Teacher forced to resign over inappropriate pics on her phone. Something is just wrong here

[sunshinehighway]

Leave it to the disboards to call this bringing pornography to school.

The student needs to be punished. By punishing the teacher, who was a victim, and not the student, the lesson being taugh is that this is ok and its not.

 

[smiths02]

Oh there are pictures and statues in art galleries meant to excite.

You may not want your picture taken in that way but obviously the teacher had no such issues with it. Different strokes.

To be fair, I only used to word excite because I wasn't sure what would be filtered on here LOL

It's not that I didn't want my picture taken in that way, it's that I didn't want that phone lost or stolen or glanced at by his work colleague or anything like that.

I don't always do a good job, I've made errors in judgement in my internet life, and should not be fired for them. However, in some professions, teaching being one, you have to be careful if you even take pictures like that, what you post on FB or DISboards or whatever. Not because it is wrong but because you know it will be twisted against you.

 

[smiths02]

You may want to read the article again, there is nothing different in what she said in this story or in the OPs story. The superintendent is just trying to deflect and cover his butt. He said:



Could being the key word.

I agree. I'm not saying her story is wrong. I'm just wondering what the sequence of events was.
Did the student do this all why the teacher was out of the classroom and the teacher didn't know until the principal has nude pictures of her delivered to his e-mail by a student and calls the teacher into his office? And then the teacher (with help from students in the class) figures out what happened. While she knows she didn't do anything, she feels pressured. Resigning under investigation or being fired can be really bad for a teacher...so she resigns.

OR
The teacher reported the incident immediately as theft, etc. and then the principal fires her because she brought "porn" to school?

If either of those is the scenario, she can likely lawyer up and will settle with the school district.

 

[EMom]

There are two separate issues here. The student was wrong and should face consequences. Serious consequences.

But that does not negate the fact that the teacher demonstrated incredibly bad judgment and possibly broke the terms of her contract, because many teacher contracts still cover issues such as this. I don't care if she takes all sorts of nude or semi nude pics for her husband. That's her business. She made it the school's business when she essentially made the pics available to students. To those who say they were "private".....Well, not the way she handled them, they weren't. She had them on an unlocked phone, which she left sitting out in a room she wasn't in. In today's world, that is the same as leaving an envelope of photos sitting on your desk. Had she left the same photos in an envelope on her desk (sealed or unsealed is debatable) and a student accessed them, she would be in hot water. It's horrible judgment.

I can't go into too many details, but there was an incident in which a dance teacher who had been a professional dancer before teaching had some of her photos get passed around. Nothing was x-rated about the pics. She was fully clothed, but think of something along the lines of a pro football cheerleader, only with a little bit more covered. Some of her students got really unpleasant about it, because her standards are that she will not order any costumes which are racy. Some girls got snippy and rude because their attitude was, SHE dressed like THAT and yet she won't let us wear X,Y & Z? The girls aren't dressed like nuns, but nothing risqué is allowed since they are high school girls, ranging from 14 and up. I know the attitude some girls gave because of her fully clothed pics, and if those pics had been of any level of nudity, she would have lost all ability to command respect. Her ability to teach would have been shot.

Again, the teacher's poor decision making skills do not mean the student should escape punishment, both by the school and the law. Make an example of him. But as a teacher at that school, her time is over.

 

[nkereina]

I don't always do a good job, I've made errors in judgement in my internet life, and should not be fired for them. However, in some professions, teaching being one, you have to be careful if you even take pictures like that, what you post on FB or DISboards or whatever. Not because it is wrong but because you know it will be twisted against you.

But that does not negate the fact that the teacher demonstrated incredibly bad judgment and possibly broke the terms of her contract, because many teacher contracts still cover issues such as this. I don't care if she takes all sorts of nude or semi nude pics for her husband. That's her business. She made it the school's business when she essentially made the pics available to students. To those who say they were "private".....Well, not the way she handled them, they weren't. She had them on an unlocked phone, which she left sitting out in a room she wasn't in. In today's world, that is the same as leaving an envelope of photos sitting on your desk. Had she left the same photos in an envelope on her desk (sealed or unsealed is debatable) and a student accessed them, she would be in hot water. It's horrible judgment.

So the teacher should always assume her personal property may be violated and her phone may be hacked into? I could see if it was wallpaper on her phone or something she posted on Facebook. That would be negligent on her part. But the fact that the student mischievously went into the bowels of her phone and found this photo... I'm having a hard time blaming that on her.

 

[mom2rtk]

So the teacher should always assume her personal property may be violated and her phone may be hacked into? I could see if it was wallpaper on her phone or something she posted on Facebook. That would be negligent on her part. But the fact that the student mischievously went into the bowels of her phone and found this photo... I'm having a hard time blaming that on her.

