School worker's Facebook post prompts suspension

[sidewinder]

Apologies if this has been posted already but what a joke!!

 

School worker's Facebook post prompts suspension ? The Register

 

No names mentioned, just an innocent comment, I hear far worse from teachers down the pub. How the hell can they suspend someone for that? And havent the school got better things to do than to spy on staff on facebook??

[DevilsAdvocate]

Bit extreme!

[Jamo]

 

Seriously?

[apoth0r]

It is absolutely disgusting, what a teacher does in their spare time has nothing to do with anyone else. The person who made the accusations needs to focus on their own life rather than ruining everyone elses!

What an absolute waste of taxpayers money, all for an absolutely innocent comment about her day, rediculous and appauling. To think the people who have suspended her probably claim hundreds in expenses and she's the one to be strung up!!!!

[elsiegee40]

It is a bit extreme, but the trouble is that it's in writing and the school has evidence. A whinging session down the pub is not generally recorded and played back. However, everyone is very careful about what they say within earshot of non-school employeess, especially parents. If specific class names had not been mentioned, they would probably have got away with it. Edited June 9, 2009 by elsiegee40

[witch]

It is absolutely disgusting, what a teacher does in their spare time has nothing to do with anyone else.

 

Whilst I do ABSOLUTELY agree that this case is COMPLETLY unjustified, it isn't quite true that a teacher can do 'anything' in their spare time, is it? They cannot be seen to be behaving inappropriately with pupils etc in or out of school. As a parent, I fully support a teacher's right to have a private life,but I wouldn't be happy if, for example, a teacher was exchanging inappropriate adult-type comments with students on Facebook or any similar medium

I would think that, in this case, as someone has complained, the complaints procedure has kicked in and the school has to follow certain procedures, no matter how ridiculous the original complaint.

[Andrew_C]

There was some discussion recently on the "Professionalism" of teachers, suggesting that they should behave in 'public' with the sort of decorum associated with doctors and other similar "professionals".

 

In this case, I would agree that the school have over-reacted, but there IS a need for teachers to behave well, and be SEEN to behave well, as example to their pupils. This is one reason that teachers TEND not to live too close to their school.

[Disaster]

words of advice from Mr Joe Strummer

"You have the right to free Speech

as long as youre not Dumb enough to actually try it.

These are your rights"

[jamesb]

From what I understood the person in question was not, in point of fact, a teacher.

 

Her facebook comment was a reply to a teacher, who had originally complained about a class.

 

The teacher who made the original comment has had no action taken against them.

 

The employment tribunal is going to love this one.

[bottletop]

The unions are going to have a field day with this. it seems all to common these days for people to either be suspended or have there employment terminated for a comment made on facebook. I know in my wifes school there was discussion on facebook about an issue and some how the head got wind of it and well it wasnt a pretty site from what I gather.

 

This is why I dont have any work colleges on my friends list.

 

Mind I temper what I say on facebook any way:rolleyes:

[AngryTechnician]

The employment tribunal is going to love this one.

This.

 

Unless there's something big that isn't being reported here, UNISON will eat the school alive.

[apoth0r]

Whilst I do ABSOLUTELY agree that this case is COMPLETLY unjustified, it isn't quite true that a teacher can do 'anything' in their spare time, is it? They cannot be seen to be behaving inappropriately with pupils etc in or out of school. As a parent, I fully support a teacher's right to have a private life,but I wouldn't be happy if, for example, a teacher was exchanging inappropriate adult-type comments with students on Facebook or any similar medium

I would think that, in this case, as someone has complained, the complaints procedure has kicked in and the school has to follow certain procedures, no matter how ridiculous the original complaint.

 

I'm sorry Witch, although I agree with you in your example, this is completely different.

Teacher's shouldn't add students to facebook, simple as....

 

This however is some meddling so and so jumping onto a facebook status that does not mention ANY names whatsoever. They are not doing anything apart from stating their opinion, freedom of speech. I think it is absolutely absurd, the screenshot has absolutely no names and looks very carefully worded. It doesn't incriminate anyone!

