GA… so i have friends and family who live literally all over the world. I cannot speak glowingly enough of how facebook has allowed us to keep in touch.
The people comparing teachers to priests: get real. You might have a martyr complex, but that doesn’t make you holy. Teachers are human and we deserve to be treated as such.
monocle
August 23rd, 2010
10:03 pm
But wait. There’s more: http://articles.courant.com/2010-08-05/community/hc-windsor-locks-superintendent-0806-20100805_1_special-board-meetings-board-chairwoman-patricia-king-windsor-locks-middle-school
booklover
August 23rd, 2010
10:11 pm
Oh and another thing, whatever standards teachers are held to?
We need to hold parents to the same standards, if not higher. I mean, they are raising the children, right? Don’t parents need to be perfect, too?
adam
August 23rd, 2010
10:20 pm
Benny is so correct. PAGE and GAE are not unions. They’re “professional “organizations catering to administrators whims.
KK
August 23rd, 2010
10:31 pm
Teachers actually do have to refrain from talking about clients, which would be students and their parents. It’s a confidentiality issue. However, if a teacher doesn’t talk about a SPECIFIC student or parent, it’s not a breach of confidentiality. If you don’t want to keep your job, however, go ahead and say whatever you like on Facebook.
A parallel of this situation would be a sales rep posting derogatory comments about his or her clients on Facebook. It could get back to the client. Probably would. Why would the sales rep risk his or her job by doing that? It would be stupid.
Yes, teachers are definitely held to a higher standard than most. They have been for ages. Teaching is a special job that attracts special people who can do the job. It’s hard, it’s draining, it’s endless, with constant criticism and very little reward. But for some reason, and to the benefit of children, there will always be someone willing to do it and do it well for the slave wages they pay. (By the way, I’m saying slave wages because the wage is low compared to other professional jobs, our raises are miniscule, and benefits are terrible with expensive health insurance…and we have to supplement our retirement with an additional private IRA to just to be able to retire because our Social Security is not available to retiring teachers, even if they paid into it in a previous career, like I did).
Unfortunately, because of all the Facebook/teacher scandals lately, it’s just going to serve to push more people away from entering the profession.
I agree, there are some real a-holes in the classroom. I know, I have taught for ten years. These are the people posting smack on Facebook. They usually don’t last long anyway because even though we get the summer off, the job is anything but easy. The other 10 months of the year can really wear you out. Let’s just say you EARN your summer vacation. If you don’t have a calling to teach, you won’t last more than a couple of years, maybe 5. No one really knows what it’s truly like unless they do it. If a private sector professional did our job for even one day, at 4:00 they would leave that school vowing never to return and calling all the rest of us teachers crazy for doing it.
Off that soapbox and back to the Facebook issue….I would never consider even mentioning my job or any incident that happens on the job on FB unless it’s in a positive light. That’s plain common sense. Too bad that’s running pretty low these days. Free speech, yes, but free speech is best used in the right company!!!
another comment
August 23rd, 2010
11:45 pm
My cousin’s child a teacher in another southern state was transfered by her school district to a less desirable school and grade, after she posted her inter-racial wedding pictures on facebook, this summer. Young love could not understand when some of us relatives tried to tell her this was still the South.
David Prentice
August 24th, 2010
2:05 am
The privacy settings on Facebook can only get you so far. In order to keep messages that you send through Facebook really private, many users prefer to CLOAK their messages. This way neither Facebook nor unauthorized users can read your messages.
You still use Facebook as normal but protect your privacy, by CLOAKing those parts of your messages you want to keep private. Neither Facebook nor its advertising partners know what you’re writing about.
Pick a keyword, select the message you want to keep private, and CLOAK it and send. Only people you’ve shared your keyword with can then read your CLOAKed Facebook messages.
Try the free CloakGuard plugin or online tool to CLOAK your message.
Free Download — https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/194385/
Free Online tool — http://cloakguard.com/tryitfree.php
Demo — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4qN3TBqx08
k.b.
August 24th, 2010
5:50 am
what do i think?
yes, they have a 1st amendment right-of course!! and of course they have it on facebook just as much as they do when they are actually physically talking about their job.
BUT since facebook is a different venue from verbal conversation, its differences really need to be taken into account. just because you tell someone your private opinion doesn’t mean it will stay private–same with facebook. you mean it to be private, but it may not be.
NO ONE is having their 1st amendment right taken away by not being able to vent about their job on facebook. would you honestly say the things you say about your job on facebook out loud? to a group of your friends? no, i think not. therefore don’t do it on facebook.
if any teacher complains about 1st amendment rights, they need to stop and ask themselves the above question. any time you choose to open your mouth, you need to realize that whatever you say MAY or MAY NOT reach an unintended target. this is just reality–it’s life. get over it, and think about what you’re going to say before you say–or post–it.
