CMS Teachers and Facebook (safety, office, deal)

[PartiPoodle]

I tell you what one of the scary things is to me.. the ways to get around Privacy Settings. What that tells me is my daughters page isnt safe from prying eyes like she thinks it is I never bothered to set my page to private, but I liked the fact that she could set hers..

[cabercro]

I agree - Privacy settings are not as tight as I wish they were. For example, if someone tags you in a picture, it typically shows up on your wall and on your friends' news feed. If one of your friends clicks to see it, they can then access the entire album it's in - even if they're not friends with the person who posted the picture. So even if there's nothing racy or unsightly in that picture, you have to be careful that there's nothing in the rest of the album as well.

I'm really against completely wiping my Facebook account for the sake of my job - I consider myself a good teacher, but I'm still a young, single woman. I don't friend my students, I keep my profile tight, and take off anything I wouldn't want my parents to see (especially since my dad has figured out how to use Facebook ). I think the idea of counties not hiring you at all for having an account is a little ridiculous.

On a side note:

Originally Posted by NCyank

one lawyer is claiming that the school meets the dictionary definition of a 'ghetto'

It does. The school is 93% free-and-reduced lunch.

Originally Posted by NCyank

and that calling children 'chitlins' is a term of endearment.

It is... as far as I know...

Still not the best decisions on her part, and definitely not the best way to word things, but she wasn't saying anything truly hurtful or false.

[aquastone]

I support teachers and have the utmost respect for them and feel they are grossly underpaid for what they have to put up with, especially those that teach in the low poverty areas in our nation. But if an employee of a company bad mouthed their employer, they would be fired. I feel this is the same situation. I do see both sides to this, teachers should have the freedom to say what they want, and saying the truth...there is nothing wrong with that. This is a very tough subject. I feel for the teachers, but also know that if I said something bad about my employer they would say, "see ya". I hope the best for them.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by aquastone

I support teachers and have the utmost respect for them and feel they are grossly underpaid for what they have to put up with, especially those that teach in the low poverty areas in our nation. But if an employee of a company bad mouthed their employer, they would be fired. I feel this is the same situation. I do see both sides to this, teachers should have the freedom to say what they want, and saying the truth...there is nothing wrong with that. This is a very tough subject. I feel for the teachers, but also know that if I said something bad about my employer they would say, "see ya". I hope the best for them.

There is a time and place for everything...these young teachers picked the wrong place and need to be made to understand the importance of "discretion" as a professional.

[Palmetto Heel]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

There is a time and place for everything...these young teachers picked the wrong place and need to be made to understand the importance of "discretion" as a professional.

Amen to that. These "children" have grown up living their private lives out in public and they are about to learn a very hard lesson in keeping things to themselves.

[Whytewulf]

Let's face it.. This won't be an issue 5 years from now. They were just early adopters. in 5 years, so much information will be on the web, it would be silly to say no. In fact, they will probably require you to create a FB page when you join.

It's just stupid people scared of the Web. I would bet there are very few under 30 people complaining. So when the teenagers of today grow up and start running companies, they will have grown up with FB/MS, and the like and won't fear it. They may put a policy in place to control it.

Also, if you bad mouth your company you don't get fired. These are scapegoats to apease a public outroar, nothing more. It's a joke and make CMS look like its from 1954.

[jlat]

First, keep in mind that North Carolina is a right to work state, meaning anyone can be fired at anytime, without cause.

Second, at the end of the day, you have to ask yourself, do you want someone that publicly shows this lack of maturity, tact and self control, having daily contact with your children? To me it is a no brainier and they should have never stepped foot in a class room to begin with. Advocating a slap on the wrist or some type of forced apology is systemic of a significant trend in this country of not holding people (especially young people) responsible for their actions. We see this every day now in the news. Someone hurts someone ether through words or deeds, but "didn't mean to" so it is really alright, just don’t do it again. The lawyer that stood up and said these were words of “endearment” should also be disbarred for credibility issues.

I think the firing and suspension of these people is certainly just. This is not what we need in the classroom. Not only should they be fired, but their names, and their pages should be made public as well. I also have a feeling that if inappropriate remarks had been made towards students or schools in the ‘burbs and not in he inner city, the out cry for swift and severe punishment would have been thunderous.

