Busted for Boobs-Teacher dismissed for private actions

[trumptman]

I got the Bud beads! (http://www.wftv.com/education/2927087/detail.html)

I saw this and thought, that isn't right.

I have seen this sort of thinking applied several times to teachers. No wonder kids think we are put in a closet and plugged in to recharge at night. We should be according to districts with reasoning like this.

This woman was at a private party showed her boobs to some friends. Someone took a picture and emailed it to her bosses. They dismissed her for something not related at all to her job. I hope she sues them out of existance.

Nick

[Chinney]

I agree. This is stupid because:

a. this was an entirely private matter;
b. if it it were not, it is not wrong or shocking in the least;
c. it's just stupid.

Geez this sort of thing makes me angry. What's wrong with breasts?

[dmz]

Whose going to hire this woman to babysit your kids?



(if you aren't a "breeder" hold your peace)

[Luca]

Originally posted by dmz
Whose going to hire this woman to babysit your kids?



(if you aren't a "breeder" hold your peace)

Everyone does stupid stuff. If the worst thing someone has done is gotten a bit too drunk one time and shown her breasts, that's not too bad in my book. Compare that to all the things some people have done - child molestation, cocaine, having affairs - and this looks pretty good.

I sure wouldn't want any coke users to be in a real position of power any more than I'd want a child molester to be teaching our kids. Oh wait.

But I guess I should shut up, since I'm a straight male who isn't interested in having kids (yet). Hell I don't even have a girlfriend.

It's very pretentious of you to invalidate the opinions of a group of people before they even contribute to the thread.

[running with scissors]

pretty fvcking stupid. This kind of shit really pisses me off.

[Chinney]

Originally posted by dmz
Whose going to hire this woman to babysit your kids?


Why in the world not? What is your point?

[alcimedes]

hell, if she were coming over to babysit my kids i'd have a bucket of Bud beads sitting next to the door.

teachers are people. breasts are breasts. these people need to pull their heads out of their asses. if she flashed the kids they might have a leg to stand on. this is just lame.

[Artman @_@]

Hmmm. I can't make a judgement unless I see the photo in question...;)

She blundered. Now the school administration is blundering. Her own daughter knew of her dismissal before she did. So theres a good chance the whole damn school knows of the whole incident.

Hope she sues the hell of of them.

:smokey:

[Carol A]

Originally posted by alcimedes
hell, if she were coming over to babysit my kids i'd have a bucket of Bud beads sitting next to the door.

teachers are people. breasts are breasts. these people need to pull their heads out of their asses. if she flashed the kids they might have a leg to stand on. this is just lame.
I reserve my anger and loathing for the *female* who emailed the pictures. Bet she is all smug and happy right now, to have single-handedly destroyed this teacher's career - she was possibly even a one-time 'friend'.

It HAD to be a woman. Do you guys agree? I just think most guys wouldn't email the picture and ruin her life. It's totally an 'envious' female thing to do - presumably one whose breasts weren't worthy of baring. What a scheming, vengeful bitch.

She has lost her job, but she could *still* lose her teaching certificate from the state. Then she 'would' be well and truly screwed. Course she probably is anyway, as far as ever teaching again in that state goes. She'll have to move to another state.

Bet this kind of dismissal would NEVER happen in Europe. Only in the Puritanical, good ol' U.S. of A.

[dmz]

It would have to be a guy: watching women debase themselves riffs on that powertrip/submission thing too strongly.

[pfflam]

Originally posted by Carol A
I reserve my anger and loathing for the *female* who emailed the pictures. Bet she is all smug and happy right now, to have single-handedly destroyed this teacher's career - she was possibly even a one-time 'friend'.

It HAD to be a woman. Do you guys agree? I just think most guys wouldn't email the picture and ruin her life. It's totally an 'envious' female thing to do - presumably one whose breasts weren't worthy of baring. What a scheming, vengeful bitch.

She has lost her job, but she could *still* lose her teaching certificate from the state. Then she 'would' be well and truly screwed. Course she probably is anyway, as far as ever teaching again in that state goes. She'll have to move to another state.

