Natalie Munroe: Should teachers blog, even anonymously, about their students?
CNN and all the cable stations were abuzz about the teacher in Pennsylvania that has been suspended, and may be fired, for blogging about her students.
Natalie Munroe, a 30-year-old teacher at Central Bucks East High School in Doyleston, Pa., didn’t identify her students in the blog, but she did say some mean comments about them. For example:
According to the New York Daily News:
“In her blog, which has since been removed, Munroe referred to her students as ‘out of control,’ ‘rude, lazy, disengaged whiners,’ and called one ‘a complete and utter jerk in all ways.’”
“ ‘There’s no other way to say this, I hate your kid,’ she wrote in one post. ‘Although academically okay your child has no other redeeming qualities,’ she said in another.”…
“I don’t think I did anything wrong,” she told ABC News. “I’m sorry that it was taken out of context but I stand by what I said.” …
“In one tongue-in-cheek post she offered fellow teachers alternative ways to describe students on report cards, such as ‘rat-like,’ ‘dresses like a streetwalker,’ and ‘frightfully dim.’ Of one student, she cruelly joked that ‘the trash company is hiring. ’ ”
“Munroe’s attorney Steve Rovner argues she did nothing wrong, even if she offended people. ‘There’s no Internet policy at her school district. She was free to write and she free to express herself; it was like a personal diary,’ he told ABC.”
Munroe said only seven friends, her husband and herself were “followers” of the blog and that 60 of the total 84 blogs she wrote had absolutely nothing to do with work or her students. Her blog is back up and had 420 followers as of last night.
From an explanation on Munroe’s new blog:
“See, what I’d done was written a casual blog. I talked about everything–such exciting topics as our trip to Sesame Place, my favorite (and least favorite) restaurants, my work experiences, the diaper genie. I had 9 followers–2 of whom were my husband and myself, the other 7 were friends. When I started it, my goal was to write 1-3 times a week, though I didn’t usually have time to do it that much. I ended up writing 84 blogs between 8/9/09 and 11/25/10. (I remember that, at one point, my track of blogging was about equal with my gym-going, but my gym-going eventually surpassed my blog track. I went there religiously at least 3 times a week until my morning sickness started…) I slowed down at the end, writing only about 10 blogs between June and November. I was too busy with being pregnant, teaching a new curriculum, and being harassed at school to write anything between November and February.
“When I wrote, I kept things as anonymous as possible; I know there are crazies out there and I didn’t want anyone trying to track me down. I blogged as “Natalie M” and had no location information or email address or anything listed or accessible. Nor did I ever mention where I worked or the names of students. Yet, there’s this perception that I was trying to lambaste everyone in the school without heed. That’s bollocks.”
“What bothers me so much about this situation is that what I wrote is being taken out of context. Of my 84 blogs, 60 of them had absolutely nothing to do with school or work. Of the 24 that mentioned it, only some of them were actually focused on it–others may have mentioned it in passing, like if I was listing things that annoyed me that day and wrote without any elaboration that students were annoying that day.”
There is a whole lot more on her site and it gives much more insight into her mindset and her purpose. Reading her side of the story did soften my opinion some. However I still have thoughts and questions:
- You hear all the time about teachers getting in trouble for photos they show on Facebook or things they write on Facebook. Facebook is much more private (just your “friends”) than an open blog. I’m unclear why she thought this would be a good idea or even OK even without naming the students and even if it was only a few times.
- Maybe the teacher didn’t realize with Wordpress and Blogspot, you can set it so search engines can’t find it. It won’t show up unless someone has the exact URL. Two summers ago when we were trying to keep everyone updated on my brother’s medical condition, I created a Blogspot blog and made it private. I sent the link to family and friends and they bookmarked it. They were the only ones that could see it. But would that make it OK? Would that make it better if a teacher was writing about her students on a private, non-search engine, blog?
- I am wondering how the students came across it? It’s unlikely that search engines would have picked it up even if not marked private. You have to have a ton of hits for your blog to pull up on Google and Yahoo so if she only had nine followers, I’m not sure how anyone else found it. Hmmmm.
- As someone who blogs for a living about her children and our family life, I have definitely had to learn what is OK to post publicly and what is not. And I have gotten into trouble with friends for including things that even though were anonymous they felt were still private and out of bounds. They felt identified even if they weren’t by name. Even though the teacher didn’t identify the students, are mean comments about them still out of bounds?
- In journalism, there is a standard to be sued for libel that you have prove that someone is identifiable. Now if that teacher has five classes of 30 students a day then probably no one is identifiable if she didn’t use their names. However, I think writing nasty things about her students hurts her credibility and the parents’ confidence in her as a teacher.
