A former Georgia high school teacher wrote obscene language on her Facebook wall and uploaded racy photos, according to school officials who asked for her resignation in August 2009. A legal case is pending, and this could be yet another precedent in how and if school teachers should use Facebook.
The more I read the uproarious response to this scandal, the more absurd I think it is. But maybe I’m missing something in the interpretation, so let me know what you think.
The facts
Ashley Payne, 24, is a former Barrow County, Georgia high school teacher who taught literature for two years to ninth and tenth grade students.
While on vacation in Europe, she uploaded a picture on her Facebook photo album depicting her holding an alcoholic drink. Her photos have private settings and she is not Facebook friends with her students.
She separately posted a status update on her wall that she was going to an Atlanta restaurant to play the “Crazy Bitch Bingo” video game.
Ashley was forced to resign from Apalachee High School on August 27. She intends to sue.
Ashley speaks out
In the below video (transcript here), Ashley elaborates:
Readers chime in
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution summarizes the above and reporter Maureen Downey opines alongside quotes from regional newspapers, including the Barrow Journal and the Athens Banner-Herald.
Maureen writes:
Unless the school system has other concerns about this teacher, I can’t understand how her Facebook page content – which would be tame for even my mother – would get her fired.
Barrow has a policy that states employees can be investigated and disciplined for postings on Web sites that contain provocative photographs, sexually explicit messages, use of alcohol, drugs or anything students are prohibited from doing. And the policy allows for termination for such transgressions.
There are 87 reader comments and counting below her story in the AJC. Have a look.
My take
I’m trying to understand how anyone in the school district would know about her Facebook page in the first place, especially if she didn’t befriend her students. I won’t begin to speculate, other than suggesting if she identified herself as part of the “Atlanta, GA network,” then anyone in that network, friend or not, could see her wall content and potentially photos, too.
Nevertheless, I’m curious to see the outcome of this case — and to learn your thoughts.
Thanks to Dave Murray for the tip.
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{ 13 comments }
The subject of how people get fired via the social web is of great interest to me. I’ve seen examples that range from no common sense, to scenarios that raise questions to the rules of social web engagement. I feel this example falls into that later. We can only assume Ashley is telling the whole story, and it shows that Facebook privacy is not that private.
Based on the policy Barrow has, it appears Ashley crossed the line, though I feel the punishment is rather harsh. The lesson: think twice before saying, doing, posting, anything online.
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I can see this incident providing a valuable lesson not only for teachers but students. How motivating for students to see a teacher get in trouble.
.-= New from Paul C: Internet Serendipity =-.
Being fired from her position for these alleged crimes is ridiculous. It’s a massive over-reaction to what should be considered personal activity that has no bearing on her work as a teacher.
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Honestly this doesn’t surprise me. In any industry where drugs, alcohol, and the like are deemed as negative you are at risk of this. Especially when children are involved. It’s the sad reality of social sites and the transparency they come with. What’s nothing to you could be a HUGE liability to a your company or organization.
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School systems across the country are getting ridiculous with all this stuff. It’s no wonder that no one can find qualified teachers anymore, as more colleges are dropping education from their curriculum. Just plain idiocy.
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Yes, I agree that her personal life is her own. However, she chose an occupation where she is thought of a role-model, so I believe she should be careful especially what she puts on a social networking site which is open to anyone.
This is really scary…. it’s her personal life and personal profile. It she is upstanding and a good teacher during her daily tenure, who cares what she does on her own time?
Thats just so wrong do they really expect teachers to never drink at all even when on holiday??? What they do in there personal life is their own business unless its something really bad and brings a bad name to the scholl sort of thing but simpley having a drink on holiday is just crazy.
Does anyone know what the teacher did next? How she reacted to it? Did she win the case?
You have to be careful not to get your personal life and your career mixed up and I think Facebook erases the fine line between them. If your a teacher however just dont add any of your students unless you trust them 100%.
Another reason to start setting your profile to Private on Facebook.
Or start posting fake pictures, like, every time you apply for a job, change the set of your photos to something related and smart, join related groups etc, use it to fool the future employer into thinking you’re perfect for the job
I think this is a massive over-reaction to what should be defiantly considered as personal activity that has no bearing on her work as a teacher. It’s also important to remember that keeping your Facebook private is very important.
If you don’t want people to know about it don’t put it on the internet.
Of course it isn’t right that this should happen to this teacher.
Of course it also isn’t right that women who date men from motorcycle gangs get beat up and otherwise abused. Somethings are just stupid to do. This woman might be too stupid to teach teenagers.
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