Bet this kind of dismissal would NEVER happen in Europe. Only in the Puritanical, good ol' U.S. of A. I think it could be a guy . . some slighted guy who has always felt that she is gorgeous (which she appears to be) and has overlooked him . . . Never under-sell the male ego's ability to hate what it also loves

One of my ex-best friends is short and grew up in a very neurotic family. One day he was eating at a restaraunt with my wife and I (we were not married at the time) and he said, in a calm voice, I hate you two for your "happiness" . . . he felt that kind of bitterness towards anybody that was tall or nearly good-looking or in any way self confident or successful . . . .
I think that many men harbor this kind of inner-victim loathing emotion

. . . hell, there is a whole sub-genre of rock music that thrives on that kind of emotion: the new metal/grunge wallow angst crap, like Lincoln Park etc!

but Yes I agree, this so called "friend" should get outed and then should be placed in public stocks and reviled for betrayal of friendship

anyway, she should sue . . . and why does this country care at all about breasts?!?!
It is a sign of cultural immaturity . . infantile regression . . .

[SDW2001]

Honestly,

The district blundered in its handling of this. But, they do have a right to fire her according to most education employment contracts. Most have "morals" clauses.

[pfflam]

Originally posted by SDW2001
Honestly,

The district blundered in its handling of this. But, they do have a right to fire her according to most education employment contracts. Most have "morals" clauses. What is immoral about Breasts?

[alcimedes]

more importantly, wtf does a morals clause have to do with a perfectly legal activity outside of work hours?

if i'm not at work, and what i'm doing is legal, MY WORK CAN KISS MY ASS.

it's your employer, not your moral compass.

[msantti]

http://forums.maxima.org/images/smilies/worthless.gif

[Luca]

Your image doesn't work.

EDIT: Now it does. Ha.

PICS PLZ THNX

[Chinney]

Originally posted by SDW2001
Honestly,

The district blundered in its handling of this. But, they do have a right to fire her according to most education employment contracts. Most have "morals" clauses.

I'm not quite sure what your point is about a "morals" clause in the context of this matter. Clarify, if you dare.

[Kickaha]

Duh.

A teacher can be fired for anything they do that the superintendent/school board/powers that be deems 'immoral'. Morality is that nebulous thing that everyone claims to have the One True Handle on, but no one can agree on. So it's an open clause that's added to many contracts where children are involved for 'their protection'.

Of course, it's rarely ever invoked, except for idiotic things like this.

If it happens outside of school, it stays outside of school, in my opinion.



Kind of like I have no problem with a fundamentalist Creationist teaching biology... as long as it's kept out of the classroom. Same thing, in my opinion.

[addabox]

You know, I bet that woman has had sex! Whore! If only we had pictures, we could burn the witch! The fact that she even has breasts is a clear incitement to wrong thoughts.

Remember, women carry the seed of evil.

[Chinney]

Originally posted by Kickaha
Duh.

A teacher can be fired for anything they do that the superintendent/school board/powers that be deems 'immoral'. Morality is that nebulous thing that everyone claims to have the One True Handle on, but no one can agree on. So it's an open clause that's added to many contracts where children are involved for 'their protection'.

Of course, it's rarely ever invoked, except for idiotic things like this.



Well I suppose. But could the superintendent be fired for his "immoral" actions in this case? That would be my view of the morality here. I'd say more about morality generally, but it would derail this interesting thread and split the comments more on strict party lines. I don’t want to derail a thread where I actually agree with the Trumpet-guy on something. :D

[Powerdoc]

The principal made a wrong decision. If someone has to be fired or sued, it's the people who emailed tha picture. Diffusion of private picture is forbidden by the law. The moral of the school is you have the right to diffuse stolen pictures, but you do not have the right to have your breasts photographied.

If people take a picture of me naked and email it, it will sue him.

I expect that this woman will win the trial.

