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Sex, Social Media & Salvation: The thin line between a teacher’s personal & professional Life and impact on Time. National SAMs Innovation Project 8 th Annual National Conference Fort Lauderdale, Fl, January 31, 2015. Why do we care?. $$$$
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Sex, Social Media & Salvation: The thin line between a teacher’s personal & professional Life and impact on Time National SAMs Innovation Project 8th Annual National Conference Fort Lauderdale, Fl, January 31, 2015
Why do we care? • $$$$ • Respect rights of others and protect those who cannot protect themselves • Keep you out of trouble and save time • Free you up to be best SAM team
Topics • Sexual Harassment & criminal actions • Social Media Issues • Religion & Schools • Overlap with SAMs
Harassment • Student to Student • Responsible if _______ or Should have _________ and school system was deliberately indifferent.
Who wants to pay a Million Dollar Judgment? 1. Teacher to Student Harassment recent headlines 2. Consequences 3. News Headlines (Ben-Gals, move away with senior) 4. Revised Statute 14:81.4
Potential Signs of Problems • Physical displays of affection • Frequent personal communications • Sexually suggestive conversations • Obstructing view of room • Drinking with students • Hot-tubing with students • Language • Video
Teacher to Teacher • Hostile work environment - recent lawsuit • Words, pictures, rumors or jokes • Affairs or romances • Does it affect teaching ability or performance
Social Media • The Good • The Bad • The Ugly
The Ugly • Teachers posting inappropriate items on their profiles on Facebook • Teachers inappropriately contacting students about non-school items • Lack of understanding as to private vs. public settings and material
Examples -- Pictures • Photo of 37 year old female teacher kissing 18 year old male student on the lips • Poster depicting talking sperm with slang term for oral sex • Picture of female teacher on her back, eyes closed with a bottle of Jose Cuervo between head and shoulders
More examples -- pictures • Drunken Pirate (denied degree) • Pictures of teacher painting with his buttocks • Nude photos on partner’s website (professional photographer)
Inappropriate Messages • Male teacher under picture of female student “This is sexy” • “I’m not a gynecologist, but I will take a look inside” • Supervisor of high school science & math called students “Germ bags” and parents “snobby” and “arrogant” • Listing as an interest “teaching chitlins in the ghetto of Charlotte”
More Inappropriate Messages • Special education teacher “You’re a retard, but I love you” • Elementary teacher “I only have 2 feelings: hunger & lust” and “I slept with a hooker, Be jealous” • Headmistress boasted about the size of her breasts on Facebook • Student teacher complaining about supervisor • “Teaching in DCPS – Lesson #1 Don’t smoke crack while pregnant”
Suggestions for teachers • Its Social Networking! You’re not in college any more • Don’t friend students • Don’t be critical of supervisors or parents on Facebook • Ask would I say this or post this in class or to my grandmother? • Don’t make fun of students or post anything vulgar, obscene or lewd • Think Professionalism
Salvation • Can we pray in school? • Absolute right to ___________, not absolute right to ___________. • Classroom issues • Non-curricular issues • Teacher religious rights • Just stay neutral
Salvation: Whose definition? • Diverse Students • Public Employees • Perception of endorsement by school • Sabine Parish – “Suit alleged that teacher declared Buddhism stupid, school called for Christian prayer.”
Sabine Parish Issue • Test question "ISN'T IT AMAZING WHAT THE _____________ HAS MADE!!!!!!!!!!! • Teacher belittled student in front of the rest of the class for not answering “Lord”. While studying other religions, Teacher has told students that Buddhism is stupid. • Superintendent said "this is the Bible belt." She suggested that the student should "change" his faith or transfer to another district school 25 miles away
Examples • What is OK? • Whose religion? • Issues raised
Contact Information • Nathan M. Roberts, J.D., Ph.D. • Interim Dean • College of Education • University of Louisiana at Lafayette • (337) 482-1026 • nroberts@louisiana.edu