$ 2.99 How to protect yourself on Facebook
DOUBLE LIFE
L ING
CH TEA v s .
E LIF L A
N
SO
R PE
Personal vacation… not so personal
IF E
“TOO HOT FOR SCHOOL”
READ MORE PG. 3
PLUS: WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A 24/7 TEACHER To drink or not to drink… and post on Facebook
Being gay is not ok… in some school districts
YOU WANT TO TAKE SELFIES ON THE BEACH?
HELPFUL HINT: You can take ‘selfies’ at the beach but remember there is always a risk when posting pictures of your self scantily clad where students, parents and administration can see them.
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FEBRUARY DOUBLE LIFE
The Experts
“ DO IT
If you wouldn’t
In your classroom
Should what teachers do in their personal time affect their career at school? This magazine is focused around the idea of being a 24/7 teacher. This topic encompasses all of the situations that teachers may face when dealing with social media, personal lives and the changing roles of teachers in society. We chose this topic because we believe that it is essential for us as future educators to understand the implications of the choices we make on a daily basis. We need to understand how to protect ourselves from negative situations we may be faced with in the future. It is apparent that our roles as teachers in society are changing because of the increase in technology within the education system and in our daily lives. Throughout this magazine you will see a variety of situations/case studies where teachers have been directly impacted by choices they had made in their personal lives. It is extremely important that teachers understand the societal expectations placed on them to remain a valuable role model inside and outside of the schools we work at.
Don’t Post it online.
”
Table of Contents
PG 2: Advertisement PG 3: Content PG 4: Advertisement PG 5: Vacation Nightmare PG 6: School Property? PG 7: Advertisement PG 8: Too Hot for School PG 9: Blurred Lines PG 10: Vacation time PG 11: What the people are saying. PG 12: One love PG 13: Personal Leisure PG 14: What school boards should do. PG 15: The Experts Say PG 16: References 3
WARNING DRINKING A BEER MAY CAUSE YOU HARM
THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE A DRINK AS A TEACHER, BUT YOU NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT POSTING PICTURES OF YOURSELF DRINKING ONLINE. *NOTE: IF YOU LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN IT MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE TO BE SEEN DRUNK AT THE ONLY LOCAL PUB.
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VACATION NIGHTMARE “FIRED? But did he get
No, he was
simply
” THE EXPERTS SAY reprimanded.
Coach Laraine Cook was a basketball coach and was fired due to this photo.
ook was fired due to posting an "immoral" photo of herself and her fiancé on Facebook. Her fiancé also worked at the same school as cook and he was only reprimanded for the photo. The reason why they fired Cook and not her fiancé was because she was the one that posted the photo on Facebook.
What did Cook do wrong in this situation? Is it fair that Cook was fired but her fiancé was not? To avoid this situation all together, it is important to understand that as a professional, we must conduct ourselves in line with our professional code of conduct. The photo posted by Cook is not professional, but it also was taken on her own personal vacation time. So where do we draw the line? Teachers are still able to live their own personal lives, but there is a difference now of what is acceptable to be posted on social media.
“ LOVE I WOULD
To be able to coach those Girls Again.
”
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Personal Computer: School Property? Roy Harrison was a teacher whose personal life and computer became a major part of his professional life. Harrison’s personal computer and items from his home such as CD’s and DVD’s were confiscated. He intentionally had hundreds naked or partially naked photographs of pubescent and pre-pubescent children. He was charged with possessing child pornography and was sentenced to 30 days in jail. His teaching certificate was cancelled. This situation sparks as a controversial issue. Should your personal computer become subject to your professional life? How does the school have access to your personal belongings? Harrison is a criminal by having the child pornography on his computer, but where does the school he worked for become involved? We know as teachers that anything we make such as lesson plans, unit plans, etc., within a school or while hired at that school, is school property. This case suggests that no matter what we are doing in our personal time, we should always reflect the teaching profession in a positive, ethical way.
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1. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, DO YOU SAY TO YOURSELF: “OH GREAT, HERE THEY COME”? 2. DO YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND PUBLIC AND NOT WORRY ABOUT SEEING ANY STUDENTS? 3. DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE OLD SAYING: YOU SHOULDN’T SMILE UNTIL CHRISTMAS?
IF YOU HAVE ANSWERED YES TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS…
PLEASE CALL YOUR LOCAL ATA AND GET OUT!
1-800-232-7208 **NOTE: THE ATA DOES NOT ENDORSE THIS ADVERTISEMENT**
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TOO HOT FOR SCHOOL “ NUDE
Former Senator Scott Brown posed
when he was Ms. Pearson’s age.
Should a classroom aide be held to a different standard?