PS : a big congratulation to Trumptman who made a thread taking the side of a woman. :D . Nobody (by purpose ;) ) congratulate him for this post, but i have to do it. :p

[DMBand0026]

Note to self, do not:
Shower in a public locker room
Have sex
Go to any parties
Associate with anyone who has ever exposed their God given parts
Remove any clothing, ever
Expose any midriff
Go out in public


How stupid do we get? We can't do anything anymore without fear of losing our jobs, getting kicked out of school, or being sued. Living in fear is no way to live.

[Splinemodel]

Originally posted by dmz
Whose going to hire this woman to babysit your kids?

(if you aren't a "breeder" hold your peace)

SO. . . a woman gets drunk at a private party and flashes her pair.
Oh my, she was a school teacher? The world is coming to an end.

This really upsets me as well. However, there are a lot of really Puritan people in Florida, and my best guess is that this woman is not one of them, yet lives in a town with a lot of them. It's a sad, sad twist.

I'd hire her anytime. It's not like the kids are going to get her drunk and then encourage her to flash her boobs.

A few weeks ago I was driving through Dade county looking to buy some beer on a Sunday. It's amazing how one town will tell you that you can't buy beer on Sunday, but another town, in the same county, will sell you the beer no problem.

[Gon]

I think it's self-evident how important (and under-respected & under-compensated) the teaching profession is, and how ridiculous it is to drive the few remaining good teachers away based on what they do on their free time. :no:

The only thing keeping this sort of teaching environment afloat is the fact that there are good teachers who regard their profession as a calling and are willing to take shit to keep their jobs. They are being ripped off. Though none of this is their fault, it might be better if they didn't exist. The system would then go down in flames and had to be rebuilt instead of band-aiding it.

Here in Finland, a lot of people go to a sauna in mixed company with no clothing whatsoever. Ponder that for a few seconds and think what this supposed "moral outrage" sounds like to me. :lol:

[Kickaha]

Hey, where's Carol A to chime in on this one? It's got it all... teachers, sexual innuendo, moral outrage...

:D

[Chinney]

Originally posted by Gon


[...]

Here in Finland, a lot of people go to a sauna in mixed company with no clothing whatsoever. Ponder that for a few seconds and think what this supposed "moral outrage" sounds like to me. :lol:

Indeed.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Carol A]

I don't even know where to begin.

A teacher is not considered a normal person with a normal job.
A teacher cannot do things that other people get to do. It would be unseemly. It would be grounds for dismissal. I don't even know where to begin. Sigh.

A teacher cannot write letters to the editor about controversial topics. Oh well, you *CAN* write them; but be prepared for unending disapproval and subtle (and not-so-subtle) repercussions all the way up and down the line of administrators.

A (jr. high) teacher must watch EVERY single word spoken in class. Heaven forbid that a candid opinion about life in the real world slips out.

On Sept. 11, 2001, our school went into lockdown for several hours, meaning no doors could be opened for ANY reason, no one could leave or enter the room. The principal told the teachers we were NOT, repeat NOT, to talk with our students about what had happened that morning. Then he actually came around to each homeroom to make sure no such talk was happening. I mention this to show that life in the classroom is not quite 'real'.

Once at a school dance in the gym at which I was a chaperone, a polka was played, kind of as a joke. The band teacher asked me to dance, and we danced swiftly around the room. On Monday, a parent called the district office (!!!!) and complained that I, an unmarried teacher, had danced with a married teacher!!!!!

The thing is, the majority of the population of parents is normal and reasonable - by far. But all it takes is *one* ultra-conservative, self-righteous, eyebrows-continually-raised-to-the-sky parent to cause unbelievable upheaval.

A teacher out on the town does not get to act wild and crazy - what if she is (eek!) seen !!! Flashing one's breasts and having a picture taken around here would be grounds for the death penalty (ok...small, bitter joke :( ).

In fact, I get REALLY nervous from time to time about things I say on this board, coupled with the fact that I'm using my real name. How could I have been so stupid??!!!! Anybody else can say what they want, but not a teacher - especially not one using her *real* name. Our computers at school are monitored by the district, so I feel certain that my posts here have been read. :no: I get SO tired of being paranoid.

