(no subject)

[author_by_night]

[Poll #980521]

Comments

[daintress.livejournal.com]

I think it would depend heavily on the picture. I'd have to see it.

I periodically google my full name to be absolutely sure that nothing daintress-related comes up. It doesn't? We're cool. :) It does? Alterations get made.

[gileonnen.livejournal.com]

What bothers me is that they gave their motive as 'promoting underage drinking' ... and she's twenty-seven. That seems a little illogical to me.

[stubefied-by-gd.livejournal.com]

I poked around some more, and, according to the school system, they found her MySpace because she was telling kids to go there, even after having been told not to. So.

Inititally, it is scary and part of why I'm so protective of my identity. But it's a poor choice for a teacher to call herself "drunk," even as a joke, in public, more poor to show it to students, and even worse to keep it up after being told not to.

[stubefied-by-gd.livejournal.com]

also see here A few pages in, It gets to her student-teaching evals. Dunno, though, if this is legit. Still, nothing is as simple as a one-page article can make it seem. (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0426072pirate5.html).

[victorialupin.livejournal.com]

It is a bit harsh, I suppose, but I can understand. She left a picture of herself and her full name on her myspace, which is open to the public.

Oddly enough, my friend and I recently found several picture of one of our teachers online, in which she's quite drunk and partying. The pictures were taken by somebody else, and I'm not even sure she knows they're online, but I can say without a doubt that they changed my perception of her.

That said, my only worry is that this will spiral out of control. I think they need to make sure that the only things which are punishable are things that students could have found. Something like an LJ, for example, with nothing more than a first name and city, shouldn't be a concern to anybody, even if it contains something slightly inappropriate (eg. NC-17 fan fic).

[lady-sarai.livejournal.com]

Okay, that? Is crazy. In that yes, it was STUPID of her to post that picture, and if she did tell people to go there, it was even MORE stupid--we were WARNED about MySpace and Facebook in my student teaching seminars.

But the college should not refuse to give her a degree. Now, the certificate? Unless Pennsylvania is very different, she has to APPLY for that, and they can turn you down if they want. I know I had to apply for mine but could only do so AFTER receiving my degree. I can't see where the college would find a reason to deny her the degree except that they bowed to the High School's demands--which are ridiculous. Because seriously, they could have asked the school to remove her from the classroom, or *something*--don't punish ALL student teachers because of one. And the college shouldn't have just denied her the degree for something I'm sure the majority of their students are doing, just quietly.

Also, having a degree and certificate are by no means an indication of whether or not she'd get hired.

AND the lawsuit for $75k? SERIOUSLY, that's like over 2 years worth of teacher's salary, right there. Whoa.

[proudofthefish.livejournal.com]

Well she has to apply after she gets the degree but if it was my school I can see them denying the BS in Ed especially since she did not complete the semester satisfactorily. See my post further down if you want, a bunch of you posted while I was typing.

[chocolatepot.livejournal.com]

I think it's not only harsh but unfair. Their reason is that her picture "promotes underage drinking"? She's not underage. Seeing a picture of someone drinking is not going to make a kid drink.

I think it makes perfect sense that people's names will get Googled for all sorts of things nowadays. I'm well aware of how often I use Google (roughly every ten seconds) and so I lock things that have my full name or any non-fandom writing that is going to go anywhere (ie, lines from papers or stories I plan to submit places). It makes sense to Google job applicants and students. However, I don't think it's right to deny people jobs and degrees because of what you find on their MySpaces, unless they're committing crimes.

[proudofthefish.livejournal.com]

As a studnet in the PA State System of Higher Ed of which Millersville is a part and a university not all that far from it location wise, I can see both sides. But honestly I would support the university's decision a opinion that is shared by many of my peers in the College of Ed. There are many reasons.

1. We are told coming in that we as teachers are the people parent's trust most with their kids. No we don't have to be perfect, but we cannot take that responsibility lightly. If you don't like it find another major.

2. At my school we are warned frm the onset that underage drinking or any drinking on campus or anything that can get us arrested should be avoided at all costs as you will never teach anywhere if your background check is not sparkling. They put the fear of God in us here and I know they do it at other places including MU so she was amply warned

2. If you want it private keep it off the internet where anyone can access it. Period. We are told that too in many classes especially when sites like Facebook became open to anyone. Employers will look.

