Students suspended, expelled over Facebook posts

[Plurralbles]

My friend mad ea wikipedia article on my principle callin ghim a pedophile and it HAD HIS PICTURE ON IT.

He did not get suspended.

Teachers need to not get so butthurt, I mean... unless she's telling some authorities about it trying to get him in trouble for nothing... it's not a big deal.

 

[agnosticOCD]

Alright, you convinced me with this one. Whether or not it's illegal though is not my concern since I'm not a big fan of social norms, I'm convinced it actually IS bad. And I was speaking of getting expelled, not suspension. Suspension is, for me, a reasonable punishment to use in schools, it's keeping them from ever studying that was my concern. That would be beyond any kind of just punishment, even for something with such implications.

The suspensions are understandable. On the expulsion, I guess it depends on which of the 12 was expelled. I imagine it was the student who posted that the teacher was a paedophile, though the article cannot release any names so we cannot be sure. I think it was a bit harsh, but then depending on what the other 12 comments were I can't really say (for example if one of the other 12 students was saying that they should say to the head that they were abused or something in order to get the teacher fired, that would warrant an expulsion in my book).

Well, if it's purposely trying to get a teacher fired, or they're doing something along those lines, I think there should be a proper investigation first, because despite being harsh claims, there's always either truth to it, or there isn't. That needs to be investigated before any action on either party is taken. Of course, I do agree that if they're really doing it without any real basis, then expulsion is a reasonable punishment, but if they're not trying to harm the teacher in any way or were clearly joking about it, then I don't see a reason to punish them. It depends on how the claim was presented in the first place.

EDIT: without any real basis in order to get the teacher into trouble

 

[jawakiller]

I have an idea. Don't post shit on facebook! Do like I do, tell your friends in person. Then if shit hits the fan... No written record! Ah, old fashion common sense how I miss you.

 

[agnosticOCD]

I have an idea. Don't post shit on facebook! Do like I do, tell your friends in person. Then if shit hits the fan... No written record! Ah, old fashion common sense how I miss you.

Actually, there's still the risk of the teacher trying to weed out the student who said shit in class. A teacher of mine back in high school who once joked about our Academic Coordinator looking like a horse got into a shitload of trouble when one of his students spread the word about it, and he became strict towards all his classes, fucking over grades and sending students out for trivial reasons or not being able to answer a question. Some teachers can be total assholes when bad PR comes their way, so it's best to let it out on the net, so at least only those who said anything get into any trouble. Why let the blame spread to the entire class?

 

[aashell13]

My two cents:

1. the kids said some pretty dumb stuff. I excuse them for this, on the grounds that teenagers are known for doing generally stupid things.

2. the school VASTLY overstepped their authority by retaliating against students for comments made away from school and in a (ostensibly) private forum. I do not excuse them for this, because public schools generally seem to be under the mistaken impression that it is their prerogative to regulate what students say outside of school, particularly on Facebook.

It isn't like the kids went to the cops or otherwise initiated proceedings against the teacher in question. That would be a different story.

 

[theSovietConnection]

Alright, you convinced me with this one. Whether or not it's illegal though is not my concern since I'm not a big fan of social norms, I'm convinced it actually IS bad. And I was speaking of getting expelled, not suspension. Suspension is, for me, a reasonable punishment to use in schools, it's keeping them from ever studying that was my concern. That would be beyond any kind of just punishment, even for something with such implications.

The suspensions are understandable. On the expulsion, I guess it depends on which of the 12 was expelled. I imagine it was the student who posted that the teacher was a paedophile, though the article cannot release any names so we cannot be sure. I think it was a bit harsh, but then depending on what the other 12 comments were I can't really say (for example if one of the other 12 students was saying that they should say to the head that they were abused or something in order to get the teacher fired, that would warrant an expulsion in my book).

Actually, the one who was expelled called the teacher bipolar, which I don't get, as bipolar is, in my mind at least, a far less serious accusation than being a paedophile.

 

[twistedmic]

For those of you who don't know, this is the exact wording of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America (meaning it only applies to America)

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

It means that the U.S. government cannot pass laws against people speaking, nor can they arrest people for saying things they(the government) don't like. However, that doesn't mean you can say whatever you want, where ever you want without any consequences. There are laws against libel and slander and verbal threats against one's life.
Those kids who called their teacher a pedophile and a rapist were guilty of libel. Plus they could have endangered that teacher's career, reputation and even life with their (the students) posts.
They got suspended/expelled, but they haven't been punished by the U.S. government.
Those kids, and many other people, need to learn that what they say and write has consequences

 

[jawakiller]

I have an idea. Don't post shit on facebook! Do like I do, tell your friends in person. Then if shit hits the fan... No written record! Ah, old fashion common sense how I miss you.

Actually, there's still the risk of the teacher trying to weed out the student who said shit in class. A teacher of mine back in high school who once joked about our Academic Coordinator looking like a horse got into a shitload of trouble when one of his students spread the word about it, and he became strict towards all his classes, fucking over grades and sending students out for trivial reasons or not being able to answer a question. Some teachers can be total assholes when bad PR comes their way, so it's best to let it out on the net, so at least only those who said anything get into any trouble. Why let the blame spread to the entire class?

Yeah and thats why you own what you say. If you truly believe what you're about to say, accept the consequences. I once called a guy I knew a dick cuz he took advantage of a female friend. And we got into a fight. I won but I almost lost an ear to a knife. But I accepted my fate because I spoke the words. People need to learn how to take responsibility for their actions.

 

[Silent Biohazard Solid]

It's not libel or slander if all you do is insult someone in front of your friends. People talk crap about people all the time, and that's what Facebook is. It's social networking, it's not a news site.

 

[twistedmic]

Generally, where there's smoke, there's fire.

What's most likely going on is this teacher *IS* a pedophile, plausibly a rapist, but has friends in high places to protect him from being properly accused.

Your post shows just how dangerous accusations and allegations can be and why libel and slander laws are in place. You read the kid's posts and, with no evidence of any wrongdoing whatsoever, believe that the teacher is a pedophile and a rapist.
Those accusations could very well have cost the teacher his/her career, reputation or even life, all because a couple of kids were pissed off.