Lee
August 24th, 2010
5:58 am
A parents perspective:
My child is the most important thing in the world to me. I would willingly give my life to save that of my child.
When I drop my child off at school, I have entrusted her teachers to exhibit a certain degree of care. If I read where that teacher is commenting about “hiring a hitman to kill one of her students” or refering to her students in a derogatory way, that teacher has violated my trust. I no longer want that teacher to be associated with my child. Period.
If you do not have the common sense to realize that, then you do not need to be in the teaching profession interacting with children.
That said, Ashley Payne got a raw deal and I hope she receives a huge settlement from her lawsuit.
shaggy
August 24th, 2010
6:28 am
Facebook, Myspace, etc…. You are all a bunch of idiots for having any of these ridiculous social networking pages. Nothing but trouble, and it further removes personal connections, where people actually talk to one another. You remember….have a conversation, even a freakin email is better that this crap.
Simple Solution for the morons: Cancel any account you might already have. Best solution is being smart enough to never have joined in the first place.
ihorizon
August 24th, 2010
8:08 am
My opinion: Teachers need to use common sense on posting Facebook pages, private or public, as well as those to work in public capacity that may affect learning and social graces. However, I see kids, both tweens and teens making shocking comments and statements online- things I would not dare say online or in public. As for Barrow County schools, you need to get over yourselves and worry about bettering your school systems and give the teacher her job back. We moved out of Barrow County and put her into Gwinnett school as it was your school who told us she scored very high aptitude testing for Scope, Focus, and Probe so she is far better off here than there. (She is still in gifted programs to this day.) So if you are worried about your teachers, you need to look at your curriculums.
lassy
August 24th, 2010
8:15 am
its crazy what facebook can really do to your life be carefull on this site not everyone you work with wont report you.
ihorizon
August 24th, 2010
8:17 am
sorry her = my kid
Danita
August 24th, 2010
8:22 am
Teachers are held to a very high standard. Our public face must be clean.
just my opinion
August 24th, 2010
8:56 am
I am a teacher…and in reading this all I can think of is its scary to think these people even PUT these comments up when they are teaching our youth. Why are they even teaching? Obviously they need to use better common sense nothing on the internet is safe. I have a Facebook page and I even have parents that are friends but I know how to be professional and not post stupid comments about my teaching. They dont need guidelines for what they can and can’t post…..just better judgment.
MedStudent
August 24th, 2010
9:12 am
Ive always felt bad for teachers… because honestly I think its one of, one of, the most underrated and under-appreciated professions in existence. My mom is a teacher, and even she tells me, plenty of teachers go home every day wishing to wring the little brats they teach. Will they do it? 99% no, so I don’t think a teacher should get fired for saying “wow I wanna kill my students” lol definitely reviewed and psychoanalyzed for a while…
Simply Me
August 24th, 2010
9:17 am
sorry, just had to post this cause you people are CLEARLY idiots. Freedom of speech means the GOVERNMENT can not create laws or punish you for exercising your right to say what you want. HOWEVER, other private citizens CAN. Also, freedom of speech comes with the responsibility and you have to be ready to take whatever effect comes your way from saying what you want. If I dont like what my employees say I can fire them… period. If they dont like what I say I can quit… period. No one is CENSORING anyone. And furthermore, facebook is a choice. You dont HAVE to have one.
Liz
August 24th, 2010
9:56 am
Where have you people been for the last decades? Haven’t you realized that we have no privacy. You can get ANY and ALL information you want from the internet on anyone. I went to a site just the other day and found my full name, address, birthdate, (unlisted) phone number and even my former addresses plus my immediate family members. I have NEVER gone on the net and listed those things, but they ARE there. So why would anyone think the internet, including FB would be private? One thing wrong with our country now is the attitude of some teachers. I realize there are some great, great teachers who genuinely love children of all races, but then there are some in it just for the paycheck. If you have any racial biases, you should NOT be a teacher. Children cannot help where they come from. If you feel the way some of these teachers in these posts and on FB feel, GET ANOTHER JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alexandria
August 24th, 2010
10:42 am
I don’t think this is about censorship, but more about what is appropriate and professional. I am 22 years old, and recently switched my major to education. Just about all of my friends have a Facebook page, and many of them think that I am “wierd/silly/paranoid…” because I’ve never wanted one. I don’t want one specifically because of what has happened to the people in this article.