Note to mod: if I change my name, will I lose all my posts? :(

[murbot]

Originally posted by Kickaha
Hey, where's Carol A to chime in on this one? It's got it all... teachers, sexual innuendo, moral outrage...

:D

Maybe this WAS Carol.

heh heh

[Powerdoc]

Originally posted by Carol B
I don't even know where to begin.

A teacher is not considered a normal person with a normal job.
A teacher cannot do things that other people get to do. It would be unseemly. It would be grounds for dismissal. I don't even know where to begin. Sigh.

A teacher cannot write letters to the editor about controversial topics. Oh well, you *CAN* write them; but be prepared for unending disapproval and subtle (and not-so-subtle) repercussions all the way up and down the line of administrators.

A (jr. high) teacher must watch EVERY single word spoken in class. Heaven forbid that a candid opinion about life in the real world slips out.

On Sept. 11, 2001, our school went into lockdown for several hours, meaning no doors could be opened for ANY reason, no one could leave or enter the room. The principal told the teachers we were NOT, repeat NOT, to talk with our students about what had happened that morning. Then he actually came around to each homeroom to make sure no such talk was happening. I mention this to show that life in the classroom is not quite 'real'.

Once at a school dance in the gym at which I was a chaperone, a polka was played, kind of as a joke. The band teacher asked me to dance, and we danced swiftly around the room. On Monday, a parent called the district office (!!!!) and complained that I, an unmarried teacher, had danced with a married teacher!!!!!

The thing is, the majority of the population of parents is normal and reasonable - by far. But all it takes is *one* ultra-conservative, self-righteous, eyebrows-continually-raised-to-the-sky parent to cause unbelievable upheaval.

A teacher out on the town does not get to act wild and crazy - what if she is (eek!) seen !!! Flashing one's breasts and having a picture taken around here would be grounds for the death penalty (ok...small, bitter joke :( ).

In fact, I get REALLY nervous from time to time about things I say on this board, coupled with the fact that I'm using my real name. How could I have been so stupid??!!!! Anybody else can say what they want, but not a teacher - especially not one using her *real* name. Our computers at school are monitored by the district, so I feel certain that my posts here have been read. :no: I get SO tired of being paranoid.

Note to mod: if I change my name, will I lose all my posts? :(

I can do it, as you can check by yourself : just PM me if you want (or if you want back your old name).

Note this is a special request for good reasons : i will not do it, just to please someone. Thanks for you understanding. :)

[Carol A]

Originally posted by Kickaha
Hey, where's Carol A to chime in on this one? It's got it all... teachers, sexual innuendo, moral outrage...

:D
Damn you, Kickaha!!!!! I resemble that remark!!! :( :mad:

That is....I mean....er....uh, let me re-phrase that.... :embarrass

How DARE you!!!!! You cad! You varlet! You scoundrel! You villain! You...you...splutter... :lol: :lol: :lol: hahaha

[Carol A]

Originally posted by murbot
Maybe this WAS Carol.

heh heh
Damn you, murbot!!! Where did you come from all of a sudden???

:lol:

NO!!! It was not *I* !!!!

Nyah, nyah, nyah! So there !!!!! ;) :lol: 8)

[Carol A]

Originally posted by Gon
I think it's self-evident how important (and under-respected & under-compensated) the teaching profession is, and how ridiculous it is to drive the few remaining good teachers away based on what they do on their free time. :no:

The only thing keeping this sort of teaching environment afloat is the fact that there are good teachers who regard their profession as a calling and are willing to take shit to keep their jobs. They are being ripped off. Though none of this is their fault, it might be better if they didn't exist. The system would then go down in flames and had to be rebuilt instead of band-aiding it.

