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

[EMom]

Good grief. She was explaining how easy it is.

Thank you for understanding that and for realizing I was not giving an alternative way of making nude photos public.

 

[EMom]

Since I've compared it to nudie pics in an envelope, let's say the student went in her purse and found an envelope with nude photos inside, and distributed those. That would be wrong and he should face consequences. But if her contract can be interpreted in a way that makes bringing nude photos of herself onto school property an offense worthy of termination, then that's what happens. She is at once a victim and a wrongdoer. That may very well be what is happening in this case, depending on her contract and any applicable laws. She can be the victim and also have done wrong on another level. When your phone serves many functions, (one of them a camera) lines get blurred.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Without having read everything here are my thoughts.

1) The student should have disciplinary action for taking the phone. However this is seperate from the teacher and is all I will say on that.

2) For the teacher basically she brought pornographic images to school. I assume there is a policy against this action in place at her school. My high school had one. Even without a separate morality clause (the kind that have been used to fire teachers for what the posted on facebook) I would think this would be enough to force the teacher to resign.

Would you think it was acceptable if a teacher had actual printed photos in her desk? Why is it better being electronic?

PORN?? Am I the only one who thinks naked is NOT porn? I'm old (47) and I think of porn as two or more people actually engaging in some type of sex. I didn't think Playboy was porn either.

And yes, I am at work with my phone with naked photos of myself and some of DH on my phone. Oh the horror.

I think the teacher penalty is an abomination! And to a previous poster who said their DS would have lost respect for their teacher??? I don't get it? How small minded would you have to be to think consensual play between two adults is worthy of losing respect?

And I know teachers who are swingers, some who smoke dope, others who have done tons of things that apparently they would be judged on. Personal property and what teachers do on their free time is their business. Not mine.

 

[Poohforyou]

Here's another scenario for people to weigh in on. What if a student went into her purse for the purpose of stealing money and found illegal drugs. Is the teacher guilty in this instance?

Also, what the heck is with people taking naked pictures and sending them to spouses?

 

[Dis703]

That's tough. I can see it being an issue that students have now seen this teacher partially nude and it could cause some disruptions within the school. But I think firing her is over the top. They were on her phone which like at least one person mentioned, she has a reasonable expectation to privacy on her phone. I also don't think there is anything remotely immoral about sending nude photos to your spouse. It was dumb that she didn't have her phone locked, but unless she handed it to a student and told them to look at the photos I don't think she actually did anything wrong.

I also agree this student needs to be punished. Sharing those photos is at the very least a form of sexual harassment.

 

[Dis703]

Here's another scenario for people to weigh in on. What if a student went into her purse for the purpose of stealing money and found illegal drugs. Is the teacher guilty in this instance?

Also, what the heck is with people taking naked pictures and sending them to spouses?

In that case she would be breaking the law regardless. Having drugs or alcohol on school property no matter how concealed is against the law. I don't think it would matter how they found it. But private pictures on a phone are not illegal as long as she isn't showing them to kids.

 

[BrianL]

In that case she would be breaking the law regardless. Having drugs or alcohol on school property no matter how concealed is against the law. I don't think it would matter how they found it. But private pictures on a phone are not illegal as long as she isn't showing them to kids.

It's not illegal but it may very well be against school policy to possess such images on school property, no matter how they are stored. It wouldn't surprise me if that were the case.

 

[Dis703]

It's not illegal but it may very well be against school policy to possess such images on school property, no matter how they are stored. It wouldn't surprise me if that were the case.

Working in a school I can't think of any specific policy that would cover this. And in reality any phone that has internet access carries pornographic images. And far worse ones than what they likely found in her pics.

I do think bringing a physical picture is different though and something that as times are changing may mean we need to adjust rules or policies accordingly.

 

[BrianL]

And in reality any phone that has internet access carries pornographic images.

I do not agree with that assertion. If that were the case use of ANY Internet connected device would be a crime. Images on the Internet are not contained on any connected device, only those that have accessed and stored them.

I am surprised that a school would not specifically prohibit such items, but they may not.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

If you're going to take naked pictures of yourself - and I have no inherent moral issue with that as long as the 'you' in question isn't a minor - then you should probably consider not keeping them on a mobile device. Particularly an unlocked mobile device.

Not sure she deserves to be fired, and the kid who went into her phone and distributed the pics should face some form of punishment as well, but I think this is one of those "no one made good choices" stories.

 

[Dis703]

I do not agree with that assertion. If that were the case use of ANY Internet connected device would be a crime. Images on the Internet are not contained on any connected device, only those that have accessed and stored them.

I am surprised that a school would not specifically prohibit such items, but they may not.

It's not a matter of use of any device being a crime but actually accessing pornographic material and that is against school policy for sure. Although even at that I believe the policy is not so much occurring on property but access using school property as in our actual computers. There are blocks on all of our computers for that reason. I guess my issue would be if this kid got her phone and looked up a porn site on it is the teacher then responsible for that as well? If she's responsible for one and not the other, why?

 

[sunshinehighway]

Working in a school I can't think of any specific policy that would cover this. And in reality any phone that has internet access carries pornographic images. And far worse ones than what they likely found in her pics.

