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SmackDown: Should Teachers Be Allowed to Blog About Their Students?
Filed under: Opinions
Act up in class, read about it in tomorrow's teacher blog. Illustration by Dori Hartley
Blogging About Your Students Is Not a Fireable Offense
by Amy Hatch
After venting about her students online, a teacher could be expelled from her job.
Natalie Munroe was escorted out of Central Bucks East High School last week after some students discovered what Munroe thought was a private blog.
The teacher says she never thought to protect her website with a password -- after all, her only readers were friends and family, and the majority of her posts dealt with her private life. But a brief series of personal essays on the state of education and her high school English students set the suburban Philadelphia school abuzz last week.
In her posts, Munroe frequently used profanity and suggested that some of her students dressed like street-walkers, over-estimated their intellectual prowess, and called them "rat-like" and "rude, lazy, disengaged whiners."
Now, Munroe is in danger of being fired for publishing her opinions online, PhillyBurbs.com reports, despite the fact that her lawyer, Steve Rovner, tells the news organization the Central Bucks school district does not have an "Internet policy."
Firing Munroe would be wrong, plain and simple.
Was what she did naive? Yes. The Internet is a public forum, after all. Was it indiscreet? Perhaps. But was it against the law? No.
What Munroe did, in fact, was her fundamental right as a United States citizen. She exercised her First Amendment right to express any opinion, no matter how unpopular, unpleasant or vile.
The Internet has opened a whole new frontier when it comes to the public expression of our opinions. Self-publishing has given rise to a whole new generation of voices, voices that otherwise may have never been heard. Voices that would have been otherwise disenfranchised. Voices that brought into the sunlight issues that were previously buried in the dark.
Take Heather Armstrong, another blogger who was fired for sharing her opinions about her employer on her uber-popular blog "Dooce."
Armstrong also used her blog as a forum to write about her private battle with depression, which landed her in the hospital for several days when her daughter was just an infant. Her willingness to open up about that experience helped raise the profile of clinical and post-partum depression, especially among the population that often experiences it -- mothers.
As a parent, I completely understand the instinct toward outrage. Would I be furious if a teacher insulted my child in a public online forum? You bet your bippy I would.
But as a journalist who makes her living from writing online, I shudder at the thought that Munroe might be terminated from her job for expressing her personal opinions on her personal blog.
And, let's be frank: Our educational system really is in crisis. Why is it so terrible that someone who sees it from the trenches should share her concerns and questions, profanity and acerbic commentary aside?
If Munroe is fired, a dangerous precedent will be set. The Internet is a powerful medium, one that certainly has its dark corners, but also one that has the potential to create conversations about subjects that affect us in the most fundamental ways.
Silencing those voices? Now, that would be worthy of expulsion.
A Lesson for Blogging Teachers: Actions Have Consequences
by Jessica Samakow
We see it again and again. An Internet scandal erupts and it's always the same defense: "I didn't think anyone would see it."
From teen sexters to Congressmen posting their pictures on Craigslist, the guilty parties all play the victim, acting surprised when their dirty laundry is aired across the Web.
Now, high school teacher Natalie Munroe could lose her job for negatively blogging about her students. Following the pattern of those under fire before her, she says "her blog was never meant to be widely read," USA Today reports.
OK, so maybe she didn't intend for her students to discover her blog, but that's simply not a viable defense. If something is posted on the Web, someone will find it.
High school teachers and counselors often remind teens how powerful the Internet is, noting that colleges now evaluate not only formal applications, but a student's online presence, as well. The general rule they tell teens: Don't post anything on the Internet you wouldn't want the world to see or read.
And, now that a Google search can be performed from your cell phone and Facebook is so easily accessible, this advice is both crucial and obvious. So, then, if teens are expected to take certain precautions on the Web, why shouldn't their teachers be held to the same standard?
This isn't a matter of free speech. True, we can say what we want in this country, but that doesn't mean we don't have to face consequences. A teen who rants on Facebook about how many shots of tequila she consumed last Saturday night deserves to get busted by her parents. An employee who tweets about his evil dictator of a boss will likely get reprimanded, if not fired.
And a teacher who blogs that her students "dress like streetwalkers" and have an "unrealistically high perception of (their) own ability level" should be penalized, as well.