- It just occurred to me: Is this the reverse of college students rating and commenting on their professors online? (And as we know people are much more vicious when it is anonymous.) Michael doesn’t think this is not comparable at all: that the students pay a college to be taught where this lady is being paid to teach the kids. Hmm.. have to think on that some more.
So what do you think: Do teachers have a right to vent? Do they have a right to write a journal or diary? Is it OK to do that online on a public blog? How did you feel about her explanation versus what was being pulled by different media outlets? What should happen to this teacher?
– By Theresa Walsh Giarrusso, ajcMomania
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310 comments Add your comment
Lady_Di
February 17th, 2011
6:11 pm
Decorum would dictate that sharing negative thoughts about one’s students publicly is inappropriate. Certainly the teacher is entitled to her personal opinion, but sharing these thoughts about her students in a public forum is inappropriate. If she felt the need to write about her feelings, a notebook might have been a better choice or a word document on her PC.
What the teacher wrote is nothing new – it is what many people think of the current generation, but these people are generally not teachers. These people are making a broad generalization, not a comment that applies to a collection of 150 students. Unfortunately this has become a public matter, so all 150 children are wondering if the comments were about themselves – the damage now has been done to all, not just the select few as intended by the writer. Certainly the teacher owes an apology to all of her students. She clearly does not understand the comprehensive nature of the internet. Should she be dismissed from her position, no. She is only guilty of not understanding the lack of security in tool that she chose to use.
I believe that it is now time for her county and maybe the state to set some rules about teachers posting comments about their students on public forums. This is going to keep happening over and over until someone really gets hurt and the school system gets hit with a significant law suit. When that happens, everyone loses. Until then, let’s use the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.
hmmm
February 17th, 2011
6:14 pm
Why aren’t parents being held to the same standards as teachers? Parents are far more influential. If they had done their jobs correctly and didn’t send their kids to school dressed to go clubbing and with a modicum of respect for adults this teacher wouldn’t have had a reason to complain. Would they rather she go off on the kids in class or get it out of her system in an anonymous environment?
sissyuga
February 17th, 2011
6:21 pm
I am with you Vall! I bet what she said was the truth and the sad part is so many of young people are like she described.
BenB
February 17th, 2011
6:24 pm
This teacher deserves a medal. People who disagree with her are the parents of the kids she is blogging about. Wake up parents and hold your kids accountable. Take away the car, cell phones etc. and force your kids to get to work. Your kids teacher is just that and not your kids parent. Do your job!!
George Johnson
February 17th, 2011
6:27 pm
My God, you liberals, union thugs, democrats, HATE FREE SPEECH!!!
This woman TOLD THE TRUTH! Instead of firing her, they should be using what she said as a yard stick to find the problem and TR TO FIX IT!!
They’re acting like she was lying for one thing, and because of that and the problem and pain and and “outing of the problem” she must be fired. That’s just typical liberal government loving teachers union thugs at work. Hide the problem, fire the WHISTLE BLOWER.
Why isn’t she being protected as a whistle blower any way?? This is why nothing ever gets fix in those union thug controlled environments. Don’t believe me? Google for “rubber rooms in NYC” and see what you come up with. They’re STILL spending MILLIONS on teachers they can’t fire, for things like beating kids, fondling them, drugs and stuff like that. But boy oh boy, speak out against the system, and you’re certain to get fired for it.
How pathetic. And you wonder why they’re trying to kill the unions in what? Wisconsin or where ever it is?? The unions are ALWAYS the problem, and NEVER the solution!
melanie
February 17th, 2011
6:27 pm
You can fire a teacher for standing up to hoodlum kids, but you can’t or won’t fire teachers who have sex with their students? Where is the logic in this? The ajc ran a story a few weeks ago about the Atlanta City teacher that was fired for ratting out the teachers that were cheating on the children’s SAT tests & you made him out to be a teacher who did not fit the mold.
DM
February 17th, 2011
6:31 pm
Everybody needs to vent once in awhile. Being a teacher can be very frustrating at times when there is so much pressure to teach and pass students who refuse to lift a pencil. What she did does seem much different then complaining over coffee with a friend. There is a mean website out there called rate a teacher dot com and kids write terrible things about teachers – and actually type names – and nobody cares, but if a teacher whines a little in general – without giving names – she is put on the witness stand? It is not libel – no names were given. People need to move on …
Atlanta 1
February 17th, 2011
6:32 pm
She shouldn’t have posted it; but she didn’t call an individual out and she happens to be correct.
