The article: Seven reasons teachers should blog, explains that blogging is a successful way to reflect as a teacher. Through blogging the teacher will write down a “record of their actions” and describe their decisions. The act of writing allows the teacher to process their thoughts, write a reflection of their day’s work and compose their new ideas. After composing these new ideas the teacher can now state their opinion through blogging. Since the teacher is writing these thoughts down, they are putting their label on their words. The act of writing makes the teacher more vulnerable to critics and their predecessors. Therefore, when writing a blog post the teacher needs to be aware of the chances they take and the controversy of their topics.
In regards, to the teacher who was fired for blogging, Natalie Munroe, who used inappropriate terms which labeled the student through her blog post. The teacher needs to realize again, that when they write/publish anything with their name on it they are completely responsible for their words, actions and decisions. Blogging can be beneficial for teachers to reflect on their actions and decisions, but the teacher writing the blog needs to be sure their blog is appropriate too. The freedom of speech is not being violated because a teacher was able to make her blog post and was able to defend herself in a court of law. The teacher should know their boundaries when it comes to publishing. The teacher should not to be using inappropriate comments about her class students because that blog post reflects poorly on the student, the teacher, the school and the district. It would reflect poorly on the school district. If this blog post was brought to the district through complaint and Munroe was not fired, then the whole district would be putting their stamp of approval on the inappropriate blog post. This incidence proves why it is important for a teacher to be responsible for their words.
In conclusion, the blog should reflect the teachers actions and decisions while in the classroom and explain new ideas of what could be better. If the teacher has a controversial issue they would like to discuss but feel hesitant to publish their ideas, then maybe that means it is inappropriate and that they may offend someone. Teachers have very powerful words because teachers are responsible for educating the future of this country. If teachers do something, the students most likely repeat it. For instance, the teacher writes the assignment on the board, the students copy it and rehearse it. If the teacher slaps a student on the face in front of the class, the students will think it is okay to do that and will not take a second to think otherwise. The actions of teachers are very important and go unnoticed which makes it important for teachers to reflect on their actions and decisions but to also be aware of their words because of their position and their predecessor’s position.
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