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Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Freedom of Speech vs. Common Sense

http://www.wsbtv.com/education/9223824/detail.html

I have mixed feelings about this case. Having taught at K-12 level, I know that reputation is everything, especially in suburban areas like Henry County. Nevertheless, maybe suing the kid is too much. I wonder if he misbehaved before or it's his first prank.

What do you think?

3 comments:

Seeking Solace said...

I think that people need a refresher course in the First Amendment. Any idiot can say any stupid thing he wants. It's pretty much protected.

That being said, I think that the student was an idiot for what he said. But to sue him goes too far. The attorney side of me thinks this case will not hold much water. There is no indication of any sort of intent.

March Hare said...

If every teacher sued everytime a kid made fun of him, then we'd have to go back to "My Eyes Have Seen the Glory of the Burning of the School," which we sung--every June--when I was a kid. And the song wasn't new then!

The most memorable teachers I had, and this seems to be true for my children as well, are those who were able to maintain a sense of humor about themselves and about their students. Teenagers are NOT adults; their humor is usually more "miss" than "hit." This teacher is setting himself up for more verbal abuse by the students, only now it will be whispered in the hallways rather than posted on MySpace.

Alice said...

As a former teacher, I agree with both of you -- (1) case will probably be thrown out; and (2) this teacher is marked for life as a "whiner" and should look for a new career. From my own experience, effective K-12 teachers are firm yet flexible.

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