| | Should A Teacher Lose His Job For Posting X-Rated Pics On Craigslist? | |
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+6RedBedroom 2xy CatEyes10736 Nystyle709 CeCe RobbieFTW 10 posters | Author | Message |
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RobbieFTW …is Being Fitted For a Crown.
Join date : 2010-01-31 Location : Dearborn Posts : 4152 Rep : 145
| Subject: Should A Teacher Lose His Job For Posting X-Rated Pics On Craigslist? Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:15 pm | |
| - Quote :
- Teachers Can Be Fired Over Cruising For Sex On Craigslist: Court
Frank Lampedusa in November 2008 was ousted as a tenured teacher the dean of students at Farb Middle School in San Diego when administrators learned of a Craigslist ad he posted in the men-for-men section. He's been battling his termination in court ever since and even won the last round before the Commission on Professional Competence. But the Fourth District Court of Appeal this week overturned the decision and decided Lampedusa's firing was completely kosher, because men who cruise for sex online clearly prove they are "unfit" to teach children.
Lampedusa, who was hired by the San Diego Unified School District in 1999, did not post his name or affiliation with the school on his Craigslist ads, which he acknowledged to the commission he had placed four or five times. The ads did feature photos of his stomach, butt, penis, torso -- and yes, his face. (There were also "graphic descriptions" of the type of sex he liked.) I'm guessing it was that face photo that got him caught: In June 2008 a San Diego police dispatcher received an anonymous call from a man who said a friend had told him Farb Middle School's dean was cruising Craiglist. (Don't guys cruising Craigslist, who have something to lose, know to only send face pics in private emails, if at all?) A district supervisor, reports KSWB-TV, asked Lampedusa to pull the ads, which he did, but by November Lampedusa was served with a termination notice by the school.
His defense in all of this is that merely by posting M4M sex ads online, he is not unfit for his teaching job -- even if his own students could possibly happen upon the listings. The school disagreed. The competence omission did not. But the Fourth Circuit Court did, and for now it's that ruling that sticks. The court www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/nonpub/D057740.DOC+Frank+Lampedusa+craigslist&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com" class="postlink" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">writes:
The Commission erred in finding there was "no evidence of aggravating circumstances surrounding [Lampedusa's] conduct." This finding ignores the fact Lampedusa posted graphic, pornographic photos, and obscene written material, on a Web site open to the public. Lampedusa admitted that he had posted similar ads in the past and did not believe he had done anything immoral. Moreover, rather than taking complete responsibility for his conduct, he shifted responsibility to parents and students to not access his site.
Further, while it is true that he promptly removed the ad after being directed to do so, it does not mitigate his conduct that would have likely continued had a parent not viewed and complained about the ad. This factor also does not support the Commission's decision.
[...] While Lampedusa's conduct may not have been blameworthy in the sense he was seeking a date, it was extremely blameworthy in the pornographic, obscene manner that he did so. This factor also does not support the Commission's decision.
[...] A teacher may also be dismissed for "[i]mmoral or unprofessional conduct." (§ 44932, subd. (a)(1).) " 'The term "immoral" has been defined generally as that which is hostile to the welfare of the general public and contrary to good morals. Immorality has not been confined to sexual matters, but includes conduct inconsistent with rectitude, or indicative of corruption, indecency, depravity, dissoluteness; or as wilful, flagrant, or shameless conduct showing moral indifference to the opinions of respectable members of the community, and as an inconsiderate attitude toward good order and the public welfare.' " (Board of Education v. Weiland (1960) 179 Cal.App.2d 808, 811.) Moreover, the definition of immoral or unprofessional conduct must be considered in conjunction with the unique position of public school teachers, upon whom are imposed "responsibilities and limitations on freedom of action which do not exist in regard to other callings." (Board of Trustees v. Stubblefield, supra, 16 Cal.App.3d at p. 824.)
The public posting on a Web site of pornographic photos and obscene text constitute immoral conduct in that it evidences "indecency" and "moral indifference." Thus, the District's decision to terminate Lampedusa was also supported on this ground. | |
| | | CeCe …is a Chamber DEITY.
Join date : 2010-06-30 Posts : 11962 Rep : 326
| Subject: Re: Should A Teacher Lose His Job For Posting X-Rated Pics On Craigslist? Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:36 pm | |
| The internet age has complicated things for everyone. I understand people are going to get upset about things of a sexual nature regardless of gender. But I hate to see people lose their job because of something they posted that is not illegal. People are getting fired because of something they wrote on facebook these days. It's a lot of intrusiveness. What bothers me even more here is that he was asked to remove them, did it & was still fired. I just think if people are doing their job, not breaking the law or violating clearly defined rules it shouldn't affect their job. I'm not seeing "moral" issues here. Grown ups have sex. This is not something that would upset me as a parent. | |
| | | Nystyle709 ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.