 

You are right, it is rediculous and the person responsible should be extremely ashamed of themselves.

 

We promote the use of VLE's / the internet / online resources, then damn the very people who actually use them! It is this lack of common sense by authorities that overspend tax payers money time and time again

[dalsoth]

Here's a little thought.... perhaps think twice about adding everyone including your uncles cat to your facebook...

 

You can choose who sees your content and you can choose who to add. Everyone i know just adds anyone they might have knew 10 years ago because they want to "keep up with what they are up to" and then never even bother to message them.

 

Stupid comment to take action over though.

 

I have and do say a hundred times worse a hundred times a day.

[CESIL]

As an occasional user of Facebook with a very small number friends (yes I know how sad that sounds) it seems to me that this is a non-issue.

 

Am I right in thinking that the message shown in the screenshot coulc only be seen by other facebook users with access to the posters profile?

 

If that is correct then surely this comment was not really posted in a 'public' area?

 

Having said all that this case demonstrates why I am careful about what I say, email, post etc and especially careful when using my mobile in a public place.

 

As I said to someone recently about the wonderful world of Web 2.0...

"Never before have so many people with so little of interest to say had more opportunity to say it...and never before have their mistakes been shared with so many..."

[ICT_GUY]

MMMM,

 

2months of pay wasted because of this?

[apoth0r]

Yes which dismisses the arguament of a public display of 'profanity'!

If teachers are stupid enough to add parents and students to their facebook then fair enough, they should have legal consequences, but this isn't the case here!

 

Could'ves and would'ves aren't enough to string someone up, even if that's what we're all made to think.

"They could've been hurt"......but they weren't!

"They could have been offended if they saw it"......but they didn't! (until it was made public by the papers!!!!)

[russdev]

Get ready for the rant I gone on about this before...

 

I refer to Manager Tools (sorry again) the MYSpace Cast is very good.

 

Facebook is not your home it is in public. Also I would question people that complain about students in a pub sorry it s unprofessional and you should not be doing that.

 

You don't get this both ways we are either a profession so we act like it or we are not. Free speech has nothing to do with it .As profession we have professional responsibility.

 

Over this case maybe the school over reacted but as someone said they have got go through procedure.

 

This is why my facebook page provides my professional persona and yes it means I am boring but then there you go.

 

Manager tools is correct when you refuse the boss to your page they assume you are bad mouthing them or the school don't fancy your career chances with that.

 

Any website password/protected or not it is still public and sorry what you do there in or out of school matters. Heck may not get your fired but stop any chance of any career opportunity.

 

It makes me cringe the photos that some of you lot post on there and will come back to haunt some members on here I suspect.

 

I would say to people open your facebook then you are forced to think about what you post.

 

Russ

[russdev]

Yes which dismisses the arguament of a public display of 'profanity'!

If teachers are stupid enough to add parents and students to their facebook then fair enough, they should have legal consequences, but this isn't the case here!

 

Could'ves and would'ves aren't enough to string someone up, even if that's what we're all made to think.

"They could've been hurt"......but they weren't!

"They could have been offended if they saw it"......but they didn't! (until it was made public by the papers!!!!)

 

 

Err yes it is was it seen by more than just you and your spouse then yes it was public..

 

Was it seen by your brother who dosn't live with you then yes was public. Was it seen by best friend who you have known from school yes was public.

 

I am not sure how clear I can make this to people as I hate seeing young staff as often they are ones who do get caught out like this.

 

Website = public

 

Russ

[Edu-IT]

I save my venting for Twitter.

[jamesb]

Err yes it is was it seen by more than just you and your spouse then yes it was public..

 

Was it seen by your brother who dosn't live with you then yes was public. Was it seen by best friend who you have known from school yes was public.

