Natalie Monroe has been in the news a lot recently for alleged teacher misconduct. This alleged misconduct took place on her blog where she anonymously referred to some of her students as being "lazy whiners" who were often quite "annoying." According to an article by Patrik Jonsonn published on the Christian Science Monitor's website, Monroe wrote all of these things anonymously and didn't refer to any students by name. Teacher's and others who support Monroe argue that she should be allowed to vent by blogging about what life is actually like in a classroom. By doing this she can give a better perspective to those who have never actually sat at a teachers desk. Those apposed to Monroe's actions feel that it is unprofessional and degrading to students.
As a future teacher I'd like to be able to think there is place where I could go to vent my frustrations, but I also understand there is a fine line to toe when it comes to discussing matters within a classroom. I think teachers should be allowed the same courtesies as other professionals. Doctors for example take a Hippocratic oath to do no harm and a sworn to maintain a level of doctor patient confidentiality, but on the other hand, how would doctors ever become better if they weren't allowed to study previous cases or discuss current cases with their peers? I think educators should be able to take these same liberties. If certain students are causing problems in the classroom or are refusing to do their school work, teachers can very quickly run out of ideas on how to motivate them. How else other than peer resources can teacher learn new strategies or ideas to deal problem students? A teacher should be able to discuss matters of classroom management in a public forum, but at the same time that teacher needs to know, as state by Jonsonn, that sooner or later someone, probably a parent or administrator, is going to find his or her blog. Teacher blogs need to be written as if the administration is reading every post. Singling students out is inappropriate and teachers need to take a positive approach to blogging. Blogging can be a useful tool, but it can also be a dangerous.
I think I personally would argue against Monroe but I would also stand at her side to argue she shouldn't be punished. I think this is a new age of technology use and it's appropriateness in the classroom. Recognizing that, it is impossible to say that teachers wont use technology outside of class. Jake, I looked back to your original credentials for blogging and you mentioned, "Readers can expect me to analyze the appropriate use of technology in midlevel classroom while weighing the pro's and con's of this new approach to teaching." I think ultimately the discussion is framed around one word: Appropriate. As far as your argument to teacher venting and teacher resources, I think there are far better venues for such activities than a blog which, as soon it is written, it is 100% within the public domain. In the public domain there are common courtesy laws in place that need to be respected.
ReplyDeleteBobby I tend to agree that Monroe blogged inappropriately, but I'm not going to go as far as saying that teachers should not blog about things that happen in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bobby and Jake. I think that blogging could be a very beneficial tool that teachers use to discuss classroom issues, but it needs to be done in an appropriate way. I like what you said about writing as if the administration read every post, this would help make sure that the blog is appropriate.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you say that teachers need to take a positive approach to blogging. Monroe went against the purpose of having a blog by making her students look bad. She put herself lower than her "whiny" and "annoying" students by immaturely posting about them on the internet. Teachers should be aware of how much their lives are showcased once they have students. Students deserve to be respected, even if it is annonymous.
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