Sharon Aceta is an eighth grade math teacher in South Carolina. Following the election she posted:
“Congrats Obama. 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.”
Aceta was suspended for a day without pay and removed the post. She was reported to be very apologetic and said she showed poor judgment by posting the message.
In Ohio, a teacher at Linden McKinley High School posted an even more controversial message, it reads as follows:
“Congrats to those dependent on government, homosexuals, potheads, Jay-Z fans, non Christians, non taxpayers, illegals, communists, Muslims, planned murder clinics, enemies of America, Satan you WON!”
Thus far this teacher has not been reprimanded in any way, but it may only be a matter of time; which leads to some interesting questions…
1. Did these teachers do anything wrong?
2. While people may find their posts offensive, doesn’t the first amendment allow them to express such views, especially on personal social media sites?
3. Does the fact that these people are teachers change anything? Like the blog from yesterday concerning people living in the public eye, should teachers be held to higher standards of decorum because of their jobs?
4. In terms of politics, what should the role of teachers be? Should they simply be the moderator during class discussions while not really showing their personal politics? Should they actively take part in political debates with students in an effort to sway the opinions of impressionable students? Should they completely leave politics out of the classroom? (Something that is pretty tough to do in Social Studies Classes)
Thoughts….?