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
Swarthmore mom,
Thanks to your comment about Munroe’s school being designated a “Blue Ribbon School,” I thought I’d do a little research
http://www.cbsd.org/schools/cbeast/about/Pages/Overview.aspx
Elaine M.,
I am in the Boat with you on this one…. Teachers can say whatever the hell they want to they are human….But if students or the school district are impacted….then that right is given up…. Kinda like yelling fire in a dark theater…. You have the right to but there better be a fire or the ensuring consequences could be substantial…..
I once read about a teacher that was turning tricks… she did not keep her job….. and it was legal….she flew out to Nevada….
FYI
FROM ACLU
FREE SPEECH RIGHTS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS
Speech Outside of School
Teachers do not forfeit the right to comment publicly on matters of public importance simply because they accept a public school teaching position. Teachers cannot be fired or disciplined for statements about matters of public importance unless it can be demonstrated that the teacher’s speech created a substantial adverse impact on school functioning. A teacher’s off-campus statements regarding the war or participation in an off-campus political demonstration are not acceptable bases for job discipline or termination.
http://www.aclu-wa.org/news/free-speech-rights-public-school-teachers
*****
Some questions to consider:
– Would Natalie Munroe’s blog posts about her students be considered a matter of public importance?
– If so, did those blog posts create a substantial adverse impact on school functioning?
– If what Munroe wrote about was not a matter of public importance, can she claim censorship of her free speech rights if she is fired?
Gingerbaker,
“No. I am saying that this teacher’s blog, and what she says on it are protected free speech.”
Then what’s your point–that the school system cannot fire Munroe for what she wrote on her blog–or that no teacher can be fired for saying/writing any kind of vile, hateful, offensive things about their students, colleagues, administrators in a public forum?
No. I am saying that this teacher’s blog, and what she says on it are protected free speech.
The comment section of the newspaper article makes for very interesting reading. Quite a few teachers have made comments there.
We have a lot of politicians and citizens in this country who are anti-science–some even appear to be proud of their ignorance. Many of them want creationism taught in science class. Teachers certainly have their work cut out for themselves these days.
Gingerbaker,
“You have just defined a meaningless right. Free speech rights are only valuable if they protect offensive speech.”
Are you suggesting that teachers should be able to say any kind of vile, hateful, and offensive things about their students, colleagues, administrators in a public forum and never be called to account for it? I think teachers should behave in a professional manner.
I was a teacher for more than three decades. I was evaluated many times over the years. You can’t just evaluate a teacher, however, by observing him/her teaching in the classroom two or three times a year.
Ms. Munroe used profane language when writing about her students on her blog. She spoke disprespectfully of them. The teachers I knew and/or worked with who were successful with their students planned interesting educational lessons/activities, engaged their students in the classroom, got them excited about learning, liked children, and worked to meet their needs.
I’m not saying that teaching kids isn’t challenging–but it sure helps an educator to be successful if he/she actually likes kids. Kids can usually read people. They know how their teachers feel about them. They respond best to adults to respect and like them.
BTW, if a teacher thinks a child is lazy, never does his/her homework, is rude, misbehaves, etc., the teacher should invite the parents in for a conference. That’s part of the job. It’s best to discuss a child’s behavior with the parents to see if the problems can be addressed. Bitching about your students on a blog accomplishes nothing.
It look like they are doing a good job of teaching at this school in Bucks County. It is a “blue ribbon” school. The standards are high. Having served on a school board at a private school, I know something about the standards a school must meet in order to receive this designation.
oh duh, I should have gotten that…it’s early 😉
I agree with what you are saying…there is more than meets the eye in our standings but if statistics prove it out…what then is the excuse for polyticians to continually raid the schools while they are struggling in favor of corporations that simply refuse to pull their own weight?
““who raided up “~Gingerbaker
——————-
what is this? I’m unfamiliar….”
Sorry – should be “raised up”.
It is my understanding, after very little research on my part, that it not so simple. When you look at U.S. national averages, yes, we are performing very poorly. But this is because some schools do extremely poorly, while most schools do quite well – among the best in the world.
The schools that do poorly have students whose families are very poor. Generally, these families are newly immigrated; do not speak English as a first language; have both parents working, often at two or even three jobs. Yes, on the job 24 hours a day.
