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.
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.
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!
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
...
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.
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! 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.
Well, Gon, I think the Finns - and the Welsh(!!) - must be extremely bright, just for learning how to spell words in their own languages! 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.
Quote:
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
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!!! 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???!!!
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?
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.
Comments
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 (
Originally posted by Carol B
Anybody have any suggestions?
'Nylons Suck'
Originally posted by 709
'Nylons Suck'
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.
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!
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?
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.
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.)
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.
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.
...
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.
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!
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.
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!
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
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!!!
Therefore, I look words up constantly!
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?
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/ ?