Teacher suspended for blog post about students

[Wharrgarble]

So a few days ago Natalie Munroe, a teacher at Central Bucks East was suspended (perhaps soon to be fired) for a post on her blog stating some really nasty things about her students. Though she didn't use any names, the comments were clearly directed at those she taught, saying things like, "There's no other way to say this: I hate your kid", and called one student a "Rude, beligerent [sic], argumentative fuck". She went on to say that some of her students dressed like streetwalkers, asked too many questions, and were otherwise "Rat-like".

Upon learning about these comments, she was immediately suspended but some proponents of the First Amendment say has every right to say what she did and shouldn't be fired, let alone suspended. Others say that she is a teacher, and should have realized that there is a certain level of professionalism that she breached and should face the consequences of her actions.

She claims that she never expected her blog to be found, but it was open to the public for anyone to read and let's face it... it's the internet. Someone will eventually find it. Venting is fine, but why make it a public affair, especially as a teacher? Why not private e-mails between friends? Or hell, make the blog friends only.

But, my dear Escapists, what do you think? Should she be let off the hook, or should she be fired on the grounds of inappropriate conduct?



Source: http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/11/mean-girl-teacher-suspended-for-blog-rants-about-students/#ixzz1E537TAuV

Edit: Typo

 

[Dags90]

It's considered unconstitutional for them to do the reverse (punish students for non-disruptive comments about teachers). Link. [http://www.opposingviews.com/i/free-speech-or-suspension-student-insults-teacher-on-facebook] However she's also posted disparaging comments about her coworkers/administrators (who are her boss, essentially), so that is good enough reason for a sacking.

Though I find that she also posted: "Am concerned that your kid is going to come in one day and open fire on the school. (Wish I was kidding.)" and to my knowledge hadn't actually said anything to school officials a bit troubling. If she really think that's a comment she could put down on a report card comment, she should be telling someone other than the internet.

 

[Bernzz]

Not only did she insult students on this blog, but she also attacked coworkers and administrators. Good enough reason for some form of punishment, in my eyes. If you wanna vent, as OP said, make it friends only.

 

[UltraParanoia]

I've been a student, most of what she said is accurate.

However, you don't shittalk where the boss can hear it, it pretty much always gets you in trouble.

 

[Serenegoose]

I don't think she should be fired, and I think she should be smart enough to say what she thought in a private post.

 

[Deleted]

I think that what people say outside of work should not affect their job. IF your feelings get hurt over what someone said then too bad. She doesn't get paid after hours so why should she act like she's still in work?

 

[Lord Krunk]

Considering she complains about students asking too many questions when she gets paid to teach them, I have no sympathy for her.

Otherwise I wouldn't mind, because her opinion about her students and coworkers being total shitbags may in fact be valid. She has a right to express her opinion.

Mind you, she doesn't seem to be the most virtuous of people herself.

 

[Canid117]

Why didn't she post this shit anonymously without any specifics added?

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

While she gets the stupid award for today, I don't think she should be fired.

Suspension? Yes, so far I like the idea.

 

[Eri]

didn't use any names

There is no problem here.

 

[zehydra]

First amendment only applies to government regulation. Companies and organizations can censor themselves however they want.

However, if this was a public school, then things get hazy

 

[lacktheknack]

Her fault for making it public. Ever heard of a "stress diary", lady?

 

[ThatLankyBastard]

Fired is a little much...

Force her to make a public apology...

That'll teach-er!

...

[sub]That was terrible...[/sub]

 

[Wharrgarble]

Fired is a little much...

Force her to make a public apology...

That'll teach-er!

...

[sub]That was terrible...[/sub]

I gotta admit, I got a kick out of it.

 

[Canid117]

Why didn't she post this shit anonymously without any specifics added?

There were able to trace it to her, so no, she did not post anon.

But why wouldn't she is my question?

 

[Dags90]

There were able to trace it to her, so no, she did not post anon.

His question was "why?" and I think the answer is that she's simple in the head. The multiple spelling errors in her blog are somewhat :/ knowing she's an English teacher.

 

[Penguinness]

There should be no problem in venting, especially since no names were mentioned.. hell people do that on facebook all the time. I imagine someone mustve dug a little deep to find her blog too. Personally I would've tried to remain as anonymous as possible when slagging off could come back to me though, but I don't see anything wrong with her doing this.

This reminds me of the time my brother made a website and got in trouble for it at school because people were going on it in class time. Head of ICT had it in for him ever since.. and then me for being his brother.

 

[ultrachicken]

I think she absolutely should be fired, because it's going to be impossible for her to teach her students now that they know she said those things about them. What she said has impacted her ability to do her job, therefore she should be fired.

 

[Sonic Doctor]

I think that what people say outside of work should not affect their job. IF your feelings get hurt over what someone said then too bad. She doesn't get paid after hours so why should she act like she's still in work?

This, totally this.

The First Amendment just seems like empty words these days. Instead of people have the right to say what they want, it is people have the right to say what they want as long as it doesn't hurt the precious and fragile minds of the people she is talking about. Boo-hoo-hoo.

I understand with a place like the Escapist where if you say something bad about someone on here you will get suspended or banned because by being a part of this site we agree on a code of conduct, and that is perfectly fine.

But what happened to her would be like if I went to some other site forum unrelated to the Escapist and said something bad about someone here, there, or said said bad thing about someone here to a friend of mine, then got suspended or banned here because someone found out about it. It wouldn't be right because it was outside the bounds of this site.

Though she said those things in public, it was outside the school on her own time. It is called a private life. Yes she said the stuff in a public place, but I believe there is also something called a private public life.

This really should be a lesson to the people she bad mouthed. If they don't want to be bad mouthed in way that tells me this woman was telling the truth, then maybe they should change their ways.

If the people she works with have such fragile egos that they can't take criticism that they hear has been said behind their backs outside of school, then maybe they should be evaluated on whether they are mentally capable of doing their jobs, because being a teacher entails being able to take criticism.

 

[NeuroticDogDad]

This trope is older than dirt.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article238644.ece

2007 article on basically the same thing. I'd criticise the Americans right about now for never getting news from outside their own country but that would be MASSIVELY hypocritical of me as I only know about this because it was at my school.

But yeah, you kinda turned up to the party pretty late on this kind of scandal.

COOKIES to anyone who can get another very similar story that pre-dates my example so I can win Hypocrite of the Century.