The kids arrive in school not able to read in any language, can’t speak English, have bad nutrition, health etc, etc.
The reason we have many schools not doing a good job teaching kids may not be the teachers at all, but may well be because we have so much poverty in our country compared to other places around the world. We can thank the Republicans for that.
“who raided up “~Gingerbaker
——————-
what is this? I’m unfamiliar….
“If my child was evaluated as a lazy, whining self-entitled brat by their teacher, I would like to know about it. Not to raise Cain about the teacher, but with my kid.”
me too, but being aware of the timbre of the times, this teacher was f*cked the moment she crossed the line.
i’m sorry, but i think the educational system in this country has been bastardized by too much meddling by the politicians imposing rules making it very hard to learn anything.
Why have we continued to decline every year for the past 20 or 30 years to the extent that in math and science skills, i think we’re tied with Guam. Talk about “dumbing down” our educational system, we used to be world leaders, but those days are long gone. Even in higher education, if everyone goes to college, how much is a bachelor’s degree worth?
All one gets out of college now is a worthless diploma and DEBT. So back up the pounding of this teacher for venting all you want, but the system is broken anyway and i don’t see anyone stepping up to fix it.
The country is going down the tubes because we keep rewarding fraud and mediocrity. It’s all about who you know and not what you know. So much for the American dream – it’s now our nightmare to live out. Enjoy the ride down and out as the non-existent global climate change grinds on unabated, driving food prices higer, causes massive problems for infrastructure and plantlife, and keeps the morgues busy.
Elaine said:
This is why teachers need to be evaluated on how well they instruct their students in class and not on how they express themselves off campus. You don’t have a clue how she comported herself in the classroom, what passion she brought to he teaching, or how effectively she educated and inspired her students.
Is there any evidence that this woman had bad evaluations, or bad interactions with students or parents on campus? Is there any evidence that she demonstrated a lack of “… common sense, good judgment, emotional stamina, toughness, and attitude that it takes to be an educator” on-the-job, in the classroom?
You know what? What she wrote in her blog about her students is likely true – they probably ARE mostly a bunch of lazy, whining, self-entitled brats. Possibly because teachers are disallowed from telling it like it is in the classroom, because of the reaction from the people who raided up the lazy, whining, self-entitled brats – their parents.
If my child was evaluated as a lazy, whining self-entitled brat by their teacher, I would like to know about it. Not to raise Cain about the teacher, but with my kid.
Elaine said:
You have just defined a meaningless right. Free speech rights are only valuable if they protect offensive speech. In your world, she would only enjoy free speech rights if she wrote charming things. That’s not what free speech rights are meant to protect.
Blouise,
Teachers need an outlet for expressing their opinions and for venting their frustrations. A public blog, however, is not the place where a teacher should be making derogatory comments about her students, their parents, other teachers, and her administrators–especially if she is using profane or vulgar language. Something didn’t sit well with me with this story from the beginning. When I read more articles on the subject of this teacher and her blog, I was appalled by some of the things she had written.
Yep……. But then there was the candy assed Moody Blues….
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJETHtCN-zk&w=480&h=390]
The good ole Knights in White Satin….
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9muzyOd4Lh8&w=480&h=390]
Then the B-Side of Steppenwolf’s Born to be wild….
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEEzbFxEbB8&w=480&h=390]
Now exactly when does my tail grow for smoking…. but Monday came and I had to go back and be straight….
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCdGqed6Ajg&w=480&h=390]
rafflaw,
“I never had a grade school class with less than 50 students.”
Sounds like my grammar school. I think you and I probably had similar parochial school experiences.
*****
Buddha,
It took me a long time to learn how to buck authority. My husband was very helpful in giving me the confidence to do that–after I had spent twelve years as a student in strict parochial schools. In my early adult years, I also taught with some very articulate and fearless females who helped our local teachers’ organization negotiate its first contract. One of those females was an ex-nun who had taught in a parochial school in New York City. She was tougher than any man I’d ever met.
AY,
I actually had something similar to that happen in public high school in a Biology class. I learned a little late not to sleep during this teacher’s biology film. My head still hurts from him slamming it against the lab table! I have to admit that I didn’t sleep in his class again. See you all on Thursday. I may not be posting tomorrow as I will be out of town.
nest/next….