Students tend to be intrigued with the lives of their teachers outside of school. Running into a teacher at the movie theater is like an out-of-body experience; shouldn't they be at home grading papers?!
Today's teachers probably felt the same way when they were in high school, but, instead of chance run-ins at the grocery store, students can just go to Google to learn more about their educators.
Munroe argues that her blog was not "stumbled upon" by students; it was "dug up." How it was discovered, however, is irrelevant. What matters is that it was found.
Look, I get that a frustrated teacher might turn to writing as an outlet to complain about her bratty high school students. But why not keep a journal? Or privately e-mail her closest friends? Posting it on a live blog, even with minimal subscribers, is just foolish.
In a recent post, Monroe defends her actions: "Contrary to what seems to be popular belief, I didn't -- and don't -- feel negatively toward all students. As I mentioned in another blog that nobody chooses to talk about, there were delightful students in school, too."
And while the so-called "delightful" students may appreciate her remarks, that doesn't make up for what was said about the not-so-delightful ones. I don't classify myself as being overly sensitive, but I would feel extremely uncomfortable being in a classroom and knowing my teacher pegged me as "rat-like" or "frightfully dim."
The students who were called these names deserve better.
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ReaderComments (Page 4 of 12)
2-15-2011 @ 5:50PM
Tonya said...Marie you are so very right. I am NOT a teacher but while checking my daughter in and out of school or attending sporting events or just going to the school for any purpose I see girls dressed like street walkers boys with thier pants falling down and the way they talk to teachers, is so disrespectful. And then you have the parents on a tirade because they had to leave work and bring thier daughter clothes so the rest of the school doesn"t have to look at her green panties all day.
2-20-2011 @ 3:28PM
carol said...Marie....it was not President Bush who twisted 'no child left behind'..it was a public school system ill equipt to teach our children. I had a child in public schools. I volunteered daily in her school. I saw and heard what went on in the teachers lounge at lunch time. I would venture to guess that if all parents were privy to what goes on, 95% would find a way to take thier children out of the public school system.
2-15-2011 @ 4:17PM
Ron said...I, as a retired teacher of 30+ years, always asked myself one question before the start of each day. That question was always 'who will benefit from my interactions with students TODAY?' If that answer was "the students" I proceeded. If that answer was "only me" then I reconsidered. Teachers, with few exceptions, have always been held up as positive role models for the community and the school. I would ask those of you that defend her, what kind of role model was this teacher with her blog?
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2-15-2011 @ 4:18PM
Joanne said...As long as the teacher did not meantion any names, I see nothing wrong with it! Parent's go online and complain/brag about thier kids, and nothing is wrong with that. You would never see a parent brought to jail because she said, "Sally pooped in her pants" or Damn, Eric is being an A@@!
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2-15-2011 @ 4:18PM
Kathy said...From what I understand she didn't mention anyone by name. If a a student recognized themselves in her blog then maybe they should take a good hard look in the mirror. Even teachers have a right to their opinions. And kids today DO dress like hookers and bums and they don't pay attention in class because everyone is so busy making excuses for them and dumbing down the school standards.
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2-15-2011 @ 4:29PM
denny70947 said...No Kathy, while you certainly have a right to your opinions, if your a persons' doctor, lawyer or teacher, you don't have a right blog what are in essence professional notes. Would you like your doctor, lawyer or teacher bogging their notes about you? I think I know your answer.
2-15-2011 @ 6:13PM
Jezzika said...(Reply to denny70947) No denny, while you certainly have a right to your opinions, no matter how ill-informed they may be, if you are a citizen of the United States of America and are residing here, you have a right to blog about your thoughts, ideas and opinions (a little thing called the First Amendment that everyone is mentioning in their comments). While you may be held to certain confidential standards regarding a specific profession you may be a part of, you can, legally, generalize your thoughts, because as long as you do not identify the person you are venting about, it does not violate any policies of confidentiality. This teacher did not give any names, therefore, she has not done anything illegal or against the school's policies, or, in this case, lack thereof. And Kathy, I agree with you.
2-15-2011 @ 4:22PM
denny70947 said...Unfortunately it's hard to protect one from being stupid. NOTHING in an email or blog, or tweet is secure. Students, patients and clients have the expectation that professional notes are confidential and remain that way. Firing is appropriate.
