The recent accusation that a teacher's aide in West Virginia posted racist comments on Facebook has called attention to what is considered unacceptable behavior by an educator. The case also highlights that the state Department of Education should consider developing more specific guidelines about how such actions are not acceptable.
The Wood County School Board voted unanimously to suspend the elementary school teacher's aide for 10 days without pay - a clear message that her actions were not appropriate and required punishment. In screenshots posted by multiple users, the aide appeared to have made racial slurs and cursed at people who told her that her comments were racist, according to a report by the Parkersburg News and Sentinel. Unfortunately, the aide's actions were not the first time such online behavior has occurred. A teacher at Parkersburg South High was criticized in 2014 for comments posted in 2014 on Facebook about the school's Gay-Straight Alliance student club.
It might behoove the state to develop more specific rules about what types of comments are not appropriate on social media. The West Virginia Department of Education's Employee Code of Conduct requires school employees to "demonstrate responsible citizenship by maintaining a high standard of conduct, self-control, and moral/ethical behavior," according to the Charleston Gazette-Mail. However, the code does not include any social media guidelines. The department may want to correct that so school employees will have a better idea what is expected of them.
The Wood County School Board voted unanimously to suspend the elementary school teacher's aide for 10 days without pay - a clear message that her actions were not appropriate and required punishment. In screenshots posted by multiple users, the aide appeared to have made racial slurs and cursed at people who told her that her comments were racist, according to a report by the Parkersburg News and Sentinel. Unfortunately, the aide's actions were not the first time such online behavior has occurred. A teacher at Parkersburg South High was criticized in 2014 for comments posted in 2014 on Facebook about the school's Gay-Straight Alliance student club.
It might behoove the state to develop more specific rules about what types of comments are not appropriate on social media. The West Virginia Department of Education's Employee Code of Conduct requires school employees to "demonstrate responsible citizenship by maintaining a high standard of conduct, self-control, and moral/ethical behavior," according to the Charleston Gazette-Mail. However, the code does not include any social media guidelines. The department may want to correct that so school employees will have a better idea what is expected of them.
Resource:http://www.herald-dispatch.com/opinion/specific-rules-needed-for-social-media-posts/article_53bc7b89-df2e-5460-8864-988ef8131ba7.html
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