School Suspends Teacher After Gay Marriage Facebook Comment

[The Straight Story]

School Suspends Teacher After Gay Marriage Facebook Comment

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Mount Dora High School teacher Jerry Buell, the 2010 teacher of the year, is awaiting a decision about whether he will return to the classroom after a controversial comment he made on Facebook led to his suspension.

According to Lake County School District officials, a former student reported a Facebook post by Buell that may have violated ethics rules when he used social media to sound off about gay marriage.

School officials confirmed to WESH 2 News that Buell posted a comment stating that he “almost threw up” over a news story about legalizing same-sex marriage and went on to write that same-sex marriage is a “cesspool.”

WESH 2 News reporter Talitha Vickers attempted to talk to Buell at his home, but he refused to comment.

http://www.wesh.com/r/28899497/detail.html

[uppityperson]

1. Seems what you do on your own time as an individual, even if obnoxious, should

not be penalized like this. Did he sign something when hired about this?

[Mz Pip]

2. Unless he did it on school time

with a school computer I don't think he should be suspended either.

[uppityperson]

4. Which is why I said "on your own time".

[The Straight Story]

5. When I was a deputy we had codes of conduct outside of work time

guessing some districts/schools have something similar.

I am reminded of the Scott's company that will fire people who smoke - even if they only do so at home on their own time... :)

[uppityperson]

13. You never fail. eom

[The Straight Story]

14. That's what she said

:rofl:

[Lucian]

8. Yeah, but imagine now if he had gay students.

Those students wouldn't feel comfortable around him and wouldn't be able to talk to him freely like they should.

[uppityperson]

15. Imagine he was overheard saying this to someone in a private conversation

I have bigots for teachers and wasn't able to talk freely to them "like I should". Even non-bigoted teachers.

[Lucian]

16. Facebook isn't private, FYI.

Anything and everything posted on the internet is there for the world to see.

Invalid argument.

[uppityperson]

19. Perhaps non-comparable, but not invalid. Of course fb is only as private as

you try to make it. Block everyone, have no friends, lock it down, and still, SOMEONE will find out you play farmville.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Most school districts have a morals clause in teacher contracts

But this situation seems to be a stretch.

[HockeyMom]

3. There was an incident here of a teacher being reprimanded

for talking to a student (not her own) on Facebook (against rules). Problem? The student was her YOUNGER SISTER. I wonder if they would have fired her if she visited this student at her home; the teacher's PARENTS' house. Rules, rules, rules, and no COMMON SENSE. BTW, the school district dropped it. Duh?

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. It's now against the law for me to talk to my students on Facebook

New state law just passed last session.

You present an interesting scenario. In small rural districts, it's entirely possible for a teacher to have a student who is a sibling. My dad went to school in the same building where his older sister taught.

[HockeyMom]

6. I will defend his right to say this

on his own time because you can have another school reprimand a teacher for the OPPOSITE view, as in defending Gay Rights. I, myself, have campaigned FOR Marriage Equality on Facebook. Perhaps, there are many in the district who wouldn't like that either. It's my own time. How far do they intend to take this? If I campaign for a candidate somebody doesn't like on my own time, it that an offense too?

Do we give up our civil rights when we work for a school district? I would quit right now if that is the case.

[spanone]

7. bigot of the year...

[Chemisse]

9. Repulsive as his opinions are,

He has a right to express them, outside of school, to people other than his students (adult, former students who he wanted to remain in contact with don't count. If they don't like it they can defriend him).

If I were given this information as an administrator, I would take it as a heads up and would keep an eye out to make sure the anti-gay sentiment was not expressed or conveyed in any way to his students. But that's it.

[AngkorWot]

17. The school has the right not to hire teachers bigoted against their own students.

I dare say, even a moral obligation.

If the man was a klan member, would you really feel the same way?

[treestar]

18. Agree. I'm tired of hearing how teachers have to

give up life outside the school basically.

[dsc]

11. I think it depends

does he identify as working for the district on his facebook? Also what if he said that interracial marriage nearly made him throw up?