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2-15-2011 @ 4:23PM
jan said...If she is smart enough to realize that anything you post on the internet can be publicized.....then, she isn't smart enough to be a teacher. DUH! Instead of "name calling" her students online, she should have been using that time to help them learn. Perhaps, she is the problem....not the students.
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2-15-2011 @ 4:34PM
Kat said...Well said Jan!
2-15-2011 @ 4:24PM
jan said...* isn't
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2-15-2011 @ 4:26PM
michael6179 said...I understand the teachers frustration. Public schools are a joke. The teachers union is nothing more than a thug organization, soaking taxpayers for more and more money, and never improving the quality of education. Why is it the United States is so far behind the rest of the industrialized world in education? THE TEACHERS UNION!!! These scumbags could care less about the future of our children, all they care about is days off, more pay, less work and raping the taxpayers. Why is it, children in private and parochial schools do much better than public schools while surviving ONLY on tuition with no taxpayer funds at all. Americans better wake up to what the teachers union is doing to the future of our country, and stop thinking the way to fix the education system is to dump more money into it. This teacher is probably an exception to the rule, sick of lazy, rude, stupid kids....pushed through a broken system.
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2-15-2011 @ 5:33PM
dougalcandy said...Private schools have the right to kick out anyone who doesn't meet their standards. Students are not allowed to disrepect teachers, they must wear uniforms and if they don't follow the rules they get kicked out and mommy and daddy lose the money.
Then they have to go to public school, they behave any way they want, and it's the teacher's fault.
2-15-2011 @ 4:26PM
kathy said...students get to say what they want to about their teachers and use their teachers name most of the time. teachers need a way to vent also. putting up with todays teens is probably no easy task at all much less trying to teach them. let her blog!!!
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2-17-2011 @ 11:55PM
Gina said...It was her opinion, she is entitled. Her comment in my opinion was accurate. She probably got fed up and felt the need to vent. She made the mistake of not choosing the right venue for this. But I strongly agree with her comment which refers to a majority of our school age teens. If any one was insulted by that comment then you must feel it pertains to you. What is wrong with society, take a good look around to see how some of these kids are dressing and behaving in school. It's improper and no one is willing to enforce codes and rules of proper ethics. Wake up!!
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2-15-2011 @ 4:33PM
Aliroyal said...She didnt do anything wrong
Kids should stop acting like brats. I remember being in high school which was 3 years ago wishing that teachers could still hit some of these kids.
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2-15-2011 @ 4:30PM
beth said...If she didn't know any better than to do what she did.....she needs to be fired.
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2-15-2011 @ 4:34PM
Ellis said...The "teacher" has violated one of the biggest no-no's- confidentiality. It does not matter if her blog was only for friends or family, any professional educator worth her paycheck, no matter how paltry, is ethically held to a confidentiality clause for each and every student and parent that crosses her path.
This is the kind of situation that adds fuel to the fire for teacher bashing.---Retired Teacher after 35 years.
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2-15-2011 @ 5:16PM
Bri said...Confidentiality does not apply to a person's opinion. If a student is going to dress in revealing clothing (what this teacher called a "streetwalker"), that does not apply to the confidentiality clause. If the teacher commented, "My student named Jane Doe, who dresses like a streetwalker, got a 54% on her math test today," THAT would breach confidentiality. Simply stating an opinion on the outfit of a student is just that: stating an opinion. Kids comment on each other on facebook all the time. Do we fire them from being students?
Unless she posted student names and information (which I'm honestly not sure whether she did or not--I have only read this small bit of information on the topic), the only breach that happened here is a breach of good judgment. She should not have posted these comments in a public forum, but not because she could be fired for it. She shouldn't have posted them because of common sense--one would hope that teachers would have some!
Thank you for your 35 years of providing education. Not enough people stop to thank teachers, and I hope that you have many students who think of you when they are successful. You have touched many people's lives!
2-15-2011 @ 4:34PM
shamare said...This teacher did not mention names. It is obvious that the students who she wrote about must have identified themselves from what was probably dumb or poor behavior. She did not identify the guilty... this ruckus is just stupid.
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