Sex, Social Media & Salvation: The thin line between a teacher’s personal & professional Life and impact on Time National SAMs Innovation Project 8 th Annual National Conference Fort Lauderdale, Fl, January 31, 2015

Why do we care? $$$$ Respect rights of others and protect those who cannot protect themselves Keep you out of trouble and save time Free you up to be best SAM team

Topics Sexual Harassment & criminal actions Social Media Issues Religion & Schools Overlap with SAMs

Harassment 1.Student to Student 2.Responsible if _______ or Should have _________ and school system was deliberately indifferent.

Who wants to pay a Million Dollar Judgment? 1. Teacher to Student Harassment recent headlines 2. Consequences 3. News Headlines (Ben-Gals, move away with senior) 4. Revised Statute 14:81.4

Potential Signs of Problems Physical displays of affection Frequent personal communications Sexually suggestive conversations Obstructing view of room Drinking with students Hot-tubing with students Language Video

Teacher to Teacher Hostile work environment - recent lawsuit Words, pictures, rumors or jokes Affairs or romances Does it affect teaching ability or performance

Social Media The Good The Bad The Ugly

1 st Amendment

The Ugly Teachers posting inappropriate items on their profiles on Facebook Teachers inappropriately contacting students about non-school items Lack of understanding as to private vs. public settings and material

Examples -- Pictures Photo of 37 year old female teacher kissing 18 year old male student on the lips Poster depicting talking sperm with slang term for oral sex Picture of female teacher on her back, eyes closed with a bottle of Jose Cuervo between head and shoulders

More examples -- pictures Drunken Pirate (denied degree) Pictures of teacher painting with his buttocks Nude photos on partner’s website (professional photographer)

Inappropriate Messages Male teacher under picture of female student “This is sexy” “I’m not a gynecologist, but I will take a look inside” Supervisor of high school science & math called students “Germ bags” and parents “snobby” and “arrogant” Listing as an interest “teaching chitlins in the ghetto of Charlotte”

More Inappropriate Messages Special education teacher “You’re a retard, but I love you” Elementary teacher “I only have 2 feelings: hunger & lust” and “I slept with a hooker, Be jealous” Headmistress boasted about the size of her breasts on Facebook Student teacher complaining about supervisor “Teaching in DCPS – Lesson #1 Don’t smoke crack while pregnant”

Suggestions for teachers Its Social Networking! You’re not in college any more Don’t friend students Don’t be critical of supervisors or parents on Facebook Ask would I say this or post this in class or to my grandmother? Don’t make fun of students or post anything vulgar, obscene or lewd Think Professionalism

Salvation Can we pray in school? Absolute right to ___________, not absolute right to ___________. Classroom issues Non-curricular issues Teacher religious rights Just stay neutral

Salvation: Whose definition? Diverse Students Public Employees Perception of endorsement by school Sabine Parish – “Suit alleged that teacher declared Buddhism stupid, school called for Christian prayer.”

Sabine Parish Issue Test question "ISN'T IT AMAZING WHAT THE _____________ HAS MADE!!!!!!!!!!! Teacher belittled student in front of the rest of the class for not answering “Lord”. While studying other religions, Teacher has told students that Buddhism is stupid. Superintendent said "this is the Bible belt." She suggested that the student should "change" his faith or transfer to another district school 25 miles away

Examples What is OK? Whose religion? Issues raised

Contact Information Nathan M. Roberts, J.D., Ph.D. Interim Dean College of Education University of Louisiana at Lafayette (337)