After just posting the story of a tenth-grade student suspended for a posting on Facebook, this story appeared of yet another teacher suspended for her own postings on a blog. Natalie Munroe taught at the Central Bucks East High School near Philadelphia as an English teacher — until students discovered a comment on a February 8th blog.
On the blog, Munroe complained that her students were “rude, lazy, disengaged whiners” and admitted that she dreamed of giving parents an honest appraisal of their children. Some of the alternative “canned comments” were pretty funny and were clearly not meant for the students to read. They included “rat-like,” “dresses like a streetwalker,” “frightfully dim,” and “whiny, simpering grade-grubber with an unrealistically high perception of own ability level.”
Superintendent N. Robert Laws said last week that the blogged complaints were “very egregious” and “certainly could result in termination.” I certainly agree that this matter raised very egregious conduct, but of the school not the teacher. Teachers have free speech and have a right to vent about their profession.
Instead, Munroe was escorted from the school and suspended on the day the blog was revealed to school officials.
Munroe, 30, has both a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a master’s degree in education.
She joined a growing list of teachers punished for conduct or statements made after-hours and in their private lives (here and here and here and here and here and here).
The story below discusses how teachers are now shutting down their blogs and taking other steps to avoid punishments for any statements that they make in their private lives. It is a classic example of a chilling effect on speech and Munroe would do her profession a great service by challenging this abusive action.
Since the high school calls itself “the Patriots,” they might want to start with what the original Patriots fought for and fought against — starting with free speech and censorship.
Source: PhillyBurbs found on Reddit
Jonathan Turley
Elaine and Raf….
You know I learned that its probably best not to go to sleep in Theology…
I dozed regularly… One particular day the Priest came over to the desk and woke me up….He wanted to know why I always went to sleep in his class……well beings it was the early 70’s and I in my teen years…sassed off and said because the late night movie was more interesting than anything he had to say…..the next thing I recall ….still sitting in the uni-desk….was it was on its back and I was against the wall…..needless to say….I never said anything at home……
The nest year about 14 of us were asked not to come back…. fine with me…..
Jethro Tull/Ian Anderson could make a flute cool.
Daaaaaaaaamn!
‘Nuff said.
AY,
I don’t know about Buddha, but Jethro Tull was one of my favorite. I can remember playing Aqualung over and over again in my dorm room.
Buddha,
I presumed that Tull would have been your most favorite….
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1xY7Heaqg8&w=480&h=390]
Or A little Purple…… as we sit watching the water from the Newport festival…. Yeah those really must have been the good ole days….
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f7LwuVF8Oo&w=480&h=390]
Buddha,
I just saw your postscript. I too learned how and when to buck authority, but it was a tough lesson for me! I think it was my Irish thick head and my German grandfather’s stubborness. At least that is my excuse.
Buddha,
That is amazing. I had a friend in grade school who was left handed and the Nuns worked him over pretty good, but he did stick to his guns. The only time my Mom ever backed me against the Nuns was when one of them stole my wallet and held it ransom until I agreed to buy a cake at a bake sale for the missions! Every other time, and there were many of them, she backed the good Sisters. They had a tough job though. I never had a grade school class with less than 50 students. Throw me into that mix and it is bound to explode!
raff,
I should have also add I’m pretty sure that’s where my “question authority” attitude started to take hold. 🙂
raff,
Oddly enough, I was originally left handed, but a particularly evil kindergarten teacher literally forced me to use my right hand. The result is that I’m ambidextrous now in everything but writing, which I still do right handed. My mom (who was a young mom) has consistently said over the years that she regretted not taking that teacher on over the issue.
Elaine,
I am sorry to take so long to respond. Part of the reason that people on blogs use “stage names” is to protect their jobs and lives outside of the blog. I have a blog that I sometimes say things that might be considered unprofessional, but it is not part of my profession and I don’t get personal. Her contract will control whether the district can get rid of her. If an attorney works for a law firm and writes bad stuff about the partners, odds are that the author will be looking for new employment very soon. But we are not talking public employees.