Nothing to be fired over. If she is, I’m sure there is a Private School some where that will scoop her up.
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
February 17th, 2011
6:38 pm
@ Dave, et al “only thing she did wrong is speak the truth, this is what makes parents and school officials angry”
So if the truth is strictly the standard by which we determine if she exercised good judgement and should be subject to disciplinary actions from her employer, that is scary.
My son is in a first grade class of 24 kids. His teacher is in her first year straight out of school. Over a four year span his teacher will have 100 students or so. The community is small and close knit within our district.
“Dear Super Secret but Very Public Diary Blog: I had a horrible day…some of these spoiled brats in my class are driving me up the wall. Some of them are just so lazy and disrespectful. I fear for the future of this generation and my profession. The only bright spot I can think of in my career so far is this wonderful little former student of mine. She always had the best disposition and manners and attitude in spite of the fact that we we were informed by her mother that her father was an alcoholic and her brother viciously and repeated molested her. She was so tough to get through that and I’m so happy and inspired to see her at school thriving now when it would have destroyed most people. Well, enough with my rant, TTFN!”
Assuming that blog posting spoke entirely the truth, mixed in with her opinion of the circumstances, your argument is that the truth is what matters, she really only narrowed her pool down to 100 kids so she didn’t specifically identify anyone, so therefore she’s exhibited nothing that should be censured or chastised for? Seriously?
that is the precedent the school is setting by tolerating this. The school has to nip it in the bud, because that is where it would lead.
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
February 17th, 2011
6:46 pm
HEY TWG!!!!
GREAT TOPIC today! Really, I know I’m the first to slam you when I think you dropped the blog ball (ok..to be fair to Photius, he’s usually gets to you first!), but I think this one was really, really good and fairly presented by you.
Miss Priss!
February 17th, 2011
6:49 pm
I hate to spoil all the fun … but does anyone know the latest about Ms. Munroe? All these posts are thoughtful and well done, but what’s the latest? You know, fact-wise.
nuts
February 17th, 2011
6:54 pm
She should be fired. Stop trying to defend her uneducated blog comment. Fire her.
MomsRule
February 17th, 2011
6:58 pm
Well stated Educator @5:47!
April
February 17th, 2011
7:05 pm
ITS A BLOG PEOPLE! FREEDOM OF SPEECH! IF WE CAN MAKE FUN OF OUR “BLACK” PRESIDENT, THEN WHY CAN’T A TEACHER VENT ABOUT STUDENTS?! Sensitive Americans. GET OVER IT! Kids gets more bullied by peers and their parents anyway, toughen up!
Tommy
February 17th, 2011
7:08 pm
I think she got a raw deal. She should have a right to vent, and a right to generalize about the situation in a public forum. I don’t believe she crosses the line until she starts naming names and specific actions. It is probably good that people have feed back on what is going on in schools from as many sources as possible. I don’t think any good comes from blocking free speach, so long as she doesn’t name names.
sandra
February 17th, 2011
7:11 pm
She has the right to free speech!
Mari Navarro
February 17th, 2011
7:13 pm
I have not read her blog, so I am not aware of the “type of language” she used. However, if she did not identify herself in the blog and did not identify the students she was complainging about…what did she do that is illegal. I was just cursed by a young man at Targe the other day and since his mother was present I called her on the carpet about it and you know what she said? That is his 1st amendment right!!!!!!!!!
The kid bumps into me and then curses me out??? I sympathize with this teacher. If what the others are saying about her blog is true, she has not lied!!!!!!!!!!!A LOT of kids and their parents today are worthless users of oxygen. I think I am going to make me a button that reads You are a good reason for birth control!!!! Parents need to be held responsible for their children’s behavior. Public education should be a privilege, not a right. Get the little worthless atoms out of the schools and maybe we will have children wanting to learn again.
Good luck to this teacher!
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
February 17th, 2011
7:25 pm
@Mari Navarro….she didn’t do anything illegal. She is not facing prosecution for violating any crimes. Out of 150+ posts today, you’ll find you’ll find less than 5 who said she didn’t have the right to express her thoughts. How exactly does getting reprimanded or fired violate her free speech. Not one organization has told her “you can’t say that anymore” or “your are hereby ordered to cease and disist your blog”. Her rights have not been violated. She simply is being told to make a choice…your blog or your job. her choice.
The NFL does it with their player conduct rules. Big Ben got suspended for four games for not committing any crime. Perfectly Legal.
