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Obama supporters do not believe in free speech

Revmitchell

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Two public school teachers are facing investigations for posting messages that some perceived as critical of President Obama on social networking sites.

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In Rock Hill, SC, a middle school teacher was placed on leave after she posted a message on her personal Facebook page about President Obama and food stamps.

“Congrats Obama,” she allegedly wrote. “As one of my students sang down the hallway, ‘We get to keep our food stamps’ … which I pay for because they can’t budget their money … and really, neither can you.”

A school spokesperson said they had received several calls complaining about the eighth grade math teacher at Rawlinson Road Middle School. The teacher has apologized.

A school official told Fox News that the complaints originated from pro-Obama supporters outside the school.

http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarne...e-investigations-for-anti-obama-messages.html
 

Mexdeaf

New Member
That's why I left Facebook. I had no control over the content once it was posted. Of course I could "delete" it but there would still be no guarantee that someone else had not copied it or that it would not be found somewhere else.
 

InTheLight

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
...spokesperson Elaine Baker said. “She used poor judgment according to our social media policy. Teachers are kept to higher standards.”

So the school district has a policy in place prohibiting postings like this. She violated her employer's policy. Not a free speech issue.
 

Revmitchell

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Good grief I do not know why these simple things need to be explained all the time. The "employers policy" infringes on free speech. It is a free speech issue. It looks like one is disagreeing just to disagree.
 

Scarlett O.

Moderator
Moderator
Good grief I do not know why these simple things need to be explained all the time. The "employers policy" infringes on free speech. It is a free speech issue. It looks like one is disagreeing just to disagree.

My school's policy is that employees cannot gossip about school business, employees, parents, or students on Facebook. And we cannot show any disloyalty to the school on Facebook. As far as personal opinions on matters not involving school, we are informally told to err on the side of caution.

I personally have the rule that I will not post anything on Facebook that could make my school, my church, or my family look bad by being associated with me acting a fool or getting too emotionally involved.
 

Revmitchell

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
My school's policy is that employees cannot gossip about school business, employees, parents, or students on Facebook. And we cannot show any disloyalty to the school on Facebook. As far as personal opinions on matters not involving school, we are informally told to err on the side of caution.

I personally have the rule that I will not post anything on Facebook that could make my school, my church, or my family look bad by being associated with me acting a fool or getting too emotionally involved.

Which is a good rule. But we need to be careful of work place discipline over personal opinions.
 

InTheLight

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Good grief I do not know why these simple things need to be explained all the time. The "employers policy" infringes on free speech. It is a free speech issue. It looks like one is disagreeing just to disagree.

Free speech is guaranteed by the constitution, meaning government officials can not stop you from saying something, anything, about the government. Employers are not constrained by these rules. If an employer has rules regarding an employee's conduct and the worker breaks the rules he is subject to penalty.

I can't believe you don't know this.
 

Revmitchell

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Free speech is guaranteed by the constitution, meaning government officials can not stop you from saying something, anything, about the government. Employers are not constrained by these rules. If an employer has rules regarding an employee's conduct and the worker breaks the rules he is subject to penalty.

I can't believe you don't know this.

That does not keep it from being a free speech issue. This is not just about a generic brand of conduct. It is about speech, which was on her own time and unrelated to work. The school is trying to impose restrictions on speech outside of work. In other words free speech. But then you already know that.
 

InTheLight

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
That does not keep it from being a free speech issue. This is not just about a generic brand of conduct. It is about speech, which was on her own time and unrelated to work. The school is trying to impose restrictions on speech outside of work. In other words free speech. But then you already know that.

Unrelated to work? "As one of my students sang down the hallway, 'We get to keep our fooood stamps'.." Right there she brought the school into the context of her post.

If the school has a written policy regarding Facebook postings as a condition of employment and this teacher signed it, she is culpable. Pretty simple.
 

InTheLight

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Again arguing just to argue.

You post a provocative title "Obama Supporters Don't Believe in Free Speech" and upon researching the article it is learned that the teacher violated her employment contract.

Baker added that though Aceta violated the district's social media policy, she will likely not face further disciplinary action, and should return to the classroom on Monday.

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/rock-hill-teacher-apologizes-after-facebook-post-a/nS3TS/

But then, that fact was not in the 'fair and balanced' Fox news story you listed.
 
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Crabtownboy

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Good grief I do not know why these simple things need to be explained all the time. The "employers policy" infringes on free speech. It is a free speech issue. It looks like one is disagreeing just to disagree.

Rev, then notify the ACLU and help them take it to court.
 
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