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I think he should have resigned as well. People who resort to deception don't belong in positions of authority and should be held to a higher standard. Deception erodes trust and trust is necessary when you have someone involved with your children and the most vulnerable people. Con artists lie and cheat, and that mentality deserves to be kicked to the curb. That teacher was conning people to defend his fragile ego. For someone to be that small over a comment makes me wonder what other dishonest act he would be capable of. I would have fired him.
Yeah, protecting his reputation. I find it somewhat fascinating that no details of these argumentative posts have surfaced. One would think that the aggrieved mother would have saved some of these posts.
The whole thing smells. Small town school politics is toxic and I think this guy, and his wife, got caught up in it.
I taught for over 30 years and saw how one or two parents or community members could ruin a teacher with baseless accusations.
While I think that he was wrong to set up fake accounts I believe that he was just trying to find out what was being said about him and the drama program.
I remember when our kindergarten teacher mentioned that the day after kindergarten orientation in March some of the parents had already set up a closed Facebook group only for parents of that class of kindergarteners that weren't even starting until the fall. She discovered it because one of her close friends was going to have a child in kindergarten.
Only very unprofessional people and twits use open facebook. If someone is as stupid as this person was, I sure don't want him/her teaching anyone's kids!
I know lots of great teachers who have Facebook "accounts". That's not the issue, in my view. The issue is what I'll call sneaky activity and trying to infiltrate school-related groups through deception. That does bother me. Whether you're a teacher or a principal (or anyone else in the education field), there are going to be critics, and you just need to get past that and do your job.
While I think that he was wrong to set up fake accounts I believe that he was just trying to find out what was being said about him and the drama program.
I remember when our kindergarten teacher mentioned that the day after kindergarten orientation in March some of the parents had already set up a closed Facebook group only for parents of that class of kindergarteners that weren't even starting until the fall. She discovered it because one of her close friends was going to have a child in kindergarten.
I see nothing wrong with closed facebook groups for a class. It allows parents to be honest about their feelings and what they like and dislike about the class or the teachers. I'm sorry, but there is no teacher privilege to see what is being said about them. And the teacher was wrong to try to get into these groups by deception, imo.
While I think that he was wrong to set up fake accounts I believe that he was just trying to find out what was being said about him and the drama program.
I remember when our kindergarten teacher mentioned that the day after kindergarten orientation in March some of the parents had already set up a closed Facebook group only for parents of that class of kindergarteners that weren't even starting until the fall. She discovered it because one of her close friends was going to have a child in kindergarten.
And ....? Why does it even matter if there is or is not a Facebook account or if it is closed or not?
I definitely feel he was in the wrong. BUT, why are people not harping on the people who accepted the friend request? If it was indeed a "fake" account with a fake picture of a "Kennebunk-looking mom" - why would people accept a friend request from someone they don't know?! That's rule #1 to social media.
I feel like that's a part of the problem here. Are those people being shady and deceptive, though? No, just foolish and irresponsible online.
Yeah, protecting his reputation. I find it somewhat fascinating that no details of these argumentative posts have surfaced. One would think that the aggrieved mother would have saved some of these posts.
Actually, what's fascinating is that people are immediately siding with someone who displayed the behavior that is common among deviants and the mentally imbalanced. Setting up fake profiles at social media sites (to the point of faking your gender) is the M.O. of every troll, catfisher, phisher, scammer, sock puppet and pedophile. No mentally or emotionally stable person would ever do this kind of stuff, would be so obsessed with wanting to know what people were saying in an online private group that they'd create two fake profiles and then go on to start friending people.
So regardless of whatever this group might've been saying on Facebook, there's something clearly off about him based on his behavior, especially the fact that he was friending people. Why didn't he friend these people under his real account? Because they didn't want to friend him? So he decides, "Okay, I'll just get them to friend me anyway under a fake profile so they won't know it's me?"
Anyone else besides me seeing how disturbing this behavior is?
I see nothing wrong with closed facebook groups for a class. It allows parents to be honest about their feelings and what they like and dislike about the class or the teachers. I'm sorry, but there is no teacher privilege to see what is being said about them. And the teacher was wrong to try to get into these groups by deception, imo.
Here's the rabbit hole you go down with that. Those self same parents will print out the online complaints and with great ceremony present them to the Principal and demand he "do something" about that teacher.
And those parents won't accept an assurance that the alleged problems will be looked into, they'll be at the next school board meeting demanding action.
When I went on terminal sick leave here is a sampling of what was said about me, from my colleagues:
From just one teacher to a class he and I shared:
In rehab.
Been arrested.
Overdosed.
Been suspended for improprieties with a student.
He thought he was being funny. It wasn't.
From a Vice-Principal:
Died.
Been arrested.
I found out because the kids got hold of me and let me know it was being said. Plus, a couple parents contacted me.
While I think that he was wrong to set up fake accounts I believe that he was just trying to find out what was being said about him and the drama program.
I remember when our kindergarten teacher mentioned that the day after kindergarten orientation in March some of the parents had already set up a closed Facebook group only for parents of that class of kindergarteners that weren't even starting until the fall. She discovered it because one of her close friends was going to have a child in kindergarten.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tnff
And ....? Why does it even matter if there is or is not a Facebook account or if it is closed or not?
In the situation I mentioned the teacher was a little concerned because while there were a few other "class" Facebook groups or grade level Facebook groups no one (at least as far as the teachers in the building knew) had every set up a closed group before, especially seven months before the class even started.
There is a little more to the story, apparently there were a number of parents who appeared to be rather over-bearing/domineering/etc. at the orientation meeting and the group being closed, and started so early, was a huge red flag. As it happened, it may have caused a few problems but nothing major.
I see nothing wrong with closed facebook groups for a class. It allows parents to be honest about their feelings and what they like and dislike about the class or the teachers. I'm sorry, but there is no teacher privilege to see what is being said about them. And the teacher was wrong to try to get into these groups by deception, imo.
I agree that his behavior was inappropriate. But so is vicious gossip. The difference is, he had a professional responsibility, the parents did not.
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