Focus on the Family will reprimand you and/or fire you if you sponsor a pro-abortion rights rally or website. Perfectly legal.
The car salesman in Chicago who wore his Green Bay Packers tie and refused to take it off got fired by his boss because it caused such a visceral reaction from his the Chicago customer base and affected sales of cars. Legal.
she has a choice…blog it and find another employer, or don’t blog it and work for us by our rules.
Natalie Munroe calls out ‘whiny’ kids: Do teacher blogs help or hurt schools? – Christian Science Monitor | How To Start Blog
February 17th, 2011
7:30 pm
[...] as "annoying" and "lazy," is defending the right of teachers to speak …Natalie Munroe: Should teachers blog, even anonymously, about their students?Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Blogging teacher gains supportphillyBurbs.comShould a teacher be [...]
Miss Priss!
February 17th, 2011
7:31 pm
Exactly! And how many of us would post comments with our real name? Free speech? Free screech is more like it!
chai
February 17th, 2011
7:43 pm
Yes, I think she had a perfect right to publish the comments I’ve heard reported, in the way she did it–without anything that could identify individual students, the school district, or her own name. The idea that teachers have to pretend to think that every student is wonderful is ridiculous. It’s also counter-productive, because it furthers the idea that education is a one-way street, with teachers entirely responsible for persuading students to learn, whether or not the students are in any way willing or cooperative. What kind of fantasy-land are we living in, when we blame a teacher for grumbling in a general way that some of her students are less than delightful to work with?
jt
February 17th, 2011
7:51 pm
And this is the kind of person administrators hire to instruct our children?
As an educator in Adult Education, I say you are an POOR educator, who might be better suited for a grave- digging career. There you have no one to talk to or about except yourself……. or will you blog about the deceased too?
DawginTX
February 17th, 2011
7:55 pm
I don’t think this was professional or appropriate, but I understand the need teachers have to vent. They put up with a lot crap trying to teach kids who don’t want to be there, and their hands are tied to do anything about it in a lot of ways. She definitely should not be fired. However, if her frustration is overshadowing her passion for teaching, both she and society would be better served if she decided to change vocations on her own.
Todd Smith
February 17th, 2011
7:56 pm
To all of you whinning, politically correct individuals out there…GET THE F*** over it and move on. Why is it so bad to offend someone? Why is it so bad or wrong to tell it like it is? Why? Why? Why? Thats what is wrong with our country now, can’t offend anyone, any group or society anymore. People think their SH*T doesn’t stink anymore and lord be hold if anyone says it does. Had a 7th grade english teacher that threw a hammer and bounced it off one students desk because that student cursed him. I learned more about grammar from that teacher than any other I had. Why? Because i respected him due to the fact I knew he wouldnt tolerate any bull. Now adays he would’ve been locked up…..AS I SAID GET THE F*** over yourselves. My name is Todd Smith, I live in North East Georgia, if I have offended you…come see me….
sandy
February 17th, 2011
7:59 pm
I would love to think that my children were being taught be someone who had enough sense NOT to put such thoughts in black and white, ANYWHERE !! I have no doubt that she’s 100% right in her assessment of the students in her classes but then, she should also have enough sense to know that these same students who don’t know how to behave have parents who also don’t know how to behave or they would have taught their offspring better and it follows that these are the parents who only have “little darlings” and will sue to prove their point. NEVER WRITE WORDS ANYWHERE IF YOU DON’T WANT THEM TO COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU!!!
Amom
February 17th, 2011
8:01 pm
I believe that she has all the right in the world to write what she wants to write. She did not use real names, but the fact that she’s voicing her opinions is fine. Yes, she is a teacher, she may someday be my children teacher, and that’s ok. What she said is something that everyone already knows. Kids these days simply to not have respect, and it’s our fault as parents for not teaching them that respect. We need to “listen” to what the teachers have to say, the spend a great deal of time with our children. Now if she had used real names, well, probably it would not have been ok, but she still has the right to vent.
DB
February 17th, 2011
8:10 pm
@Tiger: It’s not exactly a “vow of secrecy”, but the seal of the confessional has long been considered inviolate, not only in church, but legally, too. The whole concept of confession is that someone can come to a priest and confess the worst stains on their soul without fear that they will be “turned in” or that the priest can be forced to testify against them. A priest can only encourage someone to turn themselves in to legal judgement, they cannot for any reason reveal what has been confessed to them. A priest who breaks the seal of confession without the express permission of the penitent is automatically excommunicated. Period. So, they take vows to become a priest. And the confessional is the ultimate secret. Ergo, vow of secrecy. Sorry if I mislead you.
