I have previously written about concerns that public employees are increasingly being disciplined for actions in their private lives or views or associations outside of work. We have previously seen teachers (here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here) students (here, here and here) and other public employees (here and here and here) fired for their private speech or conduct, including school employees fired for posing in magazines (here), appearing on television shows in bikinis (here), or having a prior career in the adult entertainment industry (here).
Frankly, I tend to be a bit of prude about such things and find twerking rather off-putting. However, many do not and this teacher was on vacation. The message seems to be that a teacher cannot engage in any conduct viewed by parents or administrators as suggestive or inappropriate in her private time. What if this was a case of an artistic or expressive dance in a studio? Would that be allowed? The fact is that much more conduct is observable on social media today. However, that has given rise to a type of fishbowl existence for teachers. One teacher was even disciplined for a picture drinking wine in Europe while on vacation. The obvious (and preferable) alternative is to explain to students that teachers are entitled to enjoy their private lives as they deem fit — according to their own values and interests.
What do you think?
