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I wholeheartedly disagree that it is nearly impossible to function in society with out a facebook page. Please. It's not impossible to function without the internet, it's not impossible to function without cellphones, and for centuries, teachers functioned without publicly viewable blogs upon which to complain about their jobs.
And I'm a teacher, and I have a facebook page. The above is no less true, that being the case.
Putting aside the issue of the offensiveness of the posts, but talking about keeping the personal separate from the public, all those people arguing either side (that private affairs should or should not be used to judge people), I ask where do you draw the line between what expressions of speech in private can or cannot be used to discredit?
How about blogging pseudonymously, and a student and a student reading it figuring out from the description of that it was her class?
How about if the teacher went to a forum like this and posted it, and a student happened to be a member on the forum?
How about if the teacher angrily wrote about it in her diary, dropped her diary on the bus one weekend by chance, and one of her students picked it up?
How about if the teacher was overheard by the student gossiping to her friend about it at the mall?
In which of these cases, do you think the same result (the suspension) should have occured (imagine the exact same words of the rant were written or said in each scenario)? Why or why not?
Oh yeah, and haven't people figured out how to make Facebook settings private and viewable only to friends by now?
I'm actually interested to see how the answers to these questions play out over the next few years in regard to the lawsuits that are sure to follow.
With regard to private settings on Facebook, all you need is for one "friend" to grant you access. You don't even need an account yourself. Some very interesting situations have been created this way.
No, she shouldn't be fired, but she should be careful.
Personal story: My first year teaching was the year from hell. One day, at the end of my rope (career-wise), I wrote on my facebook status that I was "miserable" and that my life sucked. I didn't say it was related to my job, (though it was). A day later my principal told me that one of the district employees (who was a friend on facebook) told her what I wrote--not to tattle, but out of concern. The principal didn't reprimand me, but told me to be careful about how people might take my posts on facebook.
I have never commented on my job--good or bad-- since. Now I write in a journal--the old fashioned way--to vent my frustrations. And I feel just as well as if I posted it on facebook. The goal is to get your frustrations off your chest, and you can do that--privately.
I'm familiar with some of the schools near Philly. Maybe she is telling the truth.
Central Bucks is one of the most highly regarded and highest paying districts in the state. If she thinks the kids there are out of control, then she has been ridiculously spoiled and should try working in one of the many under-budgeted schools overcrowded with under-served kids.
Most teachers would give up chocolate to work in Central Bucks.
Central Bucks is one of the most highly regarded and highest paying districts in the state. If she thinks the kids there are out of control, then she has been ridiculously spoiled and should try working in one of the many under-budgeted schools overcrowded with under-served kids.
Most teachers would give up chocolate to work in Central Bucks.
Absolutely true. This district is not in any way, shape or form a "Philly school district". This is an affluent school district with high expectations.
Firing was the only option for the school. There's no way she would overcome her publicly exposed negativity to be an effective teacher. She needs a career change.
Moral of the story: Don't post your woes in a public forum. Confide in family, friends, spouses, start a PRIVATE journal, or seek counseling. So many other options available and she's still have a job.
I'm familiar with some of the schools near Philly. Maybe she is telling the truth.
Doesn't matter. Most teachers have certainly had students who were dicks (and just as much in affluent districts as in poor ones). Doesn't mean it's appropriate or professional to call them dicks, and, really, it's just stupid to leave concrete evidence of such unprofessional behavior. This should be a no-brainer.
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