The biggest disagreement here seems to be “Was this teacher’s actions unprofessional?” Define “professional”. When it comes to teachers, being “professional” apparently means Mary Poppins — “practically perfect in every way.” Was it slander? No, it wasn’t “false and malicious.” Was it libel? No, she did not attack any particular person’s reputation. Unless her school administration has some pretty detailed “professional standards”, then they are going to find themselves tied up in litigation for quite a while. (As an example, see Ashley Payne, the “Facebook teacher” from Bartow County.) Was it respectful? No, not particularly. Was it true? Probably. My question is this: What harm did she do by venting her frustrations? Isn’t it a bit hypocritical to say, “You can say it, but you can’t write it down.”
DB
February 17th, 2011
8:16 pm
@Tiger: “She simply is being told to make a choice…your blog or your job. her choice.”
The problem is, she’s being told AFTER the fact that she’s not allowed to vent. Unless the school board had a specific rule against venting on blogs, it seems a little capricious to come after her and say, “You can’t write this stuff down, it’s ‘unprofessional’, and then ignore the teachers in the teacher’s lounge trading horror stories about little Ken or Kimberly in the interests of “fair warning” to other teachers.
Tro
February 17th, 2011
8:26 pm
This is America and the teacher had every right to say what she said. These American children are the worst of the worst, overweight, lazy, rude, disrespectful and damn near retarded. NATALIE MUNROE keep telling the truth about these bratz and mayber their sorry parents will upgrade thier own skills and send you better kids to teach.
Tro
February 17th, 2011
8:33 pm
I thought I was finished venting but then I read Sandy’s dumb comment above. @ Sandy just because a kids parents are idiots and the childen are too does not give them the right to be upset when someone points that out. God only knows how many teachers have sat down at a parent/teacher meeting to be cussed out and disrepected by a mother or father who thinks Johnny Bad Ass is an Angel. That teacher has every right ot vent her issues without fear of being sued or loss of her job. If only you American’s stood up for good things we would be a better USA, but we get into debates over simple issues concerning what a teacher said on her personal web blog that does not belong to the state and was not written while she was at work. Are you all such idiotts? No wonder the Bushes were in office for so long!
Charles
February 17th, 2011
8:35 pm
Her facts are probably correct, but her discretion and professionalism leave a lot to be desired. Even though she is probably very frustrated with some of her students, she needs to show more restraint. She needs to also remember that she has many good students and by doing what she did, she simply brought herself down to the level of the students she is complaining about. If I were in her situation, I would be tempted to vent too, but that does not make it right.
Come on Son
February 17th, 2011
8:41 pm
I missed this, this is total BS, what about the kid in California who posted on FB his teacher was a “fat as*” and his mother took his case all the way to the California Supreme Court and had his suspension overturned. The “inmates are running the asylum” and we wonder why the China and India will surpass us in the 21st century.
Elaine
February 17th, 2011
8:52 pm
Edward, I believe you nailed it on the head. Comments above saying the teacher ’should have thought before she wrote’, or use (buy to use) software to block her URL are imbecilit and asinine at best. For me, the ‘politically correct’ syndrome has spread way too far. She started the blog probably to log her feeling, positive or negative. She only provided a few people with the URL and nothing else on her blog would ever remotely lead to this. I agree too, that one of those people sold her out, or blabbed about it to a friend. Natalie should NOT suffer professionaly nor privately for exercizing her right to free speech. Free speech as put forth in our Constitution for everyone. I don’t believe I ever read an exclusion to that right by profession. Get your heads out of the sand folks! There’s way more important issues to address.
To Theresa, I’ve really missed your column as I only can can afford AJC on Sundays. Keep up the good work!
Wake up call
February 17th, 2011
8:55 pm
“I’m just telling the truth. I actually agree with you, but the parents of good and ok kids are quiet and not interested in making waves.”
Not interested in making waves? The parents of good kids have been shamed into being quiet because they have to be OR they’ll be branded with a politically correct label, like a racist, etc, etc.
Again, lets appease and welcome the 2nd wave of immigrants, the poor illegals, the welfare class, the handicapped, whoever … everyone EXCEPT the children and the parents of the hardworking, honest, tax paying Americans. Anytime WE pushed for ANYTHING, we were tossed aside, told to STHU, scolded, and labeled accordingly. The less fortunate are more important, the entitled are more important. To get attention these days you have to be bad, act entitled or both. The good and decent people in this country have been neglectedmistreated and robbed to near extinction.
