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

by Amy Hatch and Jessica Samakow (Subscribe to Amy Hatch and Jessica Samakow's posts)
Feb 15th 2011 2:15PM

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.

View more videos at: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com.

ReaderComments (Page 6 of 12)

Add Your Comments

2-15-2011 @ 5:11PM

Sandra Northfelt said...

Come on! She was probably spot on about some of her students - and if their feelings are hurt - oh well! Most likely it's about time they got a taste of the real world. And maybe her comments will help at least one student to make some changes. I say more power to her!

2-15-2011 @ 5:12PM

jooejam said...

after they fire her someone needs to sue her

2-15-2011 @ 5:24PM

axle said...

If the kid's name and whereabouts are not said in the blog, I think that all is well.

2-15-2011 @ 5:16PM

doug said...

As a retired educator, I must say that a classrom teacher has a sacred trust much like that of a doctor, to do "no harm." If she used the students' names in her blog, indeed, she should be terminated. If she talked about her students and school in general, she should be disciplined in a more appropriate manner. A public medium, such as the internet, is not the place to "air your laundry." There are sufficient avenues for teachers to express their displeasure with the system. It is never appropriate, however, to denigrate students individually or collectively before the public. A teacher should tell students in a constructive way to their faces things that will help them grow or keep it to oneself. A written policy manual should not be the measuring stick as to whether this teacher had the right to do what she did. If she did not have the common sense to know that this is wrong, I would not want her working in my school system with my children or those of other pareants.

Marcie said...

Since she didn't name the kids who "dress like streetwalkers" or anyone else that she was feeling negatively about...how was anyone hurt by this? America is going down the drain...people are losing their homes, their jobs...and sinking into homelessness and despair. You know all these murders and suicides we've been hearing about? Now THAT'S something to get upset about.

2-15-2011 @ 11:02PM

otis said...

I do not recall the words, "rat-like" or "frightfully dim" being a commentary on the status of education today.

Calling students whiners or stating that many overestimate their intelligence is not criminal or an offense worthy of firing. If the blog was mentioning the external pressures students face because of the push for four year colleges and scholarships to offset the cost, then there is a context. If she was venting about students whining or overestimating, then she made a poor decision to publish those words or is in the wrong profession. Education is for creating thoughts and expressions. Whining is a natural reflex to stress. Any good teacher redirects or ignores whining to the point it is not even a stimulus anymore. Overestimating is what every athlete, actor, student, dreamer,... should do.

She should be reprimanded and possibly suspended depending on the context. Without knowing her professional background...it cannot be decided here whether she should be fired. I completely agree that the First Amendment gives everyone the right to speak freely and express opinions. If those opinions are contrary to the expectations of the person's job, there should be a consequence. It is never acceptable to call a student "rat-like." That is gross misconduct and deserves penalty.

Len Robertson said...

As a retired teacher, I can only shake my head at the naive teacher who vented on the internet about her students. First she didn't use passwords to protect her site. Then, she used a PC instead of a Mac. I guess the best that can be said about her is that she is a typical English teacher who is essentially computer illiterate. She should have consulted her class about how to secure her work on-line and they would have constructed a billion fire walls or advised her to get a Mac. One thing I learned from teaching. Respect your students and they will help you navigate past the most dangerous tiger traps.

2-15-2011 @ 5:23PM

John F.C. Taylor said...

As long as she did not name any particular student or students, I think the school was wrong for suspending her. Different story if she made it a personal attack y naming one or more of the students she teaches.

2-15-2011 @ 5:28PM

heather said...

She was venting.She did not use names and yes if it were my child i would be offended but at same time what makes you "think" its your child? maybe thats issue that needs to be addressed is your child dressing like "street walker" cause lets face it some girls do! Is your child not paying attention to lesson becuase he/she thinks he "knows it all". Teachers do not get respect they deserve they are with our children more hours a day then we are.This woman is human.She should not be fired for sharing an opioion many have. Teach your children respect so when they are in the world other people can deal with them.

2-15-2011 @ 5:30PM

John said...