Even before I chose to become a teacher, I did not want a Facebook page. I value my privacy, and I don’t like strangers having access to things I would normally only share with close friends. Yeah, people keep telling me that you can restrict your page to friends, but I’ve seen people access someone’s page that they don’t even know. Recently, my cousin accessed photos from a party that I had gone to; she didn’t even know any of the people! She only knew about the party because I complained to her that one of the girls put a picture of me on Facebook. So it “ain’t” that safe, or private.
The sad thing is, most adults (and not just teachers, adults period) just don’t have any common sense anymore. I mean, come on, grow up. As I said, I’m 22, and I keep seeing adults 10 to 15 years older trying HARD to be something they’re not: teenagers or very young adults. Instead, they just end up looking really, really stupid.
AJL2
August 24th, 2010
11:12 am
I’m not on Facebook and never will be, for things like this and for what I see in every day life. People are putting WAY too much into the site and losing themselves. Quality of life is being determined by what happens on Facebook. For some people it doesn’t seem like they can make a move without Facebook being involved. On top of which, IMO, it’s a stupid name. I just wish sometimes that we could go back to a pre-Facebook world.
Jeuce
August 24th, 2010
11:16 am
What a lot of people don’t realize is the need to be responsible when using the first amendment. just as a person can’t yell the word fire in a crowded theater, or perform sexual acts in public and call it art; people need to realize that their public views destroy their credibility in their chosen profession. on the same note, why are people adding “friends” from work on social sites? if a person wants to share updates about work use sites like linkd, but not facebook.
EG
August 24th, 2010
11:19 am
It seems a lot of people, especially in the age of the Tea Party, don’t understand what free speech means. Sure, these teachers have every right, protected under the First Amendment, to say whatever they want and be protected from LEGAL ramifications, not from employment ramifications. It isn’t like the stories being reported are about teachers speaking about a school tax levy or some school policy. These are teachers describing their students as “ghetto”, insinuating ill-feelings towards them or their parents, etc.
The same rules of appropriate speech apply to me at my job. If I go home and publicly blast a company I am negotiating with, or make disparaging comments about a particular client, I will get fired. How can my firm trust that I have the best interests of our company in mind when I go home and say things PUBLICLY that will cause our clients to lose faith/trust in our company.
These teachers still absolutely have the right to say whatever they want. However, having freedom of speech does not mean there won’t be consequences attached to exercising that freedom.
CPeevy
August 24th, 2010
11:31 am
I think this is insane Teachers are human just like everyone else honestly what they put on thier pages shouldnt matter, unless a teacher names a specific student it shouldnt matter. Honeslty its no ones business whats on anyones facebook page and if you dont like what someone has on it dont read it. Its freedom of speech and though you may not agree with what they posted on their page its thier opinion and no one should be able to bring that out publicly and use it against them.Unless they mention names of students or illegal activities.
Chris
August 24th, 2010
11:31 am
I think it’s funny that people object to things that teachers might say on facebook, but as long as they don’t know about it, it’s okay. Would it somehow be better if the teacher who referred to her “ghetto students” just thought it without saying it? At least if a teacher is dumb enough to post stuff like that on facebook, s/he would be exposed.
Interested Party
August 24th, 2010
11:39 am
I have been a teacher for 12 years. I have a Facebook account, which is set to friends-only status. I do not post offensive things on that site; however, I am openly gay, and for some, my mere existence is enough to offend.
I am fortunate to work in a place in which my sexuality is not an issue. I can easily see, however, a parallel situation to mine in which someone is persecuted in their workplace for being true to themselves in their private lives — even if that private life is not explicitly expressed in the classroom.
I *do* hold myself to a higher standard, knowing I’m a teacher. But what happens when someone else’s “higher standard” would have me completely disregard my identity? Is that not a slippery slope?
Monica(a student for free speech!!)
August 24th, 2010
1:00 pm
hey, teachers should have the right to free speech. MOST of what the teachers are saying that ive read are just to blow off steam. i mean really? youre gonna fire a teacher WHO MIGHT BE EXACTUALLY GOOD because of some stupid comment on facebook?? look, im 17 and im in highschool and kids like me are BOUND to annoy the crap out of their teachers so if they wanna blow off some steam, let them. THis is The United States of America people. We can say what we want when we want. thats what TEACHERS taught me.
PLUS why are we firing teachers for stupid reasons anyways?? we need to be KEEPING OUR TEAHCERS!! all the GOOD teachers from my school are getting let off because of BUDGET cuts.. -_______-’ and now teachers are getting fired because of facebook? sorry but you know how retarded that is? Sooner or later my classes are gonna be filled with 100 students! and do you know
how hard that would be to try to learn?? its already hard as it is with 43 in one class
DOESNT ANYBODY AGREE WITH ME?