As I mentioned to you earlier, I don’t disagree that this woman is probably unsuited for teaching, but she does have a right to make herself look stupid and to insult people if she wants to. I have had past employers checking my blog to see if I am making any disparaging comments about them, but they won’t find me doing that because as stupid as I am, I am not that stupid. Your students had a wonderful teacher that they will remember for the rest of their lives. The teacher that was fired won’t be able to say that, even if she is able to get her job back. By the way, you are exactly correct that humor can help you get through difficult times. However, my attempts at humor usually gets me in trouble! 🙂
Buddha,
one of these days we will have to compare notes on the “fun” stuff that happened to us in grade school. I have mentioned the good Benedictine Nuns before. I think some of them may still have nightmares about me! By the way are you left handed? The Nuns use to call left handed kids the devil’s kids and actually tried to make some of them write with their right hands. Luckily I was right handed.
Elaine,
Reading your post at 3:51 pm and the ones thereafter have caused me to rethink my original opinion on this matter … you are right.
Buddha,
You provoke a teacher? Hard to believe!
😉
I was voted most humorous in my high school class for the senior yearbook. I attended a very strict parochial high school. I think it was my sense of humor that kept me sane. I also had some funny friends who were partners in crime with me. We never did anything bad though. Our parents would have killed us if we had!
Elaine,
You? Mischievous? I am shocked I tell you! Shocked! 🙂 As an aside, I once had a teacher that insisted on butting heads with me. Not that I did anything to provoke it. Except maybe the five or six times I corrected her in class and had references to back me up. She decided to call me “Lucifer” one day in class and tell me I had the Devil in me. It was a semi-religious crappy private school. She was utterly stunned when I thanked her and told her being called the “light-bearer” in a room she regularly shrouded in ignorance was a complement.
Needless to say, I was sent to the office.
Much to her chagrin, the Principal thought my response was as funny as I did.
And I did all that without Facebook.
AY,
“…did ya ever have kids that tried to get away with just a little bit of everything….”
Honey, the administration always gave me more than my share of those kids. We got along just fine most of the time. Of course, that may have been because I understood them so well. I was a bit of a devil myself when I was young!
This is what Munroe wrote that brought tears to my eyes:
In one sketch posted on the blog, an image of a bus tagged “Short Bus” appears under the slogan, “I don’t care if you lick windows, take the special bus or occasionally pee on yourself, you hang in there Sunshine, you’re … special.”
It is evident that this woman has no respect for children with special needs. During my years in teaching, I had children with all manner of special needs mainstreamed into my classroom. Children with Downs syndrome, autism, severe emotional problems…children who were developmentally delayed. Life is difficult enough for these children and for their parents. They shouldn’t have to deal with teachers who don’t value them/their children…or teachers who speak disparagingly of them. The parents of some of my “special” students were amazing people. And I realized how truly special these children really were when I came to know them…and appreciate how hard so many of them had to work to achieve in school.
AY,
In re celebration:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkJNyQfAprY&w=640&h=390]
Hey Buddha….Somebody actually read what I said…..damn….it is a good night I must say…
Elaine,
Does that mean I am going to need to keep a low profile so the teacher won’t notice what I am doing so I can do what I want to do…..did ya ever have kids that tried to get away with just a little bit of everything….
Oh an for all of those celebrating special days….do what feels good….
Ay & Buddha,
Thanks for your responses!
Elaine,
I have no issue with what you have said. Rights and their exercise, but especially the right to free speech, can have consequences. Just because one can do something doesn’t mean one should do something.
Elaine M.,
I am with you on this one….the Moral Turpitude clause should come into play more often….This type of insensitivity shows to be that she is not teacher material…. It reflects poorly on the school and diminishes teachers as a whole…..it also directly insults the objects of her mission and that it to educate and help the children learn….The last real gig I had before private practice was working for an affiliate of the NEA….
I do not think that she should be allowed to come near a classroom unless to visit her own children….
She checks her freedom of speech with respect to personal attacks on the school district and the children if it tends to bring them to an unfavorable light… when she signed on as a teacher…. Not that Collective Bargaining does not bring tempers to flair….
Buddha, mespo, rafflaw, et al,
Does having free speech rights preclude one from being fired from a job if one writes things that are inappropriate and reflect poorly on that person’s professionalism?
Methinks this woman may not have the common sense, good judgment, emotional stamina, toughness, and attitude that it takes to be an educator.