Why is this even news??? What she wrote were her feelings and thoughts, she did not mention any names and even if the students knwe she was talking about them in particular, that hjust goes to prove they knew they were dressed like sluts or lazy or thought they had more brains than they really had. She has a right to post her thoughts and feelings as long as basic privacy issues are addressed. When was the Constitution of the United States of America changed with an admendment that gave citizens the right to not be offended?!?! She has a right it IS the 2nd Admendment!

2-15-2011 @ 5:29PM

fred said...

the people who get angry are usually the ones who fit the category the teacher wasrantig about. my wife teaches ele. and you would be amazed at even some of her students. undisciplined and out of control. but as she says how can you blame the child when there is no structure at home many don't know which of mommys many friends is their daddy or the alcohol and drugs that are a part of their lif at an early age or no regular bedtimes or parents who cant even do ele. level work themselves or refuse to send their child to school yet if they are failig it must be a bad teacher

2-15-2011 @ 5:50PM

Tonya said...

If she didn't mention any names then the only students who should be offended are the ones in class who know they fit the description. And even then Y be offended change your ways.

jim said...

thinking many of her fellow teachers are saying no chit about what she wrote. School went too far, should be listening instead.

zaboha99 said...

maybe it will come down to if you speak poorly of your students in a public place, i.e. a restaurant, the same could happen if someone unintended person overhears you. maybe your boss if you are not a teacher could fire YOU if you spoke ill of work or them at your backyard pool party? poor kids and parents, get over yourselves, you are not what you think you are!

2-15-2011 @ 5:34PM

rhonda said...

So, it's okay for teachers to sit back and others talk terribly about what they do for a living. They talk about how bad the education system is and teachers are at fault. Now, when a teacher says something about some of the little darlings, she gets in trouble. I think it's turn about fair play.

fumobs said...

A teacher shouldn't bad mouth students, but I also understand the frustration that comes from seeing what she sees, especially ones that think so highly of themselves when they've got peanut-sized brains. Most (if not all) of the kids she could've been referring to in a general manner probably don't even care. They can pour salt on their wounds all they like, but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter to them. It's not like their worlds were shattered just because of what their teacher blogged about.

IMO: what the teacher did deserves a slap on the wrist, maybe even a reprimand, but not a suspension. Hopefully she and all other teachers will learn that a teacher's responsibility is to educate a student to live a better wonderful life, not blog negatively.

2-15-2011 @ 5:39PM

And also, to all of you who are ranting about "1st Amendment"...you're correct, we all have our right to exercise free speech. However, as teachers, people have a RESPONSIBILITY. If you want to exercise your 1st Amendment, don't take up a role or career where you overlook the growth of the youth around you.

2-15-2011 @ 5:40PM

ray said...

What abut confidentiality? If shes allowed to writed about students are doctors allowed to write about patients as well?
FIRE HER A**!

2-15-2011 @ 5:43PM

rehquick said...

Isn't she a representative of her school whether at work or not? Is this the kind of teacher you want for your child? If she bitches on blogs, do you think she forgets it when she sees your child the next morning? She should have been fired day one of this- bet her union is protecting her even though she is worthless. How mature is she anyway? Very sad.

2-15-2011 @ 6:25PM

jessinaenae said...

To answer your questions in order:
"Isn't she a representative of her school whether at work or not?" Yes.
"Is this the kind of teacher you want for your child?" If my kid acts like a moron and dresses like a hoochie, hell yes.
"If she bitches on blogs, do you think she forgets it when she sees your child the next morning?" Depends. Does she drink? ;) Answer- you don't know what goes on in her mind; you're not her.
"She should have been fired day one of this- bet her union is protecting her even though she is worthless. How mature is she anyway? Very sad" So she's worthless because you say so? Rhetorical question. How mature is she? Well, she must be mature. If it were me, I'd do just like my high school instructors and cut them down right there in class. It's her job to teach, NOT to put up with bad attitudes and BS. She's doing exactly what you're doing right now, except SHE'S not mentioning any names (stating her opinion). She didn't give the kids' names. No harm, no foul. I'm pretty sure she's not the only person to ever talk sh*t about someone, and I'm also pretty sure you're not miss innocent yourself. Don't be so quick to bash someone for being human. If you had one day in her shoes as a public high school teacher, you'd probablly rip your hair out.

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