agnosticOCD said:
No, of course not, that's why I said I'd deal with it in a manner that won't harm the kids, and of course I'd make efforts for them to stop talking shit but not in any way that will get them into a tremendous amount of long term trouble. And most importantly, I'll make sure to do as much effort as I can to prove their statements wrong. I'm merely saying that I won't censor them, I won't harm them, I won't take away their education. I'll reason with them, I'll try to ask them why they had said those things in the first place, I'd make sure I'm not seen in a negative light for something that isn't true, but I would never impede on their lives in the way these teachers did. You're concerned about the job and the general social well-being of the teacher in question, I understand, and I am too, but why should you dismiss the kids just because they put the guy at risk? They don't deserve THIS HARSH a punishment, especially if their intent was never at all to get this guy into any harm.
Labelling someone a paedophile, and getting into trouble over it, is not a matter of censorship - or is the fact that it is illegal to yell "Fire!" in a crowded theatre censorship too?
It doesn't matter what the kids' intentions were - calling a teacher a paedophile is a very serious matter - I believe (though I may be wrong, I'm not an American so aren't so up-to-date on the laws there) that it is legally required for
any allegation of the sexual abuse of children (which calling the teacher a paedophile would fall under) to be investigated. Such an investigation would warrant the suspension of the teacher until they are found innocent - which goes on the teachers' permanent record and thus would mean they would be extremely unlikely to be hired for any position involving working with children ever again. It may well be that the powers-that-be did not see that there was sufficient cause for a full investigation after talking to the students, and thus did not need to suspend the teacher in question - however they need to make the point that falsely accusing a teacher of being a paedophile/rapist is extremely serious and thus they need a serious punishment.
To say that it is harsh on the kids, as it affects their future, may well be valid - however the school needs to be harsh; to prevent other kids of accusing a teacher of being a paedophile due to annoyance or a grievance for getting a bad mark, given the aforementioned dire consequences for a teachers' professional career merely at getting such an accusation. It is showing the kids that their actions have consequences - what if next time one of the kids' (or their friends') parents sees the remark and goes to the police? Or one of the kids makes the comment on school premises? Like I said, if my kids accused a teacher, even on Facebook, of being a paedophile I would
hope that the school suspends them. In regards to paedophilia and those working with kids regularly, to use the vernacular, that shit shouldn't be taken lightly.
It will be interesting to see how the tribunal pans out, in regards to whether it being on Facebook or not counts, and whether such falls under "Freedom of Speech" (which it should not, IMO, because it is defamation of character, already illegal, however you try to spin it).