Kaitlin Pearson, an aide from Fitchburg posing for a modeling shoot. Kaitlin Pearson, an aide, was suspended from her job after her school received copies of her modeling photos from an anonymous source. Luckily, she was placed on a paid suspension while the school sorted out this issue. The school district had this to say about the incident: “paid administrative leave status does not constitute a finding of any wrongdoing, it is solely a personal issue". Many local residents disagreed with Pearson’s suspension and had this to say: "what she does in her own private life is her business”. The photos sent to the school district were off of Pearson’s Model Mayhem profile of which she was named the 2014 model of the year. Do you think that her racy modeling pictures should keep her from getting her job back?
THE EXPERTS SAY
”
Do you think what teachers do outside of school should be taken into consideration when it comes to their job? In this situation, it is easy to say the solution would be for her not to continue modeling if she wants a job with her current school district. But, is it fair that we expect her to stop doing something that she clearly enjoys. Does her being a model affect her ability to complete her job? With the expectation to be a role model for children, we at Double Life can see why parents would be offended about her racy pictures. But is that grounds to fire her? 8
BLURRED LINES
“ CLASSROOM,
I just want to be back in the
Ashley Payne holding a beer and a glass of wine in Europe.
If not that classroom, A classroom. I want to get back doing
24-year-old teacher, Ashley Payne was fired from her teaching job because she had posted a picture on Facebook of herself with a glass of wine and a beer in a European pub. Her Principal gave her the ultimatum of either resigning or taking a suspension. Payne decided to resign. A parent found the photos and emailed the principal. Payne says that her privacy settings were at the highest level possible. How did the parent see these photos?
what I
Went to school for,
MY PASSION in life.
”
THE EXPERTS SAY
This situation can be easily avoided. Although the photos were taken in another continent, the fact the Payne posted them on Facebook was the wrong decision. It is one thing to post pictures of you on vacation, but it is another to post pictures such as this, as a teacher. Understand that you as a teacher are held to higher standards, and things like this should be left off Facebook. Privacy settings on Facebook only do so much, so remember teachers, be cautious of what you post.
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What takes Priority: Sick Days or Vacation Time? What are your priorities when it comes to your teaching schedule? Brittany Feenan, a teacher from British Columbia, decided it was a great idea to take her sick days to go on vacation. Was this the right thing to do? Feenan cancelled her trip because she claimed it interfered with her parent teacher interviews. Feenan then missed two days of work claiming she was ill.
Where do we draw the line as teachers when it comes to our personal vacation time? Under what circumstances is a teacher is allowed to take extra holidays, i.e. family event such as a wedding? I would say as long as it is approved by your administration. In a situation such as a holiday during non-vacation times, teachers must pay out of pocket for a substitute to cover the time they are taking off. It would most appropriate to take your vacation on designated holidays such as spring break, Christmas holidays, and summer holidays. In this situation, Feenan was in the wrong by abusing her paid sick days to take a vacation. The teaching profession is different from others in that we are paid for 200 workdays with scheduled holidays. In conclusion, sick days are paid days to take when you are actually sick, not to book a holiday. Your personal life should not come before that of your students. We have to remember why we are teachers and how we teach for our students
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WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT PRIVATE LIVES OF TEACHERS
“We are role models for our students. It is one thing to "enjoy" yourself after school hours, but when you post pictures or text about unprofessional behaviors they can easily become permanent.” - Carrie
“In my opinion school systems cannot "police" teachers outside of their contract hours for any reason -unless administrators agree to a contract paying said teachers for 24 hours a day over 365 days.” -Kay Lera
“We are past the day when teachers could not marry, could not be in public with a man who was not her father or brother, and who had to bring coal to fire the heater every day” -Rhonda
“I think they have the right to do what they want to post on their personal web pages. However, they are on public eye so they should act appropriately and still wear their integrity even online” -Minxnicole
“I do not think our personal life should be up for scrutiny unless we do something illegal. One precaution to use in your personal life is that if don't want your kids to know your business, don't live near your school.” -Wiffles 11
ONE LOVE “ SADDENED, I feel hurt
betrayed, and at a LOSS for words.
Michael Griffin and his husband.
ichael Griffin, a catholic high school teacher, was fired shortly after his school division found out he had applied for a marriage license with his long term boyfriend. The administration at his school said that he had violated his teaching contract and fired him immediately.
” THE EXPERTS SAY
When does your personal relationship become involved with your professional teaching job? Griffin worked for a catholic school and his relationship goes against their particular religious faith. Is this fair? Griffin admitted that he had invited his partner to many school events and functions before they had decided to get married. He never thought it would be an issue because they hadn’t said anything about his boyfriend in the past. When they applied to get married this directly went against the schools religious beliefs, which cost him his job. This doesn’t mean that Michael cannot be hired in another school division or that his teaching certificate was revoked. This was only the opinion of one particular school division. Was this decision fair?