Here in Finland, a lot of people go to a sauna in mixed company with no clothing whatsoever. Ponder that for a few seconds and think what this supposed "moral outrage" sounds like to me. :lol:
Hi Gon -

Uh, guess what? I am half Finnish. My dad is 100% Finnish, though born in the US. His father was born in Finland. My dad's first language was Finnish, though I don't speak any at all. I've never been to Finland either.

This whole repressed-sexuality thing in America comes right down to us from the Puritans. England got rid of them, and they washed up on our shores, to our unending misfortune. :no: What a sad, sad turn of events. :( :mad:

[kneelbeforezod]

Originally posted by trumptman
I saw this and thought, that isn't right.Absolutely agree. How the hell is this her employer's business?


Originally posted by dmz
if you aren't a "breeder" hold your peace Why so? Since when are adoptive parents not entitled to have an opinion?

[Carol A]

Originally posted by Powerdoc
I can do it, as you can check by yourself : just PM me if you want (or if you want back your old name).

Note this is a special request for good reasons : i will not do it, just to please someone. Thanks for you understanding. :)
Dear Powerdoc -

You are very sweet to offer to help. Thank you.

However, I don't think "Carol B" is much of a disguise. ;) :) heh.

I've used my real name because I find it troublesome to come up with another name that I can live with.

Anybody have any suggestions? :???:

(BE NICE NOW, YOU GUYS !!!!!)

How about 'Jamie'? I've always liked that name.

But then everyone will think I'm a guy, right? :\ Sigh.

[Powerdoc]

Originally posted by Carol B
Dear Powerdoc -

You are very sweet to offer to help. Thank you.

However, I don't think "Carol B" is much of a disguise. ;) :) heh.

I've used my real name because I find it troublesome to come up with another name that I can live with.

Anybody have any suggestions? :???:

(BE NICE NOW, YOU GUYS !!!!!)

How about 'Jamie'? I've always liked that name.

But then everyone will think I'm a guy, right? :\ Sigh.

Carol B, was not a real disguise, but just a test :D
I am going to bed now, (because it's late for me), take your time to find a name you love. Internet is perhaps one of the only place where we can choose our names.

And yes it's scary, all the things that we can say about us on Internet :(

[ast3r3x]

Haha he first thing I thought when I read this article a couple days ago I thought of CarolA.

[alcimedes]

hmm, someone should teach carol how to log onto a remote machine for posting. i know when i worked at a job that monitored what you looked at online, i just set it up to log into my machine at home using terminal services. of course, that was windows, but i'm sure there's a way to do it.

nice thing was it only showed me looking at a single web page the entire day. one of the best employees around!

my supervisor and i were pretty close, and she didn't believe me when i told her. so she and i went through a pile of restricted sites, then she pulled my records from their monitoring software. NOTHING.

good stuff.

[Kickaha]

You just *know* that suddenly Van Halen is cool in that school again...

"Got it bad, got it bad, got it bad..."

[Carol A]

Originally posted by ast3r3x
Haha he first thing I thought when I read this article a couple days ago I thought of CarolA.
Damnation! :wow:

Definitely time for a name change! :no: ;)

[Carol A]

Originally posted by alcimedes
hmm, someone should teach carol how to log onto a remote machine for posting. i know when i worked at a job that monitored what you looked at online, i just set it up to log into my machine at home using terminal services. of course, that was windows, but i'm sure there's a way to do it.

nice thing was it only showed me looking at a single web page the entire day. one of the best employees around!

my supervisor and i were pretty close, and she didn't believe me when i told her. so she and i went through a pile of restricted sites, then she pulled my records from their monitoring software. NOTHING.

good stuff.
I don't post from work anymore. But I used to. I'm so fatalistic and paranoid that I imagine the district has a file an inch thick of my messageboard posts and personal emails. :( All it would take would be *one* slightly inappropriate post...... :embarrass

Oh well. There are only 'so' many things a person can worry about at any given time. But I probably 'should' at least change my name. Like closing the barn door after the horse has already escaped. :( Sigh.

[alcimedes]

well, you can feel safe that they don't have your e-mails on file. that would be a federal offense. unless you're a federal employee, there are very strict privacy laws concerning e-mails.