 

No. I don't agree that makes something public. If I stick a poster up on a wall in the middle of a town centre, yes, that's public. If I chat to a friend, or a family member, then I have a reasonable expectation of privacy. If I post to a private site with a limited audience on the internet, I expect privacy and so long as I have taken certain precautions (such as being selective about friending people rather than adding everyone) then no one has any right to declare anything there 'public'.

 

I am not sure how clear I can make this to people as I hate seeing young staff as often they are ones who do get caught out like this.

 

I agree to a point with you, but you're going a little far on this. By the sound of it you'd have it that no one's allowed to complain about their job to anyone, no matter how private it might be considered. Why is a spouse considered 'private' but a friend not? Where do you draw the line, and how long before we start saying that companies have a right to police our thoughts because they're 'public'?

[GrumbleDook]

A few things to remember about public social sites ...

 

It is not just a case of locking down your own settings, if you post a message on somebody else's wall / profile / area then it is their message to control. You may be good and careful but the person you are responding too may not be. If you want to send personal message then use the internal email / message system on these sites ...

 

It helps to understand what it takes to truly separate your personal and professional life. Most of us have friends who we work with. Or used to work with. Or are in the same field. We will rant or moan or congratulate or commiserate all in the same place. It is hard to separate the two areas so most people don't bother. It also falls down when, even though you have two accounts (professional and personal) you get added to someone who has one and treats it all the same ... your professional account is then linked with someone else's personal life.

 

There is nothing that is truly private on the internet. Nothing ever gets truly deleted on the internet. Always think twice about any comment you make on any site (including here) as you never know what might happen. It could get bought up by a larger company, it could get hacked, it could decide to change the T&Cs and you have to deal with it.

 

Facebook is good and can have a number of good uses, even in education, but remember that even though you protect yourself it only takes one idiot to drop you in it.

 

Whereas previously you did not have to worry about 2nd / 3rd hand gossip catching up with you due to how heresay is dealt with in law ... you don't have the luxury on places like facebook.

[apoth0r]

I don't believe my opinions should be policed or controlled for the sake of a few people who might find my comments offensive. They don't have to read it, and if they do read it and have a problem, they should probably speak to me first as it is my opinion that they may have to change. Being forced to change your opinion by means of "tell tailing" is something for the kids to do within school, not for a mature adult relaxing at home with a beer (i nearly changed that for some reason) and some music.

 

Believe it or not theres some horrible horrible things on the internet, are you made to read/view them?!?!?! Do the owners of these sites have anything thrown at them?

We block them in school and move on, people don't like what I'm writing on Facebook then it's as simple as that. " - Remove as a friend"

 

Boom.

[Pottsey]

russdev said “Was it seen by your brother who dosn't live with you then yes was public. Was it seen by best friend who you have known from school yes was public.

I am not sure how clear I can make this to people as I hate seeing young staff as often they are ones who do get caught out like this.

Website = public”

I really don’t agree. A private page between friends and family is just that a private page. It’s not a public page anyone can see. Website does not = public.

It’s not open to the community as a whole. It’s not open to all persons or for all to view. Now if her private settings are off and anyone can view then I agree its public. But saying website = public is going too far.

 

There should be nothing wrong with talking about your day to other people. No names of children or school name was mentioned so nothing wrong was done. If you have a bad day and/or the class is bad we shouldn’t have to worry about saying the class was bad to other people.

[apoth0r]

I think my passion for this stems from not having any cigarettes today, apologies

[dwhyte85]

We had a similar issue with a pupil and cyber bullying, i'm not sure where the line can be drawn.

 

To put some idea on what happened, girl used popular social networking site, uploaded picture and girls from school commented nastily (it was very mean, picture contained disabled family member) and offending girl ended up with suspension. I had to unblock the site to allow 'logs' to be printed.

 

I can understand why a school would want some control of homelife (depression, relations with pupils, leaving jobs etc) but in the case of the Facebook incident originally mentioned, that's a tad harsh... but where do you draw the line, for this reason I don't give my facebook details/publish them publically, keep personal life personal!