The kids that YOU spew hatred over just want your attention. They are CHILDREN acting out like children do to get attention for someone that is SUPPOSE to be educating them and obviously the negative garners the most attention from you. Did you forget the knowledge learned in those child psychology classes to enable you to be an effective teacher? Or did you sleep your way through that thinking that info wasn’t needed because kids and their parents would always be perfect.
It is just pathetic that you’ve secretly hated the core good people of our society for so long. Because we didn’t speak up while you put the fear of God in us.
It is disgraceful the pure hatred and inhumane comments by “educators” that I’ve witnessed here today. I guess I’ve learned my leason. If your a decent human being your not worth anything and will be trampled on throughout life. I’ll just keep my mouth shut and continue to be an ATM machine for the lowest common deominators of society.
Alan
February 17th, 2011
8:56 pm
Being married to a teacher and having spent a limited amount of time teaching myself, I have first hand knowledge of some of this. I understand her feelings and understand why she wrote what she wrote. She has probably voiced exactly what she said in the blog to several people (i.e. admin, parents, etc…) with no effect. Today’s education system is not about teaching kids anymore. If all you had to do was go in the classroom and teach kids, more people would do it. My wife typically has to spend 1-2 hours outside of class per 1 hour in class filling out paperwork, sending e-mails, meeting with parents, writing lesson plans, etc…
I spent time as a military training officer, and approached high school classes the same way. I would tell all the kids the first day of class, “I’m not your mom, your dad, or even your friend. I am here to put knowledge in to your head. I get paid whether pass or fail. It doesn’t matter to me what grade you get, but it should matter to you. Here is what you will need to do to get a good grade. If you do it, you get a good grade. If you don’t do it, you get a bad grade.” I never had discipline problems.
Wake up call
February 17th, 2011
9:00 pm
“The “inmates are running the asylum” and we wonder why the China and India will surpass us in the 21st century.”
China & India don’t have to educate Johnny that has 2 mommies or every nationality on the planet!
Steve
February 17th, 2011
9:01 pm
I love this woman.
I had a middle school teacher that once wrote on my report card in middle school that I was more interest in girls than Literature. She was 100% correct, as having to take Literature was similar to having a year long kidney stone.
My parents read that, called the school and spoke to teh teacher. They decided I was not going to any more skating parties that year (it was middle school in the 80’s) unless the teacher said I had turned things around. I not only ended up with an A in the class, I actually started to like literature because I was forced to read The Hobbit, which I thought was absolutely fascinating compared to the first book I had to read …. Little Women. I went on toace the rest of my literature classes throughout middle school, high school, and college.
The problem today is that people just can’t handle hearing the truth. They whine and want people fired for being inconsiderate. Guess what folks, if parents put as much time into their kids as they did whining about teachers then they would probably turn out much better than the alternative. I am certainly glad my teacher did that, even if I really didn’t like her at the time.
4th grade teacher
February 17th, 2011
9:01 pm
Teachers should not spend their time complaining. She made a choice, and now she wants to cry about it. Improve your teaching and the kids will repsond.
CDW
February 17th, 2011
9:03 pm
She has the same freedom to express her opinion about anyone she wants as the rest of us do. If I want to blog that my co-worker is an idiot and my boss is a dimwit, that is my right, and no, it is not libel to express a negative *opinion* about someone.
That said, if I did so and someone I work with were to find out, odds are favorable that I would have at least SOME sort of backlash, just as I would if I stood in the middle of the office and made those same comments.
While I respect her right to express herself, she used poor judgment in posting her thoughts on the internet, and that goes to her professionalism.
To everyone, not just teachers: use good sense when you put something out on the internet – it is never as private as you think. If you want to keep something private, keep it to yourself.
Rainbow
February 17th, 2011
9:08 pm
Yes, the teacher has a right to blog. I do agree that some students behaviors need correction. We need a resolution.
Wake Up All The Teachers, Time To Teach A New Way,
Maybe Then They’ll Listen To What You Have To Say.
They Are The Ones Who’s Coming Up And The World Is In Their Hands.
When You Teach The Children Teach Them The Very Best You Can.
The World Won’t Get No Better If We Just Let It Be.
You Got To Change The World Just You And Me.
Sung by Teddie Pendergrass
It Takes A Village. Help SAVE The Children If For No Other Reason Than You Were One Once
Schools Should Be A Place Where Students Want To Knock The Doors Down To Get In.
