Students suspended, expelled over Facebook posts
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See? This is why I'd rather be homeschooled or self-taught, because I don't need that kind of trouble that's gonna affect me in the long term for something as trivial as a joke, no matter if it's about sexual desires or attitude.
Just because they're teachers doesn't give them the right to violate the students' freedom of speech and it's certainly not a justification to throw them out of an institution THEY'RE PARENTS are paying for.
Yes, being assholes on the internet won't really do them any good, but there must be a reason they would say things like that, and the way the school responded just shows them as a bunch of butthurt adults who must have been caught with their pants down at such insults.
On the bright side, there's a great opportunity for these kids to focus their time on becoming brilliant minds on their own without the risk of heart-shattering failure and financial costs, and nothing impeding their right to say what they want.
You are a tyrant if you want a perfect and free society but expect there never to be anything that will offend you.
"Take it as it comes, be thankful when it's gone." - The Raconteurs: Many Shades of Black
EDIT: THEIR PARENTS (way to emphasize RONG SPELING, Pete...)
Just because they're teachers doesn't give them the right to violate the students' freedom of speech and it's certainly not a justification to throw them out of an institution THEY'RE PARENTS are paying for.
Yes, being assholes on the internet won't really do them any good, but there must be a reason they would say things like that, and the way the school responded just shows them as a bunch of butthurt adults who must have been caught with their pants down at such insults.
On the bright side, there's a great opportunity for these kids to focus their time on becoming brilliant minds on their own without the risk of heart-shattering failure and financial costs, and nothing impeding their right to say what they want.
You are a tyrant if you want a perfect and free society but expect there never to be anything that will offend you.
"Take it as it comes, be thankful when it's gone." - The Raconteurs: Many Shades of Black
EDIT: THEIR PARENTS (way to emphasize RONG SPELING, Pete...)
Even if it was... You'd have to prove that it's not true. Strictly speaking, in this case, the teachers would have to prove that they are neither rapists nor pedos. Because if you can't disprove the statements against you, defamation of character falls flat on its face.JourneyThroughHell said:
Well... then I'm guessing the students have a shot at a lawsuit, too.Jabberwock xeno said:
Well... can't they?Chibz said:
There's no criminal record or anything. In case of a lawsuit, they'd probably investigate that.
Serves them right. Don't say anything online that you would hesitate to say in real life. Especially if your profile is easily identifiable.
My old head of department gave us a nice talk on this, the gist of which was that he would be happy to sue the living daylights out of any student for slander. I agree wholeheartedly; the Internet does not grant you license to act in an uncivilized manner. If you choose to do so whilst remaining readily identifiable, you're a fucking idiot and deservewhat's coming your way.
My old head of department gave us a nice talk on this, the gist of which was that he would be happy to sue the living daylights out of any student for slander. I agree wholeheartedly; the Internet does not grant you license to act in an uncivilized manner. If you choose to do so whilst remaining readily identifiable, you're a fucking idiot and deservewhat's coming your way.
Meh, the kids deserved it. Now that authority figures like teachers and bosses are catching up to technology, online posts aren't quite as safe and anonymous as they once were. The kids would've gotten suspended if a teacher overheard that conversation in a hallway at school; this really isn't any different.
At least the second kid had the maturity to admit the mistake instead of trotting out the worn-out "I was just expressing myself" excuse.
At least the second kid had the maturity to admit the mistake instead of trotting out the worn-out "I was just expressing myself" excuse.
Adding anyone other than actual friends on Facebook is just stupid. People can speak however they want, although calling a teacher a pedophile and rapist (when they are in fact not either) can and has gotten teachers fired and thrown in jail. And even if teachers are proven innocent of the charges, they are essentially blacklisted.
EDIT: To be clear, I don't think the school should have gotten involved. The kids deserve to be disciplined, but then again maybe they should let everyone see their Facebook posts.
EDIT: To be clear, I don't think the school should have gotten involved. The kids deserve to be disciplined, but then again maybe they should let everyone see their Facebook posts.
Zaik said:
And people wonder why the school has over-reacted over this incident, you people, not only have zero evidence to suggest these people are in any way wrong here, but you're making pretty damn horrible accusations towards people you don't even know based on someones Facebook comment.agnosticOCD said:
What's most likely, "Zaik" is that the students in questions were annoyed at the teacher in some way and in their anger posted said accusation on Facebook, it's very common and happens all the time but in a profession like teaching; where such slanderous comments, even if they aren't true, can leave people without a job - it's serious.
The students are clearly just being made examples of, because in all honesty if you were that teacher, having done nothing wrong, but then had to teach a class full of people calling you a pedophile behind your back I doubt you'd be pleased with the situation.
The conclusion that should be drawn from this is not "oh the teacher must have done something wrong", that's a moronic attitude at best, but that "free speech" does not entitle you to make such slanderous comments and that if you are going to assassinate someones character in public [which Facebook is] you'd best have some evidence or really mean the accusation in question.
They deserved what they got.
Well...Chibz said:
That's not nice.
At all.
Why even have such things as defamation if you can't prove them?
Considering that any suggestion of pedophilia or rape can permanently harm a persons reputation then they should definitely be punished harshly for using terms that carry such weight.
If it weren't for the particular language used then I would say that the school has no call punishing them for their activities outside of school. However they did cross a line and deserve to be punished for it. Maybe next time they vent they will be a wee bit more careful picking their words before posting.
If it weren't for the particular language used then I would say that the school has no call punishing them for their activities outside of school. However they did cross a line and deserve to be punished for it. Maybe next time they vent they will be a wee bit more careful picking their words before posting.
Honestly, I wouldn't even think of defending the students if this were a case of cyberbullying (ie, making such an offensive remark on another student). I don't really see why teachers should be treated as somehow able to tolerate that stuff more. I support the school on this.
Which reminds me, I have a lawyer to call. Damn bastards aren't getting away with putting my face on that shit that easily... >.>Dana22 said:
Also, considering it was a technical private conversation, yes it does. It wasn't meant to get out and someone leaked it. What they say amongst themselves in a private place should not be punishable with a suspension or expulsion. :/
The school administration can fuck off in this case.
No, they don't. Being expelled is far worse than a few words behind someone's back. I would defend your right to call me a shitfaced cocksucker, even if I disagree with you completely. But then I'd try to prove you wrong.D_987 said:
Being made an example of, huh? Wonderful. Rule your students through fear, and instead of giving them an incentive not to be this way, they expel these kids who meant no harm. The individual learning process severely perverted. They could have done something less harmful than that; that was not a mature way to deal with it.
I know having that kind of reputation can get you out of a job, but you're an asshole for dealing with it at the cost of the education of students on the honor role just because you couldn't take what they said, and that's not accusing the teacher of actually having some kind of libido problem, it's in the way they dealt with it.
Free speech is saying what you want, and hearing what you don't want said. You can take it and deal with it or you can cower behind you're "I'm Offended!" spot. It's a matter of your actions proving the negative things said about you wrong. Work for a reputation, and don't hide behind a job title and presupposed authority.
Huh... when I was getting bullied, when they got hold of my number and started sending me tons of abusive texts and calls, the school refused to do anything about it because it was outside of school hours.
I guess because this is a serious accusation, they had to step in.
Still, it's stupid. It's just silly name calling by the sounds of it, although they should probably investigate the teacher in question.
I guess because this is a serious accusation, they had to step in.
Still, it's stupid. It's just silly name calling by the sounds of it, although they should probably investigate the teacher in question.