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Student Suspended for Calling Teacher Fat Douchebag on Facebook
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That is insane. I'm not even sure if it was right or not, but it seems that policy/law is not up to date in terms of private internet sites which provide a public audience to people's thoughts and ideas. On one hand you could say that it was slander and on the other hand you could say that it was expressing displeasure privately and that privacy was violated. That's intense.
I think the school is overreaching its authority. If the student had made that outburst in school, he would have been subject to school discipline. But putting it on Facebook falls outside that, unless he was accessing Facebook in school (which he was apparently not doing).
It's obviously very rude, immature behavior. But he's exercising his right to free speech. I think the school should be able to (indeed, ought to) give the student a lecture about this behavior regardless of where it occurs, but I don't think they can suspend him over it.
It's obviously very rude, immature behavior. But he's exercising his right to free speech. I think the school should be able to (indeed, ought to) give the student a lecture about this behavior regardless of where it occurs, but I don't think they can suspend him over it.
The kid needs to learn that there are consequences to your actions. I agree with the School for banning his hinny.
Being man enough to accept the consequences of ones actions is a very important life lesson. That is the reason why I don't poke fun at someone who's biceps is as big as his head.
Being man enough to accept the consequences of ones actions is a very important life lesson. That is the reason why I don't poke fun at someone who's biceps is as big as his head.
Sounds like both.
No, seriously... how about instilling some manners and respect for elders in this kid? I don't blame the school one bit.
But at the same time, I have to wonder... if, in the pre-internet days, I had published my own underground newspaper and said as much... would I have been suspended? Probably not.
I think this reaching on the school's part. Had he uttered this expression AT school, posted it on a school message board, scribbled it across his locker, got caught slipping a note to a friend in class with that phrase - all of those instances I'd be ok with the suspension.
I'm curious how the school found out about the facebook post to begin with. If the kid had his privacy settings locking down his page, then one could make the arguement that he a somewhat reasonable expectation of privacy to express his own personal opinions on his own time, using his own computer.
What lesson does he need to learn I am curious? The lesson to never question or criticize authority figures or the hammer will come down on you? What if he had been overheard on the telephone using the phrase? Then should he be suspended? Or is it because this is in writing, to live on in internet perpetuity?
I'm curious how the school found out about the facebook post to begin with. If the kid had his privacy settings locking down his page, then one could make the arguement that he a somewhat reasonable expectation of privacy to express his own personal opinions on his own time, using his own computer.
What lesson does he need to learn I am curious? The lesson to never question or criticize authority figures or the hammer will come down on you? What if he had been overheard on the telephone using the phrase? Then should he be suspended? Or is it because this is in writing, to live on in internet perpetuity?
By posting their comment on Face Book, they have in effect published it (which is different than just making the comment verbally).
It's too simple to say "Protected by Free Speech". There are all sorts of instances where a person's right to say something is limited. For the most part society supports these limitations since they are for the greater good. Bullying, calling out "Fire" in theatre, publishing hate-crimes, etc etc Each of these are limited to some degree and/or in certain circumstances because the rights of the group outweigh the rights of the individual, in that instance.
So, are the rights of the group (teachers probably, schools in general?) more important - in this case - than the right of the student to mouth off?
I don't know. Glad I'm not a judge.
Personally, I'd support the school over the mouthy kid.
It's too simple to say "Protected by Free Speech". There are all sorts of instances where a person's right to say something is limited. For the most part society supports these limitations since they are for the greater good. Bullying, calling out "Fire" in theatre, publishing hate-crimes, etc etc Each of these are limited to some degree and/or in certain circumstances because the rights of the group outweigh the rights of the individual, in that instance.
So, are the rights of the group (teachers probably, schools in general?) more important - in this case - than the right of the student to mouth off?
I don't know. Glad I'm not a judge.
Personally, I'd support the school over the mouthy kid.
The kids need to learn that what they post on Facebook is there for life and will eventually come back to bite them. Take out teacher and insert boss and see what happens to his job.
We are in uncharted waters when it come to what is posted on the internet vs schools or jobs. There is a case about a woman who was fired for what she posted on Facebook.
We are in uncharted waters when it come to what is posted on the internet vs schools or jobs. There is a case about a woman who was fired for what she posted on Facebook.
