Suspended from school for myspace

[Dax]

Originally Posted by Angelique

Unless it was a threat to the school, or something along the lines of that, then I think the schools need to butt out. Things that happen outside of school should be left to the parents to handle.

Except these days, parents don't know what their kids are doing. The computer, cell phones, etc. mean kids are unsupervised in a large chunk of their day. When I was a kid, if you were a bully or the like, someone came to your house and talked to your folks.

Now a days most parents simply pay the bill and let it go at that. That is why kids have guns in school, bully each other to the point of suicide, etc.

As a society, we have made our schools responsible for what parents used to teach. Namely; personal responsbility and accountability, dignity and good citizenship.

[RoughCollies]

Someone I know got fired for putting something about their job on facebook. Not sure about the school thing, though. I mean, you post something online, it's for the world to see.

[Moo]

A kid at a school nearby (literally right in my neighbourhood) not only got suspended from school, he was arrested for something that he posted on his Facebook page.

It was a Hitlist.

Some kids who viewed his page called the cops, and when the cops showed up at his house, they found a sawed off shotgun, a machete, among other weapons.

[Rusty-Buck]

Originally Posted by Dax

I wonder how many teachers have had to defend their reputations because of the ramblings of teenage kids on their blogs on MYSPACE? Is that okay to do? How many marriages have been put in jeopardy because a teenager's crush and love postings?

How many kids have been beaten up because some posted "he said or she said"? How many have been made outcasts because someone posted "he/she's gay"?

Words posted on the internet have the ability to ruin reputations and lives!. But to those who defend it - it is their right of Freedom of Speech.

When I was (I believe) 10th grade a girl a year younger than me got expelled for posting negative remarks about a teacher on their facebook.

In the high school I went to you according to the computer usage policy we had to sign to go to school you weren't allowed to associate yourself at all with the school (no pictures from the school, no pictures of you wearing clothing associated with the school, etc) and you couldn't be a member of the school's network. No one really made a fuss over wearing school clothes or pictures taken on campus, but instead of joining our school network most of the high school joined a network from some random teeny school in Wisconsin There were people in my class my junior and senior year suspended for being in pictures with liquor in them.

I don't know what the circumstances for the suspension are, but whether or not I agree with it, schools do have the right. If it was something potentially harmful to another person, yes I could see them taking issue. But if it was just based on the post they mentioned I don't think it's in the school's place to take things that far.

[Sheza_Angel]

Nothing on the internet is to be considered private. They should have known this before they did whatever they did on their profiles.

[JTP]

Originally Posted by Dax

Racist & Vulgar - the school has an obligation for the protection of their school and other students. First amendment right of free speech does not extend to illegal acts (which hateful racist postings are).

For example many teens post things on myspace in contradiction to the anti-bullying legislations in place. Some post indecent pictures of themselves which border on child pornography.

Employees have been fired from their jobs for this postings on MYSPACE and rightly so.

The lesson to students is
a) you are accountable for your behavior at all times
b) freedom of speech was to be used to improve society by highlighting injustices by the government and those in authorities not to provide a vechile to post hateful vulgar comments
c) Schools like others have a right to use means at their discretion to protect their reputations and others in their charge.

I fully support a school for suspending the students even kicking them out to find another school. Some things are a privledge and education should be in that list.
Also -- Freedom of speech for minors does not exist as they can not be sued for libel or slander. Which as an adult you can if you think you can post whatever you want whereever you want anytime you want!

Hateful, and racial posting are protected by the first amendment, they are not illegal, unless they propose violence, and even that can be argued.
School is a government run entity, and has to respect the first amendment, while a private entity, such as our employer can dictate a little more about what a person can, or cannot say, especially while at work, or in matters that involve work.If the kids were teachers, it would be a whole different story, and they could then be disciplined from poor conduct, as paid employes.

The school system better peel open its wallet as they are getting ready to pay out some money, as many over-reactionary school systems are anymore as they try to control what the kids do outside of school

Free Speech is a right not a privilege in the USA

[JTP]

Originally Posted by BabyElephant

It's hard to say without seeing what they actually posted. People have been suspended or sacked in the UK for posting inappropriate messages on such sites. I know it's in a lot of employment contracts over here that any action you take that could reflect badly on your employer could be cause for dismissal. Posting on such sites comes under this.

Heck I'd even lose my job if I declared bankruptcy!

The UK has no Freedom of speech, Speech is a privilege granted by the government. and as such, it can be controlled by the government.

[Dax]

Originally Posted by JTP

Hateful, and racial posting are protected by the first amendment, they are not illegal, unless they propose violence, and even that can be argued.
School is a government run entity, and has to respect the first amendment, while a private entity, such as our employer can dictate a little more about what a person can, or cannot say, especially while at work, or in matters that involve work.If the kids were teachers, it would be a whole different story, and they could then be disciplined from poor conduct, as paid employes.

The school system better peel open its wallet as they are getting ready to pay out some money, as many over-reactionary school systems are anymore as they try to control what the kids do outside of school

Free Speech is a right not a privilege in the USA

You are naive if you think that. Slander & Libel lawsuits prove that it is not a right. You can't say whatever you want without consequence.

As well, the internet is global. Canada has legislation outlawing what the USA considers thier right of free speech.

Let's not forget Child Porngraphy... Free Speech?? Not in my world!

[agilitydog]

Originally Posted by Dax

. Slander & Libel lawsuits prove that it is not a right. You can't say whatever you want without consequence.

.

Thats an interesting statement to ponder.

IMO, a person has the "right" to say what they want. If it is hurtful thatis a morality issue not a "rights" issue.

At the same time, the other person has the "right" to sue fo something someone else said. Doesn't mean the person who said it didn't have the "right" to say it...it just means that someone else also has the "right" to sue for what was said.

Crazy world we live in.

Toby Keith's song "American ride" comes to mind

[Dax]

Originally Posted by agilitydog

Thats an interesting statement to ponder.

IMO, a person has the "right" to say what they want. If it is hurtful thatis a morality issue not a "rights" issue.

At the same time, the other person has the "right" to sue fo something someone else said. Doesn't mean the person who said it didn't have the "right" to say it...it just means that someone else also has the "right" to sue for what was said.

Crazy world we live in.

Toby Keith's American ride comes to mind

As a moderator here, you would not believe the number of people who try to use the "I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY..." and tend not to realize that this forum is like someone's house. If I invite you to my house and don't like what you have to say, it is "MY RIGHT" to ask you to leave. Another reason why protestors need not be allowed on private property.

Freedom of Speech was a good idea & was designed for a great reason. However like most things.. the abusers have taken a good idea and twisted it.