E Helmstetter
February 17th, 2011
9:26 pm
Ms. Munroe accused the students of being disengaged whiners, rude, rat-like, and frightfully dim among other descriptive terms. I find that she is exhibiting the same behavior as she described in her students. Rather than mentor or inspire with her full of life, ready to change the world attitude she has chosen the easier way out by simply complaining. She missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime to act as an adult to these students. What better way to make a difference than leading by a proper example and rising to this challenge? Instead she gave up and decided it was probably too much to handle. Yes, we all know that some children need more direction than others in order to be sufficiently motivated. Being successful at this could have set her apart as an exceptional teacher. Her method of dealing with the issues in her classroom was counterproductive. We all learn the basic rules of how to get along with others when we are very young. Ms. Munroe failed miserably at these basic lessons. There is a mutual disrespect between Ms. Munroe and MANY of the CB East students. Unfortunately she has earned that lack of respect. When a child behaves inappropriately (possibly as she or her own three year old child may have done in the past) it is up to the adult to set that child straight and use it as an opportunity to teach….whining and complaining about it helps no one. I only hope that one of her own childrens’ future teachers does not state “I hate your kid.” After knowing her true, personal feelings about the students, I would absolutely not want this teacher around any of my own children. After carefully examining the facts, Ms. Munroe would be neglectful if she allowed her OWN children into a classroom with a teacher behaving similarly. Teachers giving up on their ideals should step aside and give someone else a chance to make a difference.
what is wrong with Education
February 17th, 2011
10:48 pm
I want to say what a great relief it is to know that there are still teachers like Ms. Munroe of Central Bucks East High School in PA. She was right on point – and with the suspension of her or “discipline” of her for her rightful comments – what kind of message is being sent?? That a person “better” keep their mouth shut?? That schools will and do engage in censorship?? And that schools deny the teachers rights to free speech?? At the same time – I agree that there should be SOME limits – as in naming students by name (which she did not do). But come-on, to tell her (and other teachers through out or country) that they MUST be muzzled and can’t FREELY express themselves – is to tell students that it is OK to engage in censorship and Freedom of Speech (along with responsibility) does not exist if it is not positive (nothing would have EVER been said if her comments were all positive). I my opinion – having had kids in school and having worked with school board members – a good many of them (including Administrators) are nothing more than a bunch of power hungry COWARDS. If more teachers like this one would SPEAK-UP then we can finally start getting changes in our school systems. Mrs. Munroe spook what she thought was the truth – but yet, like the movie, “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!”!
what is wrong with Education
February 17th, 2011
11:06 pm
With all due respect to E. Helmstetter, it is obvious that he/she NEVER has participated in a classroom lately. I challenge you to go to any public school in Atlanta, particularly urban, and spend ONE week – and you will understand what Mrs. Munroe refers to. I know, I’ve been there myself. You state “After carefully examining the facts…” – do you know all the facts? Do you know this teacher or this school? Have you interviewed the teacher or any of the students or any of the other teachers??Do you know anything about the community or the neighborhoods in which “MANY” of the students come from? Do you know about parent involvement as related to that school? Do you know the demographics of the school or the school system? Do you know any of the administrators or school board members? And, yes, every one of these things can be of importance when trying to “carefully examine the facts”. Hmm…then I am afraid you HAVEN’T “carefully examining the facts”.
I think what you are TRULY missing is – DOES she have THE RIGHT to say such things (without naming individuals, which she apparently did not) or not – REGARDLESS how you feel about her teaching method or the techniques she did or did not utilize – does she STILL have RIGHTS – THAT is what this is about. And, finally, do you think that the parents would be “neglectful” if they allowed their OWN children into a classroom with other students “behaving similarly”?
DrLuv
February 18th, 2011
3:21 am
This is clear cut. There are no grounds to fire her and she is protected by the 1st amendment.
Mid-South Philosopher
February 18th, 2011
5:08 am
Seems like I remember an old adage….”the guilty dog barks the loudest”.
Too bad the “dogs” in this instance had their “self-concepts” damaged. That’s what a guilty conscience will do for you sometimes!
Parent
February 18th, 2011
7:03 am
If my child’s teacher posted anything like that we would be changing classrooms the next day.
No way. Get another job now. We have no time for insubordination.
If this lady (or any of you ugly posters) worked for me and did this about her job or our office – same story.
C U later. Buh bye.
Likes Children
February 18th, 2011
7:39 am
Let’s put this into another perspective people. What if your surgeon or doctor created a blog about how he hated his patients. They were always whining, complaining and not taking his suggestions. Would you want THAT doctor treating YOU? Same for your kids….I would SO yank my kids out of that woman’s classroom.