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Personal Leisure on a School Trip Michelle Choma and an administrator were supervisors to eight grade 12 students on a trip to Japan. On the trip, the students had consumed alcohol as part of formal toasting and at their hotel bar. Choma had also consumed alcohol with her students in attendance. Alcohol as always been prohibited on school field trips. Choma was not aware of the district policies on students and alcohol consumption.
Has alcohol ever been accepted for any school function? Choma put her own leisure in front of her student’s safety by allowing them to consume alcohol. She had also admitted to drinking alcohol with her students around. This situation is completely lacking common sense of the part of Choma. Teachers are put to a higher standard and are role models to our students regardless of age. We have an obligation to provide a high ‘Duty of Care’ when our students are with us and being intoxicated does not allow us to be at our best for our students. No matter where you are, teachers should not consume alcohol in the presence of their students.
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What school divisions should when it comes to creating school policies! 1. EDUCATE! Teachers should attend professional development on legal issues that could arise in the teaching profession as well as, be notified about relevant policies and procedures at their schools. 2. BE REALISTIC! Policies created by school divisions must be realistic. For example, school cannot expect that a work computer will solely be used for educational purposes. 3. DISTINCT! Policies found within the school should be distinctly different for students and teachers. 4. INVOLVE THE STAFF! Staff should be involved in the creation of policies that directly affect them. This will help the staff to remain informed and invested in the policies found within your school division. 5. CLEAR EXPECTATIONS! Policies must be clear and specific. 6. MUST MATCH LAWS! Any policies found within your school must conform to provincial and federal laws. They also must not infringe upon the rights of anyone and be written in a non-discriminatory manner. 7. CONSEQUENCES! When policies are stated ensure the consequences for violating that policy is listed. Implementation of the consequences must remain consistent and fair. 8. APPEAL! School divisions must provide an avenue for appeal and attend to employees’ due process rights. 9. KEEP UPDATED! Policies must always be monitored and amended because the laws are always changing. Source:
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THE EXPERTS SAY
In closing, we as future educators must be aware of the choices we make on a daily basis. Also, you must be aware of the policies and procedures that could affect you directly at your job. As teachers, part of our job is to be a role model for our students and if they see you in compromising picture or out in public drunk, what example are we setting for our students? There is a fine line between what is acceptable behaviour and what is unacceptable. We at Double Life believe that the choices you make on a daily basis need to be thoughtful and keep in mind what your future students, colleagues and parents may think. Now, this does not mean you cannot live your life like a normal individual, it just means that you have to be a cautious of the EVIDENCE! Ha-Ha. But on a serious note, you have to be cautious of what people may perceive your actions as, and if this means you go to a city to party where you do not work to ensure you do not run into any parents then so be it! Always remember, stay classy!
5 Tips to Remember!
1. Be familiar with the policies and procedures at your school so you are aware of the consequences to your actions. 2. Ensure that you carefully evaluate the choices you make. Say to yourself, what would my students, parents and colleagues say if they saw this picture of me posted online? If you think the reaction would be negative then it may not be a good choice. 3. Be familiar with the appeal process to protect yourself and confirm who you must contact if you ever get into a negative situation with your school division. 4. Don’t let yourself be put into situations that could be interpreted negatively. For example, having an individual student in your classroom with the door closed. 5. You can talk about your private life at school but be careful which information you choose to share with parents and students.
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REFERENCES All Images found on www.Google.com Bonaci, S. (2014). Role model vs. real person: Worcester teachers discuss balancing personal and professional lives. The Republican. Retrieved February 3, 2014, from http://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/ Facebook Fail? Teacher Fired Over “Immoral” Photo. (n.d.). Babble RSS. Retrieved January 30, 2014, from http://www.babble.com/mom/facebook-fail-teacher-shares-immoralphoto-and-gets-fired/ Gay teacher fired after applying for marriage license. (n.d.). MSNBC. Retrieved January 30, 2014, from http://www.msnbc.com/the-lastword/gay-teacher-fired-marriage-license Public Notifications. (n.d.). Professional Conduct. Retrieved January 30, 2014, from http://www.bcteacherregulation.ca/ProfessionalConduct/bcct/BcctDis ciplineDecisions.aspx Should teachers be punished for personal posts on social-networking sites?. (n.d.).Edutopia. Retrieved January 31, 2014, from http://www.edutopia.org/poll-teachers-punished-social-networking Teacher Ashley Payne fired for posting picture of herself holding beer on Facebook. (n.d.). - GA Daily News. Retrieved January 30, 2014, from http://www.gadailynews.com/news/61845-teacher-ashley-paynefired-for-posting-picture-of-herself-holding-beer-on-facebook.html
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