Bill
August 24th, 2010
1:11 pm
My friend was a music teacher at a Catholic middle school. He is also a musician and wrote a song called “Wasted”, which is about getting drunk and high in college. He had it on his myspace music page. His students found the page and started singing the song with the lyrics “We’re gonna get wasted”. He was lucky he did not lose his job. He actually told the head nun about it and proceeded to close his account.
Booklover
August 24th, 2010
2:01 pm
Interested Party’s question brings up a great point. Teachers have a right to their personal lives just like anyone else. Should a teacher streak naked through the town square? Of course not. But what kinds of lessons are we teaching our kids when a teacher can lose her job for drinking wine in Italy or writing a song about doing other legal activities?
I have friends with small children who teach them that wine is “an adult drink” and I think that’s a great way of handling such issues. As you grow up, you get privileges: you get to drive a car, you get to drink (responsibly) with your friends, you get to buy what you want… if you have a job and you are responsible. It’s a give and take.
Perhaps young people would be more willing to take on responsiblity for themselves if we demonstrated that adulthood had its privileges. I simply cannot believe the audacity of some people who think teachers deserve to be treated exactly as their students are. We need to demonstrate to students that life is full of degrees of authority, responsibility, and privilege. For example, the administrators at my school get to park in the front of the school while the teachers have to park waaay in the back of the building. Do the teachers complain about this? Of course not. We understand that added responsibilities and authority come with privileges. Let’s teach our children the same concept, and maybe, just maybe, they will have more respect for authority.
StillPlayswithToys
August 24th, 2010
2:11 pm
Two completely separate issues here: Though say nothing on the net is private, there IS a expectation of privacy when a site offers such the choice. How things get out there is usually due to unethical behavior on someone else’s part, which cannot be stopped. The anonymity of the web allows the crazies to be extraordinarily public with their actions, but no one makes a disparaging remark about that behavior. To go out of one’s way to “snitch” or “snoop” fb for teacher comments is just plain wrong (hence, the connotations in snooping & snitching). To lose a job over one’s right to write what one wants on one’s personal page is a violation of the right to free speech, and maybe due process in the land of law-who knows. I am very careful about what I post, because I don’t want to offend the small group of people I have friended, never mind the students in the district I teach.
BUTT ART? The dope, but to be fired? It’s his ART- go ahead, define it & we’ll argue for another hundred years. “I didn’t want to kill one student today!” – really, she’s a mass murderer waiting for her chance to jump over her desk & throttle college students for being immature? “Hangin’ with my n——”? the basis for termination? Who’s offended, the same parents who KNOW & allow their own kids to say it? Or the white parents (pul-lease, what soap box did they fall off of?) The STUPID teacher who called the students “chitlins’? As appalled as I am by that, his/her whole career is now in jeopardy? In good conscience, I cannot argue his/her RIGHT to print something SO STUPID. Where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, & you take the proper precautions, other citizens should respect that. But respect and ethcial behavior cannot be legislated, just as stupidity cannot be criminalized. Still, I always think twice…. and it does bother me that I have to do that. SO, I play it smart and don’t post ‘funny’ edgy things I may be thinking. After all, teachers are held to a higher standard: absolute perfection. Have a nice day!
Jenny
August 24th, 2010
2:15 pm
So if you are a teacher you have no right to a personal life. Everyone, including teachers are who they need to be at their place of employment. After you clock out, you get to be whoever the hell you want. CEO’s of companys go on European vacations and drink, I go clubbing Thursday through Saturday. But when im at work .. im at work, as long as the drinking and the dancing is not done while you’re on the clock, who cares.??
However, the teacher that posted the derogatory terms to describe her students on FB was out of line. That was a low blow..other than that if i want to post whatever i want to post as long as im not suppose to be on the clock..you cant tell me what to do..
James, Student
August 24th, 2010
4:21 pm
I believe these people need to stop worrying about what teachers do in their personal time. We dont dig into their lives, but I can tell you they are far from perfect as well.