Nobody hacked into her phone. They didn't have to. Because she didn't take any precautions.

 

[declansdad]

There are two separate issues here. The student was wrong and should face consequences. Serious consequences.

But that does not negate the fact that the teacher demonstrated incredibly bad judgment and possibly broke the terms of her contract, because many teacher contracts still cover issues such as this. I don't care if she takes all sorts of nude or semi nude pics for her husband. That's her business. She made it the school's business when she essentially made the pics available to students. To those who say they were "private".....Well, not the way she handled them, they weren't. She had them on an unlocked phone, which she left sitting out in a room she wasn't in. In today's world, that is the same as leaving an envelope of photos sitting on your desk. Had she left the same photos in an envelope on her desk (sealed or unsealed is debatable) and a student accessed them, she would be in hot water. It's horrible judgment.

Leaving her phone on her desk is private, just like an envelope would be. Nobody has the right to go through her personal property at all and it certainly isn't the school's business.

 

[EMom]

So the teacher should always assume her personal property may be violated and her phone may be hacked into? I could see if it was wallpaper on her phone or something she posted on Facebook. That would be negligent on her part. But the fact that the student mischievously went into the bowels of her phone and found this photo... I'm having a hard time blaming that on her.

Her phone was unlocked and sitting there for the looking. That was imbecilic and tantamount to leaving photos on a desk in today's world. I am technologically backward and I could get at photos in 2-3 swipes on an unlocked phone. Just as I could (1) pick up an envelope, (2) pull out photos, and (3) make copies. Same thing.

The teacher did a stupid thing. And she is paying the price. That does not change the fact that the student also did wrong. Two wrongs.

 

[declansdad]

Her phone was unlocked and sitting there for the looking. That was imbecilic and tantamount to leaving photos on a desk in today's world. I am technologically backward and I could get at photos in 2-3 swipes on an unlocked phone. Just as I could (1) pick up an envelope, (2) pull out photos, and (3) make copies. Same thing.

The teacher did a stupid thing. And she is paying the price. That does not change the fact that the student also did wrong. Two wrongs.

Then you too would be violating the teachers privacy and taking her property.

 

[smiths02]

So the teacher should always assume her personal property may be violated and her phone may be hacked into? I could see if it was wallpaper on her phone or something she posted on Facebook. That would be negligent on her part. But the fact that the student mischievously went into the bowels of her phone and found this photo... I'm having a hard time blaming that on her.

I don't think she should have to resign, or be fired over it. (if everything she is saying is true)
However, it seems to go with the territory of being a teacher now. It's constant. Teachers said something bigoted or perceived as bigoted on FB, so they are asked to resign, fired, public calls for their head on a spike. Teacher goes to Paris and posts a picture of her with wine...asked to resign or fired because she is encouraging drinking (since some students are FB friends). I'm not saying we don't need to stop the insanity, I just am not surprised anymore.

This morning, I listed to a news story that people were identified on their IHOP receipt by their black waiter as "blk ppl" and can't believe they were treated in such a racist manner.

 

[nkereina]

Nobody hacked into her phone. They didn't have to. Because she didn't take any precautions.

No one has the right to pick up her phone and open it and then click in the apps. That's hacking. Should she zip tie her purse too so no one looks in it?

 

[LisaR]

The student was 100% wrong and should be punished, but I believe being forced to resign is the best possible outcome for the teacher. I do not believe she "brought porn to school." That seems like a ridiculous stretch. However, I think she should resign because:

A. She used poor judgement. Either password protect your phone, lock it up, or delete those pictures if you are going to leave your phone out. Teachers should know that students do stupid things sometimes and aren't perfect angels.

B. She would be a distraction at the school now since everyone saw her almost nude. Boys are going to be lining up to take her classes. That can't be good for anyone.

I think she needs to move on and learn from this. Take all the pictures of yourself that you want, but protect your phone.

 

[morgan98]

There are two separate issues here. The student was wrong and should face consequences. Serious consequences.

But that does not negate the fact that the teacher demonstrated incredibly bad judgment and possibly broke the terms of her contract, because many teacher contracts still cover issues such as this. I don't care if she takes all sorts of nude or semi nude pics for her husband. That's her business. She made it the school's business when she essentially made the pics available to students. To those who say they were "private".....Well, not the way she handled them, they weren't. She had them on an unlocked phone, which she left sitting out in a room she wasn't in. In today's world, that is the same as leaving an envelope of photos sitting on your desk. Had she left the same photos in an envelope on her desk (sealed or unsealed is debatable) and a student accessed them, she would be in hot water. It's horrible judgment.

