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Show Notes
The Saga of Ashley Payne (2011)
- After her first year of teaching, Payne went on a trip to Europe. When she returned, she created a Facebook album with several hundred vacation photos. A handful showed her enjoying a drink or two.
- The photo album was marked “private,” but could still be viewed by her Facebook “friends” (which did not include any students)
- She also mentioned on Facebook that she was heading out to play a game called “Crazy Bitch Bingo” at a local club
- One her vacation photos and the club post were printed out and sent anonymously to Payne’s principal
- On February 6, 2011, Fred appeared on CBS News “Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood” to discuss internet privacy; Ashley Payne was also interviewed.
The Questions
- Can educators post photos of themselves on vacation on social media?
** Yes, but … - Teachers are generally (and sometimes legally, as in Canada) held to a higher standard of conduct online
- Persistent double standard – female teachers more closely scrutinized and more harshly judged
- “Personal time” is often not “private”
Challenging Definitions
- “racy photos”
- “scantily clad”
- “indecent”
- “risqué”
Legal Issues
- First Amendment
- Decency / Obscenity
- District / School Policies
What are the potential risks?
- Aggressive searches by curious students
- Loss of privacy (i.e., control over what is shared)
- Oversharing by friends or family
- Posts by second employers (modeling agencies, fishing charters)
- Unflattering posts by a friend or a complete stranger
- Public criticism / parental trolling
- Harassment
- Adverse job actions
- Theft
What can teachers do to protect themselves?
- Clean up social media channels before applying for jobs
- Review privacy settings on a periodic basis
- Reflect on the true meaning of “friendship”
- Create a “Custom List” of Facebook or Instagram friends
- Share albums directly with trusted friends in Google Photos or Apple iCloud
- Selfie-searches
- Third-party scrubbers (but beware of scams)
- Hashtag Advocacy
** Russian teachers protested the firing of a Siberian teacher after she shared a photo of herself in a bikini, getting ready for “cold swimming” - Legal counsel for adverse labor actions
Resources
- 19 April 2022 -- What the Tech: Facebook vacation photos
- 9 March 2021 -- L.A. Teachers Union Facebook Group Warns Educators Not to Post Vacations Online Due to Bad Optics
- 2 April 2019 -- Teachers turn on bikini power online to support colleague
- 14 June 2018 -- Teacher are humans, too! Siberian tutors in bikini protest flashmob to support a colleague
- 10 June 2018 -- Teacher fired in Omsk after posing in swimsuit as plus size model
- 28 November 2016 -- Should teachers be banned from posting ‘scantily clad’ photos? Ottawa board seems to think so
- 28 November 2016 -- Ottawa’s Public School Board Wants to Ban Teachers From Posting Beach Photos
- 27 November 2016 -- Teachers on Facebook: Is posting that beach bikini shot going too far?
- 10 April 2016 -- Primary school teacher is sacked after video of her twerking in a bikini in Mexico sweeps the web and is spotted by outraged parents
- 22 October 2015 -- Utah teacher wins battle with school over her ‘inappropriate’ Instagram account
- 10 February 2015 -- Teachers tripped up by Facebook rants and bikini pics
- 9 November 2013 -- Too Sexy to Teach! H.S. Teacher Fired Over Bikini Pics
- 5 November 2013 -- Idaho high school basketball coach Laraine Cook fired after posting Facebook photo of boyfriend grabbing breast
- 10 April 2012 -- Should Teachers Be Disciplined For Online Lives?
- 11 October 2011 Judge Rules Against Teacher Who Says She Was Fired Over Facebook Photos
- 8 February 2011 -- Teacher Fired for Drinking on Facebook Isn’t the Real Problem
- 6 February 2011 -- Did the Internet Kill Privacy?
- 30 April 2008 -- Teacher Moonlighting as Bikini Mate Cut Loose
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