Cyberbullying Teachers on Facebook: Freedom of Speech or Defamation?
What a classic example of how the younger generation A) has zero respect for adults and B) Doesn’t understand the consequences of online actions.
According to the AP report, a seventh-grader at a suburban Syracuse middle school has been suspended for setting up a Facebook page that officials say hosted a barrage of libelous, obscene and inappropriate postings about a teacher. The Roxboro Road Middle School principal says another 25 students who signed on as fans of the group have been given three days of detention at the school.
Still, there are those that would like to completely dismiss the teacher’s right to not have slanderous, defaming marks made about them, citing that this is a case of freedom of speech. Case in point, the father of one of those students who has vocalized his concerns to the school board, stating he didn’t think it was right to punish his daughter for simply accepting an invitation to join the group. He says he’s disciplining her at home.
I don’t care if you are punishing her at home. We need to stop letting these unruly a-hole kids off the hook for everything at school. I am close to a teacher who constantly states that discipline at her school is non-existent. It’s a joke.
Bottom line: when you write something in ink (online) and publish it (create a Facebook page), it is libel. If you sign your name (join the group), you may as well have said it yourself. And trust me, I know the way these pages/groups work; there is no way she joined and didn’t chime in on the bashing.
Parents need to be using PC Pandora monitoring software at home. They need to know if their child is bullying ANYONE online in any capacity. I don’t know at what point the idea of ‘respecting adults’ went out the window, but ask any teacher: kids today have zero respect for teachers. When it elevates to outright cyberbullying online, well, that takes a sad thing and makes it disgusting. Do your job as a 21st century parent and know how your children are being in the online community, just as you would the real world. i.e. if you had a foul-mouthed little jerk walking around town, wouldn’t you intervene? Why not intervene online then?
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January 26, 2010
School district scrutinized over suspensions
By Bill Carey, News 10 Now
It’s a case that has stirred lots of opinions. A posting about a teacher on Facebook has led to a number of North Syracuse middle school students being punished. It’s touched off a debate over freedom of speech. But, as our Bill Carey reports, there are also questions raised about protections for all of us from defamation and libel in an age of internet anonymity.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:26 AM
Parents need foremost to teach their kids, monitor their internet use and just as we teach them about treating others with sensitivity and respect, the keep your hands to yourself instructions need to be accompanied with taking care when writing things about others.
Also, parents need to be very aware of a website called topix. This website is under investigation by attorney generals in more than 30 states for allowing unmoderated annonymous posting, some of which has literally ruined reputations, careers and children’s dignity in their schools.
http://toxictopix.blogspot.com/2010/09/topix-dot-com-and-topixnet.html
January 14th, 2011 at 1:20 PM
It’s NOT FREEDOM OF SPEECH. This can destroy a reputation and there is nothing more cowardly than to hide behind a keyboard posting lies about someone in the hopes of destroying them. In cases where it is true, it is still the ultimate sign of cowardice to post something about another person. How about keeping your thoughts to yourself or try some human decency.
Cyberbullying should be treated like the criminal act it is and let’s stop making excuses for kids, they know right from wrong. The first amendment was created in a time when they couldn’t foresee the internet one day occurring and was intended for people to have religious freedom and able to have a voice toward government not to attack other people. For those of you who want to stay “sticks and stones”, that has never been true words can have serious consequences. If you decided to basically assault someone online you have committed an unethical, criminal act and with actions should come consequences. Even sadder is the fact many adults are doing this as well. There must be some new, strong laws and if you think this isn’t a real problem, try asking people like the family of Tyler Clementi or Megan Meier. It could be someone you know next.