I can't go into too many details, but there was an incident in which a dance teacher who had been a professional dancer before teaching had some of her photos get passed around. Nothing was x-rated about the pics. She was fully clothed, but think of something along the lines of a pro football cheerleader, only with a little bit more covered. Some of her students got really unpleasant about it, because her standards are that she will not order any costumes which are racy. Some girls got snippy and rude because their attitude was, SHE dressed like THAT and yet she won't let us wear X,Y & Z? The girls aren't dressed like nuns, but nothing risqué is allowed since they are high school girls, ranging from 14 and up. I know the attitude some girls gave because of her fully clothed pics, and if those pics had been of any level of nudity, she would have lost all ability to command respect. Her ability to teach would have been shot.

Again, the teacher's poor decision making skills do not mean the student should escape punishment, both by the school and the law. Make an example of him. But as a teacher at that school, her time is over.

I do not think she made the pictures available to her student. Yes, she left a phone out on a desk without a passcode on it. Bad move, I will definitely agree with that. However, this is not like leaving a photo even in an envelope. The kid had to go to her phone, look for photos and start going through her phone. That goes way beyond accidentally seeing something. As soon as the kid stole the phone, all bets were off in my opinion. The kid had absolutely no right to look at or see anything she had on her phone.

Also, I see nothing wrong with the scenario about the dance teacher either. What she did as a professional dancer (again not x rated) should have no bearing on what the high school kids should be wearing. Two separate things. And for the kids getting snippy, too bad, so sad.

 

[gwynne]

Leaving her phone on her desk is private, just like an envelope would be. Nobody has the right to go through her personal property at all and it certainly isn't the school's business.

She is a high school teacher. That means she works with teenagers. Some are very nice, some are very unpleasant. It's pretty poor judgement to leave an iphone unlocked, in plain sight on an unattended desk. Working in a high school is different than working in an office somewhere staffed with adults. Teenagers aren't always careful respecters of personal property boundaries.

And I guess I should add that obviously the teen in question is guilty and should be punished. I read in one of the articles on this thread she is going to press charges, GOOD!
But, I think teachers should protect themselves by not bring nude photos to school. It just makes things messy, if somehow the photos are viewed.

 

[EMom]

As a former teacher, I am telling you teacher contracts often hold them to a very high standard of conduct. Teachers can be fired for things other employees couldn't be and it's because they are role models for children and also because parents expect them to be held to a high standard. I have no idea what this teacher's contract specified, but I wouldn't be surprised if she broke the terms.

 

[nkereina]

I don't think she should have to resign, or be fired over it. (if everything she is saying is true)

However, it seems to go with the territory of being a teacher now. It's constant. Teachers said something bigoted or perceived as bigoted on FB, so they are asked to resign, fired, public calls for their head on a spike. Teacher goes to Paris and posts a picture of her with wine...asked to resign or fired because she is encouraging drinking (since some students are FB friends). I'm not saying we don't need to stop the insanity, I just am not surprised anymore.

This morning, I listed to a news story that people were identified on their IHOP receipt by their black waiter as "blk ppl" and can't believe they were treated in such a racist manner.

I agree that behaviors outside of work should be more thoughtful in some professions. Teachers being one of them. But the teacher in this case just didn't do anything wrong.

 

[gwynne]

Then you too would be violating the teachers privacy and taking her property.

Good grief. She was explaining how easy it is.

 

[declansdad]

She is a high school teacher. That means she works with teenagers. Some are very nice, some are very unpleasant. It's pretty poor judgement to leave an iphone unlocked, in plain sight on an unattended desk. Working in a high school is different than working in an office somewhere staffed with adults. Teenagers aren't always careful respecters of personal property boundaries.

And I guess I should add that obviously the teen in question is guilty and should be punished. I read in one of the articles on this thread she is going to press charges, GOOD!
But, I think teachers should protect themselves by not bring nude photos to school. It just makes things messy, if somehow the photos are viewed.

High schools students know right from wrong and given what he supposedly said to her, he definitely knew it was wrong.

 

[mom2rtk]

No one has the right to pick up her phone and open it and then click in the apps. That's hacking. Should she zip tie her purse too so no one looks in it?

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that she probably had her purse secured somewhere safe.

I was in our high school office the other day picking up my daughter. The secretary was on the phone with an upset parent. Their child's phone had been stolen at school. After the call was over she looked at me and said "that sort of thing happens almost daily around here."

Teachers know kids have sticky fingers and the odds of an unprotected phone being picked up in a high school are pretty high.

I get the feeling some people think there's something sacred about their phones. There isn't. If you want it safe, get one of those the FBI hasn't been able to get into.

 

[declansdad]

Good grief. She was explaining how easy it is.

Doesn't change my answer.