[Carol A]

Originally posted by alcimedes
well, you can feel safe that they don't have your e-mails on file. that would be a federal offense. unless you're a federal employee, there are very strict privacy laws concerning e-mails.
But what if they are monitoring my computer screen while I am *writing* an email? Obviously they would have access to that messsage. Right?

At the beginning of this school year, all the teachers in our 32 schools received a notice saying that any 'inappropriate' use of our classroom computers would be grounds for termination.

All the district has to do is make and publish a rule, and if a teacher breaks it, that's it. Insubordination, moral turpitude(?), whatever.

Discussing bidets, circumcision, sensitive nipples, vertical smiles, etc., viewing a certain kilt picture posted by a certain person ( :) ) - none of these would be looked on favorably by a school district review committee. :(

[nwhysee]

Eww thats her? I wish i had four hands, so i could give those bitties four thumbs down.

[709]

Originally posted by Carol B
Anybody have any suggestions? :???:'Nylons Suck'

[Carol A]

Originally posted by 709
'Nylons Suck'
:lol:

[CosmoNut]

I can see the justification in a private school disciplining a teacher in this way (because after all, they're simply just another business), but what can you really expect public school teachers to hold themselves to?

This makes me think of when a child WRONGFULLY accuses a teacher of lewd acts, and even though every shred of evidence says that the teacher never did anything wrong, he/she gets fired and can never work again.

It's very sad. :( :( :mad:

[FaydRautha]

Originally posted by Kickaha
Duh.

A teacher can be fired for anything they do that the superintendent/school board/powers that be deems 'immoral'. Morality is that nebulous thing that everyone claims to have the One True Handle on, but no one can agree on. So it's an open clause that's added to many contracts where children are involved for 'their protection'.

Of course, it's rarely ever invoked, except for idiotic things like this.

If it happens outside of school, it stays outside of school, in my opinion.



Kind of like I have no problem with a fundamentalist Creationist teaching biology... as long as it's kept out of the classroom. Same thing, in my opinion.

So shouldn;t the Principle of the school be fired for having this "pornography" on his computer at work? And what about the fact that whoever did this violated her privacy to do so? If this is allowed, does that mean schools can have surveillance on their teachers private lives for any misconduct? How far does this go?

Besides the fact that it's a sad day when we discourage women to show their breasts. WOMEN! HEAR ME! CAST OFF THE SHACKLES OF MALE OPPRESSION! REMOVE YOUR TOPS AND BRAS! FEEL THE LIBERATION!

[SDW2001]

Originally posted by Chinney
I'm not quite sure what your point is about a "morals" clause in the context of this matter. Clarify, if you dare.

It's hard to clarify. But, it can apply to drug use, public nudity/vulargity/drunkeness, etc. The district expects teachers to be the moral example.
I'm just saying it's there. This is why many teachers live FAR away from school.

And to be clear, I'm not here to get into a morality debate with anyone. I'm just saying that teachers are held to standards like these...whether that's right or wrong. It's different than other professions and it's a fact that things like this happen all the time. Anyone still think we make too much money? :lol:

[Crusader]

Well my school system would have fired her in a New York second. I don't know if anyone remembers, but 4 years ago a scandal went down at my school, Francis Scott Key, in which our permanent substitute slept with ~4 students and gave them nude photos. I knew it was bad when I saw the story on CNN. As a result, our school system is very eager never to have anything remotely like this happen again.

[Gon]

Originally posted by Carol B
Hi Gon -

Uh, guess what? I am half Finnish. My dad is 100% Finnish, though born in the US. His father was born in Finland. My dad's first language was Finnish, though I don't speak any at all. I've never been to Finland either.Are there any living relatives in Finland? How much do you know about the place?

Just being curious...

Since your father speaks Finnish it would be easy to take a good vacation here without the "usual" tourism crap. Most everybody here speaks English, so you'd be able to talk to every other person as well.

If I had that strong roots in another country I would definitely go check it out.

