OneKnoxFamily

Well, not really… It’s more like Teacher Gone Dumb. I was trying to let this one slide by without commenting on it but I couldn’t resist any longer. If you haven’t heard about Inskip Elementary School teacher Melinda England posting risque photos on MySpace, read this KnoxNews article first, or watch the WATE6 report.

At 28 years old she’s an adult and as a citizen of the United States of America she has a first amendment right to free speech. She’s also not breaking any laws by posting what some are calling “partially nude” photos on MySpace. The legality of her actions however are not what I feel the issue is about.

There are certain jobs in this country where people are held to a higher standard. Anyone working with minors in a teaching or mentoring role is obviously one of those people. Now those people still have the right to a private life. These extra-curricular things don’t effect her teaching because they aren’t taking place in the classroom.

What kind of questions should we ask to determine if she’s fit to be an elementary school teacher?  Michael Silence a KnoxNews blogger says,

What’s her record in the classroom? Do her students excel? Is she respected by her peers? Is she respected by the parents? … Silly me but it would seem these would be pertinent questions.

I think those are very valid questions. Here Michael, I’ll answer them for you… Her record? I don’t know.  Students excel? I don’t know. Is she respected by her peers? Not any more. Is she respected by the parents? Absolutely not!

The problem is, once you post pictures and information about yourself on the world wide web it’s no longer private. As a teacher, one of your primary objectives is to keep the respect of your students, the students parents and the board of education. Once you’ve lost any of these you can no longer perform your job effectively.

Any teacher with a little common sense would know not to put pictures like this on a public website.  She knew what she was doing.  She was pushing the envelope and she went to far.