And Tom? I’ll place you in the same vein as this teacher. You sound like a grumpy old fart who chose the wrong profession because all you could think of was those days you would have off during Summer and Christmas!!!! I’ve turned “bad” kids around just by simpy having a conversation with them on their level and letting them know I cared and was interested. Get over yourself and go find a new profession filing books in a library where you don’t have to deal with people!
A.H.
February 18th, 2011
8:00 am
News flash-Some teens are rat like. Truth hurts sometimes. Munroe was spot on and spoke for many of us in the teaching profession.
BTW, some teens are also pretty dim witted, too.
If someone recognized themselves in a post that did not mention any names…….well, what does that tell you?
Change might be a plan rather than crucifying someone’s character and taking away their livelihood.
Carla
February 18th, 2011
8:08 am
I wish the people who are so passionate about this teacher and her rights or wrongs were as passionate about the other issues facing our educational system. The teachers are being bullied into cheating on these tests…then get fired for telling about the cheating…and NOW they want to make all schools in our state follow this program of pay being tied to the results of these tests. Which just encourages more problems. We are telling our teachers…teach the test. What about all the other stuff they need to teach that our kids won’t learn because it isn’t on the test so it isn’t important. Budget cuts….and more cuts and more cuts…And where have all the vocational programs gone? I was a good student..loved to learn…would probably have stayed in college my whole life if I could afford it. My sister wasn’t all that good at school. Some kids learn differently…some kids are JUST NOT equiped to do calculus. But put those kids in woodshop or mechanics or even home ec and watch them excell…they then have the pride of accomplishment and have some kind of skill when they graduate and hopefully DON’T end up being a drain on our economy. Sorry, I know it’s off topic but it is something I’m passionate about.
Now…back to the unegaged parents..As I already posted…my 6 year old had a time adjusting to Kindergarten..he’s an active little boy and well, he is my baby and maybe I babied him too much. But when I started getting reports home about his behavior I didn’t wait for the second one to come..I immediately got a hold of his teacher and worked out how to help him and it WORKED…! Meanwhile, I’m there at school standing with three other mother’s of boys from my son’s class. They asked me if we were getting a lot of negative behavior reports home. I indicated how upset I was that my son was acting like that at school and that I had met with the teacher a couple of times about it..yes, my son was not immediately “HEALED” after one try. Anyway, these other mothers go on to laugh about their kid’s disruptive behavior and said that when they get those forms at home they just ignore it. Meanwhile the new curiculum for Kindergarten now is stuff I learned in first grade and this poor teacher has a class of mainly boys…mainly rowdey…and no support from the parents. How is she supposed to teach when she is constantly have to say, “sit down” “be quite” “do your work” and etc?
Teaching Moment
February 18th, 2011
8:33 am
FROM THE NEWEST TEACHER’S BLOG, A DIXIE DIARY at http://www.adixiediary.com
November 18: Teachers Cuss, Too
In the village of Jefferson, some young men had learned how to inhale “laughing gas.” Under its influence they would laugh, cry, roll over, jump about, make speeches, and do many amusing things.
—First Lessons in Georgia History, 1913
Dear Dixie,
I’m yakking about something about Georgia history and say the word hell in a sentence and I wasn’t talking about heaven or hell or purgatory or anything. I actually cussed without thinking. So they go nuts about it and I just get up without saying another word and start to walk out.
They can’t believe it.
Somebody screams … He’s kicking himself out!
I am kicking myself out. I really am. I walk out and close the door behind me and turn around and make a sad face through the window and then walk across the hall toward the benches. I’m already exhausted.
Already on one of the benches is a seventh grader named Mink who was in a lot of trouble at the first of the year … and then he calmed down for a few weeks … and now I’ve been getting the feeling lately that Mink’s cranking it back up again for a big end-of-days-great revival-apocalyptic-wrath-of-God hell raising.
He looks up at me and says he’s taking a self-time-out.
I said good for you. A mature decision. I sat down.
Mink looks at me and then he sees ten kids gawking at me through the window and then he looks back at me. Mink asks what the heck are you doing out here.
I told him I kicked myself out of class.
Mink asked if I was kidding.
I said nope. I told Mink I just said a cuss word in class and I felt like I should kick my own teacher ass out of class since I’ve been kicking a lot of them out lately for cussing. They’ve been using the S-word a lot and very professionally, too. They’re real good at it.
Mink gave me a funny look. He said he’s never heard of that before. A teacher kicking his own ass out of class.
Lamely, I smiled at him.
Then we both took a deep breath and blew it out at exactly the same time.