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Does this mean that if a student were to call a teacher a fat douchebag every day would get a student out of ever having to go to school again?
Or is this another case of a school selectively punishing students based off of their political standing among the administrators?
Or is this another case of a school selectively punishing students based off of their political standing among the administrators?
If you swear to a teachers face I would hope you would get in trouble for it.
If Donny is amongst friends in the cafeteria or out in the parking lot os some such, the "douche bag" comment will probably go unnoticed by the school (hopefully one's friends are nor back-stabbing snitches). Somewhere else, like facebook, where the comment might get passed along, Donny could realistically expect to get in trouble. Discretion is an important lesson: first amendment rights are only protected WRT the government, society and business are not restricted and tend to be less forgiving. This is the lesson, that being an excretory orifice is not the ideal way to go through life, the school is right to dispense it.
Now, if we can get Mesa Verde moved back to Colorado where it belongs...
Now, if we can get Mesa Verde moved back to Colorado where it belongs...
they should counter sue the little snot to reclaim their legal expenses for defending against this law suit, and then turn his suspension into an expulsion. Make an example of him.
kids have absolutely no respect these days, and they have been taught to manipulate the system to their advantage.
Someone needs to slap his mom around a bit as well, for encouraging his behavior instead of sending him back to the teacher to apologize for his actions.
And then the ACLU lawyer who took this case should get a swift kick in the pants for wasting the courts time, and the counties resources.
kids have absolutely no respect these days, and they have been taught to manipulate the system to their advantage.
Someone needs to slap his mom around a bit as well, for encouraging his behavior instead of sending him back to the teacher to apologize for his actions.
And then the ACLU lawyer who took this case should get a swift kick in the pants for wasting the courts time, and the counties resources.
Unless this was said on school property what punishment can they legally give. This was on a private computer at home. At what point do the schools rules not apply anymore.
i guarantee you if I decided to go on Facebook and bash my hospitals administration, and then if word got back to the hospital of what I had done. There would be consequences for my actions. Why should the kid get off scott free?
Part of being in school is to learn basic mannerisms for interacting with others.
Part of being in school is to learn basic mannerisms for interacting with others.
Facebook is nothing more than people at the water cooler gossiping. The only difference is more people can hear it. I don't know if it is a fireable offense.
You know and I know that the bulk of the internet's content falls scale of misinformation somewhere between malicious BS and clueless ignorance. By the same token, the bulk of internet users lack the iBaleen needed to filter the sea of misinformation for its planktons of truth. Because of that, and because fb is heavily trafficked, what one posts must be treated as potential slander.
Perhaps, but who does that really hurt? ( Never mind, stupid question, with todays American Education System, it hurts no one.)
Must it always be about politics? Can't we just agree that some people are just *******s regardless of their political affiliations?
If the teacher has posted on their Facebook page that little Johnny Student was a douchebag, you can bet your ass it would be a fireable offense!
You bring up a good point. If the roles were reversed, I bet many of the same people here supporting the kid would be against the teacher. Just my opinion.
I think the school is right. The kid learns one important lesson - that his actions have consequences.
I do not have to bet, I know that. It happened at my school years ago. Teacher was vulgar to the kids in the class - got fired immediately.
I do not have to bet, I know that.
It happened at my school years ago. Teacher was vulgar to the kids in the class - got fired immediately.
I'd like to see the teacher counter sue for libel or slander.
Oh it is guaranteed that the teacher would be fired for this.
Facebook is not private. Arguing whether or not expressing your dissatisfaction for something on Facebook is acceptable use and conduct is ok. Arguing it because you believe it is private, in my opinion, is not.
Um, I don't think it's the same thing at all. At a water cooler, you can see your audience. You are saying things that are for that audience alone. And when you are done, there is no record of what you said.
With Facebook, you are publishing content. It is written down. It is recorded, potentially permanently. Because you can't see the audience, you don't know who they are. Facebook is much more like printing up a what a posters and plastering them up. With your name on them. Even if you put them only where your "friends" hang out, other people can see them if they wander over. Your friends can move the posters around to other locations. Your friends can make copies of the posters and post them where they want.
There is a huge difference between writing something on Facebook and telling the crowd around the cooler.
And a judge would order immediate reinstatement due to violation of their first amendment rights.