[dmz]

I heard somewhere once that teachers were supposed to be role models. Certibus Paribus, Miss Titties might be a role model for your kids, but not mine.

[Carol A]

Originally posted by Gon
Are there any living relatives in Finland? How much do you know about the place?

Just being curious...

Since your father speaks Finnish it would be easy to take a good vacation here without the "usual" tourism crap. Most everybody here speaks English, so you'd be able to talk to every other person as well.

If I had that strong roots in another country I would definitely go check it out.
I'm sure I have *tons* of relatives alive and well in Finland, NONE of whom I know anything about. Many, maybe most, Americans are in exactly the same situation, with all kinds of European relatives they know absolutely nothing about - not even *who* they are.

I'm sure I have tons of German and Irish relatives too, because all the lines of my heritage were known for large families. Don't know any of 'them' either. This lack of family knowledge is something it might be hard for you to understand. But believe me, over here it's the rule rather than the exception.

One of the things I look forward to is someday having time for researching my heritage and family lineage. All of my roots on your side of the Atlantic are a 'blank' for me. :(

I have seen pictures of Finland, and a documentary or two on tv. My dad has travelled over a large part of the world and has been to Finland twice. I've traveled over a moderate amount of the world. The closest I've been is Copenhagen.

I would LOVE to visit my relatives in various parts of Europe. What a fantastic voyage of discovery that would be!

When I think about it, my immediate family has even lost touch with relatives living in the US! The US is a big place, and families become scattered all over it. It's easy to lose touch.

I have an English friend on another board who travels constantly in Europe. Every few weeks he and his wife are off to the continent for a few days. Just lately he has been making plans to visit his cousin in Texas, and is aghast to find that the plane tickets alone would cost him almost $1,200 per person. That doesn't include any expenses once they get there. Haha.

Now he will be able to explain to his friends on the other side of the pond why Americans don't get to travel as frequently and widely as Europeans. (Americans take constant abuse on British messageboards for having limited overseas contact, for being insular, for not even having passports! And the last employment survey I read found that Americans work two months more per year than those across the Atlantic. Not that we *want* to - that's just the way it *is*. So for us, travelling is not just a matter of money, but also of limited time.) :(

[a_greer]

Originally posted by Chinney
I agree. This is stupid because:

a. this was an entirely private matter;
b. if it it were not, it is not wrong or shocking in the least;
c. it's just stupid.

Geez this sort of thing makes me angry. What's wrong with breasts? i usualy think that teachers should be held to a high standard, but teachers have a life, and she was with (so-called) friends in a PRIVATE PLACE i.e. a home/apt
do we expect our teachers to be lamoids (see Ms.krabapple, Mr Skinner).

if a private picture of boobs is a fireable offence, well lets hope these teachers dont get mammograms.

[Gon]

Originally posted by Carol B
I'm sure I have tons of German and Irish relatives too, because all the lines of my heritage were known for large families. Don't know any of 'them' either. This lack of family knowledge is something it might be hard for you to understand. But believe me, over here it's the rule rather than the exception.
...
I have an English friend on another board who travels constantly in Europe. Every few weeks he and his wife are off to the continent for a few days. Just lately he has been making plans to visit his cousin in Texas, and is aghast to find that the plane tickets alone would cost him almost $1,200 per person. That doesn't include any expenses once they get there. Haha.
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Now he will be able to explain to his friends on the other side of the pond why Americans don't get to travel as frequently and widely as Europeans.I'm not very family-centered myself, but I'd be interested to see 50% of my genetic origins. Historically and linguistically the Finns are a very distinct group, and have mixed very little with others even though Finland has been under Swedish and Russian occupation for long periods of time.

When you count the costs associated with travel, remember that it's just as expensive to go the other way, or from both Europe and US to Asia. We can travel easily in the rest of Europe, whereas you have the other 49 states plus Canada and Mexico.

