Teacher Fired For Talking About Students and Parents on Facebook

Teacher Fired For Facebook Comments: Right or Ridiculous?

August 19, 2010

A Massachusetts teacher should have taught herself this lesson: don't post anything on social networking sites that you want to keep private. June Talvitie-Siple was forced to resign after she made unfavorable comments about students and their parents on her Facebook page. According to one report, Talvitie-Siple used the terms "germbags," "arrogant," and "snobby," believing that she was talking with friends, but the comments were public. The educator also wrote that she was less than enthused about the upcoming school year. Would you be upset if your child's teacher vented his or her frustrations on a social networking site?

10 Comments

2 years 13 weeks

You know maybe it's just that teachers love the kids but at times they have to deal with RIDICULOUS parents who can't accept responsibility for their children. go figure.

2 years 19 weeks

I don't recall the teacher specifically naming any student by name, she referred to the students as them, I feel this is wrong in taking her livelyhood due to the fact that our privacy is in question on facebook, that should have been completely private on her page, unless facebook was hacked, but doesn't seem the case. " what a shame the ordeal is.

2 years 39 weeks

The First Amendment allows her to say such things safely, as long as she did not use names. Using names is where you get into trouble. I feel Facebook should be private as long as it is not accessed while at school using school networks. She should have been put on probation, not fired.

pixiedusk 2 years 39 weeks

im ok with her venting it out.. its her right.... now when we vent out we have to be ready with the consequences tho.. cuz were adults...

Zivanod 2 years 39 weeks

She should have been reprimanded considering she used the name of the school, but not fired. I have many teacher friends and they often write on facebook how they hate the kids/school/ etc. I think it's really inappropriate but none have been fired for it so far.

2 years 39 weeks

As a teacher with a facebook account, I am VERY careful about what I post. Pictures, comments, etc... But believe me, we all feel the way she did at some point. She should have used her judgement to keep it off the net, though. Teaching is hard. It's the only job where we're expected to be professionals but aren't treated that way. We can't refuse clients, we can't take time off, we can't hire assistants to do our paperwork for us so we can focus on the real job: teaching. We can't fire a client who is uncooperative or noncompliant. We are treated like idiots by the public; because they once attended school, everyone is an expert in education. I've been to a doctor's office-- I'm not going to go start doing procedures on people or giving the physicians advice. Nevertheless, for most of us, the love of the kids and the role we play in their lives keeps us coming back when the going gets tough. And if you ask most of us, when we can get past the frustration and the exhaustion, we don't know what else we would do because there is something that makes us have to do this.

miss leanne 2 years 39 weeks

It WAS unprofessional of her to post that on facebook, but definitely not grounds for firing.

amber512 2 years 39 weeks

I think venting to friends is a lot different than posting something like that online. I guess I'd give her the benefit of the doubt and hope she didn't realize that. Everyone has a right to not feel enthused about their work in any particular moment.

tresmvp 2 years 39 weeks

I definitely agree with Drewsfan, I'd have to see the other comments first but then again, everyone has to realize that not everything on the internet is private. Just like when college students and potential employees of any company are warned about their facebook profiles being the "make it or break it" of any college or job, they have to remember just because you got the job, doesn't mean you can always keep it. She represents the school. Would you want your children being taught by someone who thinks they're "germbags" and "snobby"? I definitely wouldn't. I believe that maybe if she didn't say "Cohasset Schools" or whatever a more secific name, it would have been acceptable but you should never put the names out there especially something like a big company or school.

Drewsfan 2 years 39 weeks

I'd be upset, sure. On one hand, I wouldn't want my child to be taught by someone that was less-than-enthusiastic about teaching, but on the other everyone probably should have the right to vent about their job. I don't know if the actions warranted firing. Guess I'd have to see the other comments, though because it really depends if she were referring to the students or the other faculty members.

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