3. What if a student found it? Does she realise that as a teacher in a secondary school (high school English) that most of her students will have Myspace? And that they will loose rspect for her. It won't make her cool and she won't be seen as an adult.

4.The threat that the school wouldn't take more student teachers is serious. That is how people in administration feel then that is how they feel. The would not hire her--and news like that travels fast-- and they would loose respect for students coming out of the university which is one of the main teaching colleges. And it is hard in this area to find places for student teachers since the colleges are so close together. Besides where is she going to get recommendations from anyway? Your supervisor and cooperating teacher are a main source.

All of that aside one of my experienced professors thinks this was the last straw of many things though we may never know for sure. To support this I'll give you the quote from the university website.

Due to federal student privacy restrictions, the University is unable to directly respond to media accounts related to the case. The University notes, however, that all of its educational decisions are based on a full range of academic performance issues, not solely on a student's personal website or social networking site. The University is committed to maintaining the academic integrity of its academic programs and degrees and will vigorously defend itself and the actions of its employees in legal proceedings related to the lawsuit.

I am very unhappy with the state system of Higher Ed right now for numerous reasons including failing to negotiate teacher contracts and trying to degrade the instruction at my own university but I am behind MU on this one.

Pa has one of the best reputations for education of teachers across the country. We are a large export state and have license reprosity with almost every other state in the nation. I value the quality of my education and I am proud to come out of a program known for it's quality both state wide and in my individual school. People will sometimes fail to differentiate between MU and my school because they believe that "a state school is a state school" and if that is going to happen I would like the reputation of my program to stay intact.

And I'll get off my soap box now... sorry

[penmage.livejournal.com]

People in certain positions have an image to maintain. And it's not just people in positions like teachers. There are universities and high schools and lots of companies that have withdrawn job offers and admission after discovering myspace photos.

The internet isn't just what you do in your spare time. What you do on the internet, whatever is public, is a reflection of your personality. If your myspace or public journal shows that you're irresponsible or unreliable or unprofessional, that is just as good as if one of your references said it. After all, you put those things up there yourself.

You need to be careful. What you put on the internet affects your life. It's why I don't post anything that isn't friendslocked, pretty much ever.

[sixth-light.livejournal.com]

Out of line, university. I think asking her to take the picture down or not link students to it would be more than fair. But not awarding her a degree she's worked for four years to get? That's not acceptable. Yes, teachers do have a certain reputation to maintain. But one photo with a dodgy label is not grounds for refusing to let someone teach at all. They're teachers, not Caesar's wife.

Personally, I friendslock stuff that relates directly to RL...most of the time. If someone wanted to track me down, they could; that's fine. I just try to FL things like bitching about my job, because I wouldn't want that getting back to the managers, and it's sensible to take precautions there. Otherwise? What I say on LJ is what I'd say in real life. No point hiding it.

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

There's a lot going on here, most of which isn't being reported and probably won't be.

We don't know what the rest of her grades were or what her student teaching review was like. I had a friend in college that had a serious identity crisis (was one of the reasons her marriage broke up) when she got a bad student teacher asessment. She'd done well in the classes but just didn't cut it doing student teaching. She didn't get her certificate and thus didn't have the teaching career she'd been dreaming of for ages. Just because you do well in theory, doesn't mean you'll do well in practice.

Posting pictures of yourself purporting to be a drunken pirate in a public forum shows a lack of judgement on several levels. It's not as bad as sex pics but for a lot of people it's still pretty bad.

That said, I still think that it was harsh that she was denied her education degree. Would they have treated a guy the same way? Are they investigating all the students? All the education students?

Gone are the days when there were morality standards for teachers. If they are this tough with one education student they should be this tough with them all, across the state, of both genders, elsewise it is unfair.

[proudofthefish.livejournal.com]

You make really good points. personally I think my college would have treated it the same way regardless of sex. I can't be certain for MU but I can strongly think that they would.

[talimeeka.livejournal.com]

I've read a couple of articles about a student working with the administration so the administration can get access to facebook and the administration expelling students for posting pictures of drinking in dorms and such. Not good. People need to be more careful on the web, just something for everyone to keep in mind.