[Carol A]

Originally posted by Gon
I'm not very family-centered myself, but I'd be interested to see 50% of my genetic origins. Historically and linguistically the Finns are a very distinct group, and have mixed very little with others even though Finland has been under Swedish and Russian occupation for long periods of time.

When you count the costs associated with travel, remember that it's just as expensive to go the other way, or from both Europe and US to Asia. We can travel easily in the rest of Europe, whereas you have the other 49 states plus Canada and Mexico.
Well, Gon, I think the Finns - and the Welsh(!!) - must be extremely bright, just for learning how to spell words in their own languages! :lol: hahaha.

Yes, I do know about the distinct historical and linguistic aspects of the Finns. And on the history boards, a Swedish friend told me about various military actions in which Finland has been involved.

Travel is what I want to do more than anything. I want to travel the world, and write about it. That's one reason I want to quit teaching. Please don't think I am not 'interested' in my Finnish heritage. I am enormously curious to find out about all my European heritage - every possible aspect about Finland, Germany, Ireland and England.

Yes, I've travelled through Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, and a 'miniscule' amount of time in England, Paris, Zurich, Rome, Athens, Copenhagen, Berlin, Munich and Amsterdam. And most of the US, of course. Funny...I've never been to Wisconsin!

By the way, do people really like doing the tango in Finland? That was part of one of the documentaries I saw.

[Gon]

Originally posted by Carol B
Well, Gon, I think the Finns - and the Welsh(!!) - must be extremely bright, just for learning how to spell words in their own languages! :lol: hahaha.Even though the language itself is a bit hard to learn, correct spelling comes almost automatically. The language has lots of rules, but you can stick by them and there are not many special cases. Because of this, Finns never ever look up spelling in a dictionary. I've understood this is not the case with native English speakers.

By the way, do people really like doing the tango in Finland? That was part of one of the documentaries I saw. Tango is sort of big here, but only with older folks. You don't see any unless you're looking for it. I've understood it's quite unlike the Argentinian version, they have passion and stuff and we have melancholy instead ;)

[Carol A]

Originally posted by Gon
Even though the language itself is a bit hard to learn, correct spelling comes almost automatically. The language has lots of rules, but you can stick by them and there are not many special cases. Because of this, Finns never ever look up spelling in a dictionary. I've understood this is not the case with native English speakers.

Tango is sort of big here, but only with older folks. You don't see any unless you're looking for it. I've understood it's quite unlike the Argentinian version, they have passion and stuff and we have melancholy instead ;)

I used to be able to spell quite well; but after grading thousands of papers written by 13-year-olds, I have lost my sense for what 'looks' right wrt spelling. Unfortunately, my students are highly-creative spellers!!! :lol: After a while, everything starts to look good to me. ;) Tsk.

Therefore, I look words up constantly! :( What I *really* hate is when the dictionary says *both* spellings are acceptable: like 'benefitted' and 'benefited'. You have NO idea how common a problem this has become. I think it's because the word is so often spelled INcorrectly, that the incorrect spelling becomes acceptable. What kind of way is *that* to run a language???!!! :lol:

Well, the tango thing is extremely interesting! I mean, it IS a passionate dance. Of all dances for those of melancholy bent to adopt, it seems the least likely. Maybe the samba too. (Wow. You should see those Brazilians pour onto the dance floor when a samba is played. Talk about joi de vivre !)

That docu showed a tango hall, packed with people dancing. Not ONE person was smiling. I couldn't get over it.

Do you guys really feel a lot of melancholy? Is it because of the weather? The lack of sunlight?

[curiousuburb]

Originally posted by alcimedes
hmm, someone should teach carol how to log onto a remote machine for posting. i know when i worked at a job that monitored what you looked at online, i just set it up to log into my machine at home using terminal services. of course, that was windows, but i'm sure there's a way to do it.

nice thing was it only showed me looking at a single web page the entire day. one of the best employees around!

my supervisor and i were pretty close, and she didn't believe me when i told her. so she and i went through a pile of restricted sites, then she pulled my records from their monitoring software. NOTHING.

good stuff.

something like http://www.guardster.com/ ?