Free speech? Hate speech? Conduct unbecoming...?

[MrsSmith]

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05/nj_teacher_charged_with_postin.html

Jenye "Viki" Knox, 50, a tenured special education teacher who has taught in Union since 2000...has taught for more than 20 years...was suspended without pay...

and faces a tenure trial as her school tries to fire her for remarks she made on the subject of homosexuality.  Imagine that, in the US, expressing a personal opinion can get you fired...even when it requires:

years to resolve and cost districts hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I'm just glad no one is trying to silence anyone else...

[JakeStyle]

Unreal.

[obumazombie]

Reverse bigotry.

[Eupher]

There is a big push in Missouri, and no doubt elsewhere in the country, for public schoolteachers to have no contact or "friends" who are students. Just guessing here as it wasn't in the article, but the attached article suggests that NJ public schools have adopted such a policy.

Here in MO, the proposed rule was challenged by a teacher's union and the law was rewritten to have the individual school districts come up with their own policies. Mrs E is currently under no restriction from using FB with her students and does so.

NY Slimes

[obumazombie]

^All the news that's fit to flint.

[Eupher]

In re-reading, I seem to have omitted the Facebook part of things. Teachers aren't supposed to have "friends" on Facebook, according to the proposed legislation. It's entirely possible the teacher in the OP violated NJ law or her school district's policy regarding social media.

Of course that's trumped up bullshit - the real issue is we have a teacher that doesn't fall in line with the rest of the liberal lockstep view on homos. That, of course, is grounds for dismissal.

I hope she can get her retirement the way she wants it.

[MrsSmith]

In re-reading, I seem to have omitted the Facebook part of things. Teachers aren't supposed to have "friends" on Facebook, according to the proposed legislation. It's entirely possible the teacher in the OP violated NJ law or her school district's policy regarding social media.

Of course that's trumped up bullshit - the real issue is we have a teacher that doesn't fall in line with the rest of the liberal lockstep view on homos. That, of course, is grounds for dismissal.

I hope she can get her retirement the way she wants it.

Me, too.  I can see firing a teacher if that teacher actively teaches students either a pro-homosexual message or a hate-filled message, but remarks made on Facebook or other social media are free speech until they are making actual threats of harm toward someone or some group.  Teachers should be judged upon the work they do in the classroom and the outcomes of their students, not their after-hours speech and beliefs. 

[MrsSmith]

I'm wondering why Uncommon Sense hasn't posted in this thread?  You'd think this subject would be right up his alley.   

[Eupher]

Me, too.  I can see firing a teacher if that teacher actively teaches students either a pro-homosexual message or a hate-filled message, but remarks made on Facebook or other social media are free speech until they are making actual threats of harm toward someone or some group.  Teachers should be judged upon the work they do in the classroom and the outcomes of their students, not their after-hours speech and beliefs. 

The legislators, once again, respond to a few cases of crackpot and wacko teachers who have stepped over the line, and craft legislation that inhibits free speech. This is what they do.

There are those school administrators who do the same through adoption and approval of policies. Either way, the teacher and the student suffer in that they can't use technology that keeps them communicating. (Wow, what a concept. If only many parents would consider doing the same.)

You either trust your teachers or you don't. For those who have violated that trust, there are ways of dealing with them. But others should be left the hell alone to do what they do -- teach.

[Crazy Horse]

We have free speech in this country, however even with free speech there can be consequences for that speech.  Maybe, just maybe one should think "Who will see what I post on Facebook" before posting something. 

The lines between personal and professional are very blurry right now due to social media.

Just remember, ALL ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES, SOME GOOD, SOME BAD

[JohnnyReb]

The teachers that are all for the liberal homosexual agenda are allowed to express their opinions openly in the school (encourage queer bulletin board) but Ms. Knox isn't allowed to express her opinion away from the school.

Free speech for me but not for thee.

 

[MrsSmith]

We have free speech in this country, however even with free speech there can be consequences for that speech.  Maybe, just maybe one should think "Who will see what I post on Facebook" before posting something.  

The lines between personal and professional are very blurry right now due to social media.

Just remember, ALL ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES, SOME GOOD, SOME BAD

Consequences for putting a pro-gay bulletin board up at school...  



Consequences for making statements outside school that disagree with the pro-gay bulletin board and other in-school activities...  



Maybe, just maybe, we should all cower in our homes and watch out for the thought police.  

[rich_t]

We have free speech in this country, however even with free speech there can be consequences for that speech.  Maybe, just maybe one should think "Who will see what I post on Facebook" before posting something. 

The lines between personal and professional are very blurry right now due to social media.

Just remember, ALL ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES, SOME GOOD, SOME BAD

There is a reason why I don't use social media sites.

[thundley4]

There was that case recently of some teacher pretending to be a new student and spying on her students.

[vesta111]

Consequences for putting a pro-gay bulletin board up at school...  



Consequences for making statements outside school that disagree with the pro-gay bulletin board and other in-school activities...  



Maybe, just maybe, we should all cower in our homes and watch out for the thought police.  

HMMMMMMMMM   New Jersey,  Is this not the State a couple years ago when the Governor left wife and children in shock as he ran off with his Gay lover ???

Face it, it is difficult to teach State or American History today without having to confront some kind of sex issue.      Fancy that generations of child being taught History with little or no mention of sex in any way.

Generations of children that made it or not without being labeled special needs, or placed on some behavior bending drug.

State aid was unheard of unless it revolved about a child's medical condition. Physical condition not mental.

We heard of few scandals about our religious pastors or priests, unheard of for a teacher to molest a student, or any parent of classmates to be arrested for more then a speeding ticket.

This here Hate speech is OK for Liberals and Minority's, BUT, for a Conservative non minority's a hundred ways to get in trouble.

I darn near got kicked off a pay for game site as someone came into the game and began to harass my partner to leave so they could take their place.  I fired a statement to my partner to ignore the rude person who had not manners or deportment.

Next thing I knew the  crude, rude, sociably unacceptable person Reported me for threatening to have them deported. 

Hate speech is as valid as love speech, You have the same right to come up to me and say you Love my hat as you do to tell me you hate it.    May hurt my feelings but darn should you go to jail or be fired for offering an openion. 

  Don't forget it is the niggardly little things  one says that get you thrown into a black hole with illegal aliens that have sex the Greek way.