The New Jersey teachers union is providing legal help in both cases. "People can get fired for something that otherwise would have been completely and quickly forgotten." "There's a really simple concept here, which is the nature of a conversation is changing in a digital age and the consequences of saying something that's dumb are much greater," Palfrey says. John Palfrey of Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society says there have always been teachers who say dumb things, but now social media amplifiy those comments. In Paterson, N.J., a first-grade teacher in a largely black and Latino school may lose her job after commenting on Facebook that she feels like a "warden for future criminals." Knox has been suspended while the investigation continues. Revised legislation mandates all school districts to develop a social media policy by March 2012. The measure was repealed in October after critics said it was too broad and may have prevented teachers from using Facebook at all. Missouri: In July, the Legislature passed a law restricting teachers from using social media sites that enable them to contact students through private messages. The guidelines advocate against posting about students, colleagues or job duties recommend that teachers delay posting about a subject they are angry about until they are "calm and clearheaded" and suggest that subjects and photos on a personal webpage remain "rated G." Lake County Schools (Florida): Guidelines were introduced last year concerning the way teachers should approach social media. In some cases, that has led to questions over whether teachers can use social media at all.ĭayton Public Schools (Ohio): The district introduced a policy to go in effect next year that bans teachers from friending, messaging or texting students, or from responding to students' messages on social media. "Viki has a right to free speech!" another responded.ĭistricts around the country are starting to take up the social media question, and rules frequently spell out how teachers and students can interact online. "She has the right to post as a private citizen, but not as a teacher," one protester said. The school district began an investigation at the request of parents, and dueling demonstrations were held at the local school board meeting between gay-rights activists and supporters of the teacher. It began with comments that a gay history exhibit at the school should be removed she then urged her friends to pray and eventually called homosexuality a perverted sin. Union, N.J., high school teacher Viki Knox posted comments on her Facebook page that quickly turned into a flaming war of words with parents and local residents. In some cases, teachers have been fired for statements they've made on Facebook, which is raising free speech issues. It's becoming a particular challenge for teachers who can quickly rile students and parents by posting comments or photos online. The new and ever-changing world of social networking has blurred the lines between private and public, work and personal, friend and stranger. Teachers have been fired for comments they posted on Facebook, which raises free speech issues and questions about how teachers should interact on social media.
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