Join date : 2010-03-16 Location : New York Posts : 27030 Rep : 339
| Subject: Re: Should A Teacher Lose His Job For Posting X-Rated Pics On Craigslist? Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:02 pm | |
| ^^^ For the most part. I think people just need to step more cautiously now. EVERYTHING you do is being watched. | |
| | | CatEyes10736 …is a Power Member.
Join date : 2010-01-31 Location : Portland, Oregon Posts : 2665 Rep : 126
| Subject: Re: Should A Teacher Lose His Job For Posting X-Rated Pics On Craigslist? Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:07 pm | |
| I say yes. When you're a civil servant, you're held to a higher public standard. Even though he wasn't breaking any laws, I still don't understand why any teacher would jeopardize their accreditation by posting x-rated pictures of themselves on Craigslist. At some point, he had to consider what this could do to his reputation if it got out. | |
| | | 2xy …is an Up 'N Comer.
Join date : 2011-03-03 Location : Providence, RI Posts : 289 Rep : 22
| Subject: Re: Should A Teacher Lose His Job For Posting X-Rated Pics On Craigslist? Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:58 pm | |
| I think it wasn't the smartest thing to do, but I don't necessarily think he should be fired for it. If he had children, would they also remove the kids from his home? Because if you aren't fit to teach children, you certainly aren't fit to parent them.
I have an in-law who is currently a teacher (not in this state) who was arrested for soliciting a prostitute about 20 years ago. It was in the local news and he has a record that's searchable online in the criminal database. I think what he did was skeevy, but I don't think it makes him unfit to be around kids. | |
| | | RedBedroom …is a Chamber DEITY.
Join date : 2010-02-18 Posts : 10696 Rep : 312
| Subject: Re: Should A Teacher Lose His Job For Posting X-Rated Pics On Craigslist? Sat Apr 09, 2011 11:27 pm | |
| I don't think he should be fired for it. But he is a dumbass.
Because my step daughter is about to graduate with a teaching degree, I think a lot about things like Facebook and what is out there to be seen by future employers, parents of students and students themselves for our new generation of teachers. I think that young people need to be so careful about what they put out there. Granted, it is different than a person soliciting sex on Craig's List, but not entirely different. There are some pics of my step daughter from a vacation that I would rather not be on Facebook right now because even though they are not that bad, I could see someone some day having issue with them. | |
| | | Chris Chamber Admin.
Join date : 2010-01-30 Location : Oak Park, Michigan Posts : 23201 Rep : 330
| Subject: Re: Should A Teacher Lose His Job For Posting X-Rated Pics On Craigslist? Sun Apr 10, 2011 9:57 am | |
| - CatEyes10736 wrote:
- I say yes. When you're a civil servant, you're held to a higher public standard. Even though he wasn't breaking any laws, I still don't understand why any teacher would jeopardize their accreditation by posting x-rated pictures of themselves on Craigslist. At some point, he had to consider what this could do to his reputation if it got out.
I wouldn't fire the guy, but I understand why this can be considered so disruptive that the school board would want to. I think the man was a fool to post nude images of himself on Craigslist, in a way that reveals his identity. He should have been much more discreet. | |
| | | (Oh!) Rob Petrie …is a Power Member.
Join date : 2011-01-30 Location : Boston Posts : 1677 Rep : 62
| Subject: Re: Should A Teacher Lose His Job For Posting X-Rated Pics On Craigslist? Sun Apr 10, 2011 10:54 am | |
| I think the face picture did it for me. However what bothers me is that they state that his "conduct" would have continued. What conduct? Trolling for sex, or posting nudes? | |
| | | tmontyb …is Authorized.
Join date : 2010-08-14 Location : New York City - NoHo/East Village Posts : 915 Rep : 37
| Subject: Re: Should A Teacher Lose His Job For Posting X-Rated Pics On Craigslist? Sun Apr 10, 2011 11:25 am | |
| Don't you think it's a bit ironic or hypocritical in the first place. How would anyone know what he posted if someone wasn't looking through those ads. He's not a politician or a lawmaker. What he does outside of school is his own business. | |
| | | tmontyb …is Authorized.
Join date : 2010-08-14 Location : New York City - NoHo/East Village Posts : 915 Rep : 37
| | | | TSJFan4Ever …is a Chamber Royal.
Join date : 2010-03-28 Posts : 5362 Rep : 78
| Subject: Re: Should A Teacher Lose His Job For Posting X-Rated Pics On Craigslist? Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:25 pm | |
| I don't think he should be fired but I do think it was pretty stupid of him. I wouldn't want to see x-rated pics of my kid's teacher, nor would I want to see them of my doctor or anyone else in a position of trust. If he was going to be dumb enough to post them, he should have made sure there was no way he could be identified. | |
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