Heiffer
August 24th, 2010
4:30 pm
Great advice. Otherwise, be sure your sins, be they ever so minor, will find you out. I seem to recall a teacher who was terminated because there was a photo of her, on vacation in Europe during the summer, with an almost full glass of white wine in front of her. Yikes!
a retired teacher
August 24th, 2010
7:58 pm
Okay, all of these districts are firing teachers as a PR CYA. No real harm done – no real hitmen hired, no permanent psychic scarring of students or parents. And yes, parents can be arrogant, and totally lacking in perspective (or even a reality check) regarding their “precious darlings.” But on the other hand, everybody, get real. The internet is NOT private. Even secure connections can be hacked (and don’t believe they aren’t.) When you hold a loud cellphone conversation on a crowded subway, 30 people know your business. You may entertain the fantasy that you are surrounded by a magic curtain, but it isn’t there. Have some self-respect, think about what you’re doing, and don’t put anything out there, in any form, that you wouldn’t want your mom or dad to see.
Teachers losing jobs over Facebook; some examples | Legally Sociable
August 24th, 2010
10:08 pm
[...] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has some examples of teachers losing their jobs because of certain Facebook posts. [...]
Natalie Pollock
August 24th, 2010
11:23 pm
It is unfortunate that people have extraordinarily high expectations of certain professionals. The clergy and educators are at the top of that list. When a clergyman or teacher makes the mistake of acting like a human being judgment is swift and often harsher than any other person might receive.
As an elementary school teacher myself, I understand the feelings of the teachers. Some days are just like that. Consider how much garbage we have to put up with day after day…trying to get kids interested in learning when instead they smart off, refuse to work, and get verbally abusive with us because they’ve been taught already that adults don’t deserve respect. And we don’t get just one or two…we have 20 or more all in the same room. How are we expected to deal with that kind of treatment day after day and not feel the need to blow off the steam that has surely built up?
I also understand the need for discretion and wisdom on the part of people who post on Facebook or other social networks. There are so many people out there who post the same kinds of things these teachers who were fired did. It is not necessary to expose all of yourself…good and bad…for the world to see. Inevitably, the world will focus on the bad and run with it…as happened to these poor teachers. I have students who are friends on Facebook. I am always careful about what I post there, but I am also very choosy about who my “friends” are. Not every kid has access to my life.
We need to be smart about what we tell the world about ourselves, regardless of our profession or lack thereof. Use your head, if you have one, and think about what you are posting before hitting “post”. If you really want privacy, keep it to yourself.
Boundaries, I has them « Three Ring Mom
August 25th, 2010
7:05 pm
[...] are getting fired for calling their students stuck up . We all know Facebook can suck the soul out of your noggin through your webcam’s evil eye, and [...]
teachateach!!
August 25th, 2010
9:40 pm
As a teacher, and a Facebook user I know how important it is to keep things private. I don’t even have fellow co-workers on my friends list for these reasons. Parents will look you up, your bosses will try to find you, if you work with kids old enough to do so- they will find you too. I tend to keep a level of discretion on my page and only immediate friends and family are on my list.
This doesn’t just go for teachers either; it’s all lines of work. It’s best to keep these things private, and far away from your boss. AND, if you are going to post your vacation photos that were taken while you were “ill”, wait at least a couple/ few weeks to do so- lol, not after your boss thought you had food poisoning.
I feel, as a teacher, I should still be able to live my life and keep in touch with long distance friends and family via facebook if I please. But, at work, I don’t jabber on about my personal life or tell anyone “FACEBOOK ME Teehee!!”- teachers don’t have to be prudes, just selective. We are far from the school marm days and shouldn’t have to resort to isolating ourselves, just using a lot of discretion. And, before your add your co-workers you need to decide if they’re really friends- because if not, they will rat you out!!!!
Edublogs News: Social networking in schools, Facebook in trouble and email a thing of the past | Edublogs - teacher and student blogs
August 27th, 2010
1:23 pm
[...] Facebook and teachers: Still a potentially dangerous combination for your career [...]
Anne
August 28th, 2010
3:03 am
I work in a small town. I know I have to be sensible about the way I behave in any public space. facebook is a public space, so I think about what I post there. Social media is another excellent way of building strong connections with my learning community which includes parents, students and other teachers. An ounce of commonsense goes a long way.
Now that I have your attention again « HHS Thinker’s link
August 29th, 2010
1:14 pm
[...] Facebook and teachers: Still a potentially dangerous combination for your career by Maureen Downey in the Atlantic Journal Constitution [...]
ugg
August 31st, 2010
5:46 am
chi ceramic flat iron This was truely an amazing trip for me, I’m going to upload my own record of the flight
Gerard
September 18th, 2010
1:15 pm
Many teachers seem to feel they can or should be buddies with their students. That should never be the case.
Any teacher who posts anything innapropriate should be fired or punished. There are to many good teachers at all the education levels to have to put up with the improper and immoral persons that have made it inot the eductaional system in our country. At a time that our country faces some of the lowest, (15 ranked in the world!) We need to once again raise our standards.