I do think bringing a physical picture is different though and something that as times are changing may mean we need to adjust rules or policies accordingly.

That's what I was thinking too. Any internet capable device has access to all types of images which aren't appropriate for a school setting. If the naked pic was her wallpaper, it'd be different because that's easily seen. In this instance someone had to go into her phone and seek it out. If that's going to be considered bringing pornography to school, I guess everyone who brings an internet capable device is guilty of the same thing.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

That's what I was thinking too. Any internet capable device has access to all types of images which aren't appropriate for a school setting. If the naked pic was her wallpaper, it'd be different because that's easily seen. In this instance someone had to go into her phone and seek it out. If that's going to be considered bringing pornography to school, I guess everyone who brings an internet capable device is guilty of the same thing.

Nah, let's pretend that 16 year old innocent little Johnny who grabbed the teacher's phone and went through her pictures has never seen a picture of naked woman's body. He was probably scarred for life. Bad, nasty, slutty teacher got what was coming to her. She should be ashamed and never show her face in that school again.

Is this the year 2016 or have we gone back to the dark ages?

 

[sunshinehighway]

Nah, let's pretend that 16 year old innocent little Johnny who grabbed the teacher's phone and went through her pictures has never seen a picture of naked woman's body. He was probably scarred for life. Bad, nasty, slutty teacher got what was coming to her. She should be ashamed and never show her face in that school again.

Is this the year 2016 or have we gone back to the dark ages?

Sometimes I think we never left.

 

[RitaE]

As for the language in the employment contracts it is usually something about personal conduct which causes a disruption which severely impedes the educational process of the classroom.

There was a Teacher a couple of years ago who was fired for posing for Playboy before she was even hired as a Teacher. I never heard if she ever got her job back. There was also a case 5 or 6 years ago where a teacher was fighting to keep her job after some students discovered she had written several steamy novels under a pen name.

 

[Hikergirl]

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.
.

You are so wrong here, leaving her phone on the desk is not the same as leaving photos out in plain view. I think even that high school student who decided to search out those pics on that phone knows it isn't even close to the same thing.

The teacher definitely should have deleted those pics but she didn't and her personal property was violated, she did nothing wrong and her job should not be in jeopardy because some delinquent thief was in her classroom.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

As for the language in the employment contracts it is usually something about personal conduct which causes a disruption which severely impedes the educational process of the classroom.




There was a Teacher a couple of years ago who was fired for posing for Playboy before she was even hired as a Teacher. I never heard if she ever got her job back. There was also a case 5 or 6 years ago where a teacher was fighting to keep her job after some students discovered she had written several steamy novels under a pen name.

I know I am sidetracking my own thread, but I just happened to remember this issue.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/tericka...dents-learn-she-was-porn-star-rikki-andersin/

I see they did some diligent background checks in that school district. She had been on national television (Dr. Phil) talking about her firing over being a porn star... and that never came up?

 

[gwynne]

Nah, let's pretend that 16 year old innocent little Johnny who grabbed the teacher's phone and went through her pictures has never seen a picture of naked woman's body. He was probably scarred for life. Bad, nasty, slutty teacher got what was coming to her. She should be ashamed and never show her face in that school again.

Is this the year 2016 or have we gone back to the dark ages?

Really? You think most of us think the teen is some sweet innocent? Ummm...Nope. Not even close. News flash...there are more than a few really awful high school students. They are certain boundaries don't apply to them. They push them all the time.

I think the teacher made a very unwise choice. Certainly her "right". But really, is it worth risking your job to carry around nude selfies on an unlocked, unattended phone in the high school where you work?
And hyperbole, name calling the teacher really doesn't add to the discussion.

 

[ilovefh]

Exactly. If she's that careless with her electronics, leaving students alone, etc., I wouldn't expect her classroom to be the kind of calm, organized environment my particular kid flourishes in.

First, let me say I have never and will never take nude photos of myself.

However I don't think this is necessarily evidence of her classroom management or lack there of.

I have nowhere in my room to lock up my things. Literally. My room is an old resource officer's office with an old desk that has no way of locking and no cabinets. I usually keep my phone in my top middle drawer or in my pocket.

Right now my DD is sick enough that DH had to take a 30 day leave from work to be with her. Because of this I check my phone between each period. Just last Friday she was admitted to the hospital and I had to leave early. I am sure I've left it on my desk after checking it before. Add to this that I am expected to stand at the door during passing time and monitor the hallway. A kid could easily go into my desk or my bag.

I say all this because I know I have good classroom management. Good enough that the administration has teachers that struggle with classroom management come watch me teach.

And I'm floored about the post that said teachers have to lock their phones in a locker so they're not using it. Who in the world has time to use a phone in their classroom? I don't stand still enough to even read anything on my phone!

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

Really? You think most of us think the teen is some sweet innocent? Ummm...Nope. Not even close. News flash...there are more than a few really awful high school students. They are certain boundaries don't apply to them. They push them all the time.

I think the teacher made a very unwise choice. Certainly her "right". But really, is it worth risking your job to carry around nude selfies on an unlocked, unattended phone in the high school where you work?
And hyperbole, name calling the teacher really doesn't add to the discussion.

You obviously didn't get the sarcasm.