A Gallimaufry « Remonzer’s Weblog
Turning to blogs now, Eductopia turned up an interesting discussion that I thought my interest some of you. The subject is whether teachers should be punished for posting personal messages on social networking sites. According to the article, some teachers have been suspended and even fired for their postings that students have come upon while surfing the net. The issue surrounds teachers’ positions as role models and their responsiblities regarding the promotion or non-promotion of issues such as social drinking and the like. Questions from the blog include: Can pictures and writing displayed on a personal Web page qualify as “conduct unbecoming”? Or do teachers have the right to express themselves as they please outside of school grounds?

This issue has sort of reared its head in our district this year and school system employees where pretty much directed to remove content from such sites.  I think it brings up the question about where the line is between your responsiblities as an educator and your right to your private life.  I’d doubt anyone would be demanding the head of an attorney or doctor on a platter just because someone posted a picture on a website showing them in a social situation that might not be acceptable for children but completely so for adults.  And then there is the issue of someone posting a pix of you to a site without your knowledge.  If I go to a restaurant and sit down to lunch and opt to have a drink with it….who’s business is that but mine?  But what happens when someone snaps my pix and posts it to Myspace or some other site…..that is beyond my control…..but I don’t think I should have to live in fear that someone is always watching over my shoulder….they don’t pay me enough to be entitled to that much control.