[proudofthefish.livejournal.com]

A couple of friends got in trouble like this the pictures werent posted but were sent to housing of them (on staff drinking in the dorms. they managed to talk their way out of it good thing to as they were ed majors.

[airriphlyer.livejournal.com]

I, like someone else/others here, think that "promoting underage drinking" is stupid. She's 27 now. It was two years ago. That's 25, four years over legal limit. *scowl*

And as for me--I have pics on facebook from me dancing and from me at my friend's play. And I google myself every so often, so I figure I'm all set.

[airriphlyer.livejournal.com]

Okay, thinking more on it--I think she should've been made to delete that picture, maybe her MySpace account, but still been allowed to graduate.

[a-t-rain.livejournal.com]

Kinda dumb on the student teacher's part, but totally out of line on the school's part. I wouldn't have a problem with a professor or an administrator taking her aside and strongly suggesting that she get rid of the photo, but they don't have the right to deny her a degree over it. (I'd have much less of a problem with an employer denying her a job over it, because nobody is entitled to a specific job -- whereas anyone who fulfills the academic requirements is entitled to a degree.)

[proudofthefish.livejournal.com]

But that's the thing--there is a big professionalism component to our teaching programs in the state and it could well be argued that she did not fulfill that requirement therefore not earning the degree. Usually that is a part of your student teaching evaluation.

[gloryforever.livejournal.com]

Well, I think you know what my views on the whole MySpace issue are and how much more careful I am now about my online activities - but I certainly wasn't worried about employers/schools.

Having said that, I find the picture quite harmless. Wearing a pirate hat and pretending to drink a cup are nowhere as bad an influence on potential students as, say explicit pictures.

[effervescent.livejournal.com]

I'd say that it was extreme, except for reading more into the article - she was graded as unprofessional, and evidently not only did she guide students there, but also promoted underage drinking? I'm sorry, but what intelligent teacher would expect most parents to be in favour of that sort of behaviour in a student teacher?

That said, she could have been let off with a warning, but if they're unde rpressure from the school board... ..

[tunxeh.livejournal.com]

I don't get all the people saying she should have been asked to take down the photo, let alone the university admins denying her a degree that she rightfully earned. I don't see what she has to be ashamed about, and the "promoting underage drinking" rationalization is just "won't someone think of the children" patronizing bs. What is this, puritan times with Hester Prynne? Since when is publically being seen to drink something at the age of 25 a thoughtcrime punishable by being permanently denied a career?

...all that said, I do take some steps to keep this name dissassociated with my real name. Not because I have any fear for my job, and not because I think being a Harry Potter fan is anything to be ashamed of (I will certainly admit to reading HP if the subject comes up in real life, and I don't hide the seviet illo when I have guests at my house), but because I'd rather avoid the potential hassle of dealing with the people who might think that this level of interest is inappropriate. It's a practical stand rather than a principled one.

[proudofthefish.livejournal.com]

Well they can deny her degree if she does not meet their requirements as being professional which are needed to graduate (and seems to be the case here).

I do think you make a bit of a good point about adapting to time and technology though just like people had to with the rise of industrialism. episodes like this are need to test old rules and if so desired to set new.

[lyonette.livejournal.com]

That is actually quite scary... I don't know whether they'll start doing that in Europe yet (you crazy Americans...), but I'm rather careful myself. I'm identifiable from my lj, but I'm pretty sure people won't find said lj unless I tell them where to look (i.e. no names). That said, she should have been more careful - if you want to put that kind of thing online, keep it anonymous. Yes, there will still be pictures of you, but when your name's not on them they'll be so much harder to find.
Also, I kind of regret that I can't participate in the debate going on in the rest of the comments... so much to do, so little time...

[moonreviews]

I don't have a Myspace or anything because it is too personal XD
When I google my name, the first hit that comes up is one of a site where I had won a short story contest and my name is between famous Dutch writers' names. Other hits are (quite a few) lists of the political party I was on the list for, the site of my Japanese school, the page that I graduated from (Dutch) high school, my Japanese weblog, and some forum posts where I posted my MSN address (I edited them by adding spaces, but I don't know if it works), and my very old Pokemon site XD Not too bad.
Just got curious because of above post >_>