My mom and I got into an arguement over this and I wanted to "hear" what others thought.
I coach cheer at the high school I work at. I have been receiving emails from the booster club president. One of the emails sparked an opinion. I carefully worded my thoughts and basically was saying that there should be a consistency on "goodie bags" between the squads (i.e. that one squad shouldn't receive 30 dollars worth of stuff (each girl) while the others receive 5 bucks (each girl)). That we are all a team, etc...
Well I called my mom to read it to her and she immediately went on the defensive and was like "you shouldn't send it, you could get in trouble, etc..". To me, it would be a long stretch for an administrator to reprimand or fire a teacher for using their personal email account, at home, on their personal computer, on a Sunday evening. Now, if they were at school, using a school computer, during the working day, that would be a seperate issue entirely.
My mom went off on me, saying "it doesn't matter". I then told her I would be quite afraid if she were my administrator was was trying to fire me for using my personal email, on my personal computer, at home. And she was like "I would have a very serious talking with you and reprimand you". (But then she changed her story to that she wouldn't say that). We eventually hung up on each other
So my question really is, what are your guys thoughts. Do you feel that teachers emails typed at home on their personal computer are protected? Do you feel that emails typed at school, on a personal email account protected? Do you feel at administrator would have the authority to reprimand or fire a teacher for typing an email from their personal computer (at home)?
I'd really like to know what other people think about this.
I feel that society has way to many expectations for teachers in the first place, but to put us on this pedastal that we are "perfect" is unattainable. I'm not perfect, I make mistakes. I also feel that I'm still a citizen and I'm still afforded the same rights and freedoms as everyone else, but it seems like because I'm a teacher some of those "unalienable rights" are diminished or taken away from me because I'm supposed to be the "moral center".
Thoughts?