[Whytewulf]

Originally Posted by jlat

First, keep in mind that North Carolina is a right to work state, meaning anyone can be fired at anytime, without cause.

Second, at the end of the day, you have to ask yourself, do you want someone that publicly shows this lack of maturity, tact and self control, having daily contact with your children? To me it is a no brainier and they should have never stepped foot in a class room to begin with. Advocating a slap on the wrist or some type of forced apology is systemic of a significant trend in this country of not holding people (especially young people) responsible for their actions. We see this every day now in the news. Someone hurts someone ether through words or deeds, but "didn't mean to" so it is really alright, just don’t do it again. The lawyer that stood up and said these were words of “endearment” should also be disbarred for credibility issues.

I think the firing and suspension of these people is certainly just. This is not what we need in the classroom. Not only should they be fired, but their names, and their pages should be made public as well. I also have a feeling that if inappropriate remarks had been made towards students or schools in the ‘burbs and not in he inner city, the out cry for swift and severe punishment would have been thunderous.

Sorry to completely disagree.. but this has little to do with maturity, and good t o know that if you ever make a "mistake" in your personal life, you expect to be fired. So next time you have 2 beers, say your boss sucks to your co-worker and someone over hears.. UGH OH!

This is nothing with right to work.. I appreciate that fact, however, people can still sue if wrongfully dismissed. We have to move past absolutes.. It's easy to say fire them from a pc screen, but if this was your friend, daughter, or even maybe your kids teacher who typically was great, but posted a picture of her arse getting slapped.. OH NOES!..

Again.. be prepared for those people who throw stones.. you can be next!

[jlat]

Originally Posted by Whytewulf

Sorry to completely disagree.. but this has little to do with maturity, and good t o know that if you ever make a "mistake" in your personal life, you expect to be fired. So next time you have 2 beers, say your boss sucks to your co-worker and someone over hears.. UGH OH!

This is nothing with right to work.. I appreciate that fact, however, people can still sue if wrongfully dismissed. We have to move past absolutes.. It's easy to say fire them from a pc screen, but if this was your friend, daughter, or even maybe your kids teacher who typically was great, but posted a picture of her arse getting slapped.. OH NOES!..

Again.. be prepared for those people who throw stones.. you can be next!

Yep we'll disagree on this for sure as this has everything to do with maturity and self control. And you are comparing apples to oranges about the beers and the boss. I can't see a mature person posting pictures of them getting their arse slapped on a PUBLIC board and not expect any type of repercussion. C'mon, next thing you'll say that it is absolutely okay what these morons did, and that these poor misunderstood youths need another chance and another chance and another chance and another chance....where does it stop? When does someone become responsible for their own behavior? These people are in a position of authority and power not some office wonks spouting off about the henious boss down the hall. This type of behavior points to very specific flaws in judgment, honesty and maturity. This isn't about me mouthing off about my boss after a couple of beers. These are people that we trust with our children; their safety, their intellectual growth and well being.

FWIW, I stand on my integrity, and if I am wrong or did something as blatantly ignorant and stupid as these folks, then absolutely I expect to take what ever punishment is deemed appropriate (including being fired). I wouldn't run to a lawyer and make up some BS about it being terms of endearment. It's time for people to take responsibility for what they do and stop making excuses.

I hope that if I ever get hauled into court wulf, I'd get you on the jury, as my freedom would be assured.
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[AuntRebecca]

I taught in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools for 31 years (can you believe it?). Part of that time I worked at the Education Center where I observed the politicking and maneuvering of middle management. I can understand the frustration these teachers have. There is absolutely no way one can vent dissatisfaction and exasperation. Principals are not the ones to talk with because they are always covering "arse" and wanting to "look good downtown". They will cite a teacher with insubordination in the teacher's yearly evalution if she complains. I never hated students, maybe one or two, but I surely hated some administrators. During all of that time, I had only two principals I had any respect for: and, only one superintendent - Dr. Bill Self. Most principals are old coaches who are as dumb as stumps. I had one sorry principal say, "if I had my way, I would never hire another woman." The workforce in public education is 80 or more percent female. I told him he was in the wrong business. I wonder if Dr. Gorman and staff bothered to look into the source of such frustration in the schools. Teachers who really care are bound to get discouraged. Teachers, I am with you, but be more descrete - parents don't give a damn about you and will look for things to criticize.