SmackDown: Should Teachers Be Allowed to Blog About Their Students?

Let me guess... you're one of the "whiners" she was talking about? You're offended because you're an indestructable teenager and you don't quite understand why you get in trouble for acting out. When you're, well, your age, you think you're right all the time. Today's teens also, from what I've personally seen, are rude, disrespectful and obnoxious. As long as the teacher did not mention any names, I see no problem here. Sure, she could have used a penname to better hide these posts that were supposed to be private, and yes, password protecting her page would have been better as well. However, if parents would learn to not be afraid of their kids "hating" them and learn to be a little less sensitive (everyone has opinions, get over it), and actually teach their kids to be respectful and polite and teach them to listen to their teachers and not talk back or make nasty comments in class, maybe this teacher wouldn't have to find a way to vent about the unnecessary behaviors going on during her class. Come on people... you're getting upset because this teacher said something negative about your brats... errr... little angels... that are misbehaving and causing greif for her? Really? So much for preparing them for all the judgment they'll face in the adult world. Get a backbone, really.

It's hard to describe my thoughts without disturbing someone elses thoughts to badly. It's always something.... It would be fine once again IF again IF one didn't pick up their thoughts on what someone else was doing at one time. If they would have let it be and left it alone, all would be still, calm and normal now. No Bother!

How rude! You have every right to be offended. I definitely don't think teachers have the right to say nasty things about their students no matter what. It's just not professional. Vent to a friend in a personal message or email. Don't possibly humiliate your students by publicly posting things about them. It doesn't matter that it didn't mention their names. If you think you're going to get and only want the "good" students, find another profession. You are there to "serve" all students no matter how likeable they are. If you look close enough, beneath the surface, they aren't so bad at all. They are people, too and deserve to be treated as such.

Drew, you were right to feel offended by the juvenile actions of one of your instructors. I am certain that this story involved a public school, as it would be considered a no-brainer to bounce a teacher who publicly exhibits such poor judgment. As it stands, this instructor has hired a lawyer, who must be opposed by a school board lawyer, whose bill is paid by your taxes. Remember..."your childs education is too important to be left in the hands the government."

Eh Drew - "Offended" ?

Why because her comments were an accurate depiction
of student behavior? She's not there to be abused. Somehow I figured students attended school to learn - not be butt holes.

I saw her interview - she came off bitchy, so if no names were used,
what's the problem?

Now she's going to initiate legal action - too much drama.

She should have told these kids this stuff to their face, without the profanity. Just remain matter of fact and give them a crummy grade.

Offended?? You should have been thankful someone was caring enough about her students she was at least SEEING there were issues and talking them out with her FRIENDS.. not some D.A** who thinks S/He is clever. Too many kids are getting away with murder because the ACLU and other freek outfits are suing your parents for PARENTING> Get a life. Grow up, Amount to Something. Contribute meaningfully to society.
Look around you - do you see anything there that would entice me to pay 90-100K a year for?? We old fogeys still control some pretty hefty purse strings... think about it ...

An accurate depiction of student behavior??? Rat like? That's accurate? Yes, students can be rude. Adults can be rude, too. That's normally where the students get it from. The way people, in general, talk to each other is terrible! It's no wonder where our students get it from. They learn it at home, on the internet and from teachers who don't know how to set a good example.

I'm thinking that if a student recognizes him or herself as the subject of a remark about dressing like a streetwalker, then..
A. The shoe fits.
B. He or she is proud to express his or her individuality with that wardrobe
C. Both A & B

Well dude, ARE you one of the *****? You must know that most of the vermin your age ARE. If you jerkwads showed some respect to others you would not be IN that blog! Grow up and grow a pair and become what your parents are not raising, a responsible, respectful member of the human race!

Thank you JW for setting such a fine example

r u kidding me! if his behavior happened in my classroom you and your child would be in the principals office pronto. Most teachers feel this way because there is a profound lack of respect from most students - even in the lower grades and those parents blame it on the teachers. Since when is it the teachers job to correct disrespectful behavior - last time I checked teachers were hired to teach, not raise your friggin kid!!!

Cassie, no names was mentioned in the blog so you would not know if it was your child.

and if names were mentioned and what was mentioned is true about your child, then you need to evaluate first your parenting style rather than taking it out on the messenger. take ownership on being a lousy parent for once and do some to correct it.

You do have a point about using a pseudonym, but how easy would it be for someone else to create a blog using a fake name--e.i. your name. If we tell people to use fake names, who's to say that someone won't use your name and get you into trouble? I think that if this school tries to fire this teacher, they would have a hard time fighting this battle. All the teacher has to do is say, "That's not mine! Someone is using my name!" Anyone can set up an email account with any name they want--teaching people to provide fake information may very well lead to more trouble for others.

This woman did NOT list her name, school, or any of her students names. One of the schools students had (I don't think this is the correct terminology) "tracked her blog" back to her. I believe that since she took such pains to hide her identity that to snoop into the account was wrong. If you tell someone something in private and someone else overhears and repeats the private conversation, is that right? Of course not. This woman was just venting.

I agree. This individual exhibited a total lack of respect for her position as an educator and her students and their families. It appears the bar is set very low when it comes to the character of some we trust to educate our children.

It most likely is that the students and their parents do not respect teachers. Too many parents do not support education and blame the teachers (you sound like one of those people!). I can understand the teacher's frustation with her students who are more interested in looking sexy to the opposite sex. They do not care about getting an education to help them survive in the world when they get out of school. This is true in both poor urban districts and in upscale suburban districts.