Monday, July 27, 2009



When "bad" is a bad word

In Britain, of course:
"A teacher faces the sack after complaining about the behaviour of her class on Facebook. Sonya McNally, 35, has been suspended on full pay since calling the 13-year-olds ‘bad’ in a private conversation on the social networking site. In a post on March 20, the supply teacher wrote: ‘By the way, (class) 8G1 are just as bad as 8G2.’

Another teacher involved in the discussion, Kirsten Allenby-Moore, took offence. She complained to the council’s human resources department, writing: ‘I found the comments personally insulting as the 2 classes mentioned where [sic] both mine.’ It is understood she teaches both classes information technology once a week.

Education officials at North East Lincolnshire Council suspended Mrs McNally from Humberston Comprehensive School in Grimsby in April and launched an investigation. In a report to the headteacher, Mrs McNally is accused of ‘bringing the school into disrepute’. The previous headteacher resigned in December after Ofsted inspectors rated the school ‘inadequate’ in 13 key areas. [So it really is bad]

Source

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

There are two matters here that are troubling. One is that Ms. Allenby-Moore, the second teacher, felt offended and ratted Ms. McNally to the boss. Did she attempt to dispute McNally's claims on FaceBook? That's where it should take place, not by tattlin' "Oh, wahhhh, she said a bad thing" to the employer.

And, two, the employer came down on Ms. McNally, NOT for any misstatement about the classes, but *for bringing the school into disrepute*! How, exactly? By accurately reporting a circumstance that shows the school in a bad light? AND, according to a story in the Daily Mail, it was a "private conversation" (i.e., restricted to logged-in viewers).

It's like the bunkhouse scene from "Of Mice and Men": "Make 'im stop, George! Make 'im stop!"

BTW, the municipal council directed the schoolmaster to discipline the teacher? Seems bass-ackwards to me.

Anonymous said...

Didn't Hitler encourage the German people to inform on each other back in the 30's and 40's? Britain it seems, is being strangled by it's addiction to, and obsession with, political correctness.

Ed said...

There really isn't such a thing as 'a private conversation on the social networking site.' Anyone can see them, from the old lady tending her flowers to the heads of state and everything in between. If you want private, don't put it anywhere on the internet, cellphone or telephone and for the the love of a good ham sandwich, don't do something then put it on you-tube.

Brian from Virginia said...

You have got to be kidding me. I find Ms. Allenby-Moore's histrionics offensive. Will the school suspend her now? Or at least get her to proofread her written complaints in the future? Maybe her classes are BAD if she is not up to par?

Anonymous said...

WORD OF THE DAY
BUSYBODY, n.


A pernicious Brit pest whose life is devoted to making their neighbors’ lives a living hell by caterwauling to the local council about bullcrap that is none of their fukcing business.

Anonymous said...

"WORD OF THE DAY
BUSYBODY, n."


They've got them in Ireland as well.

EXCEPT,

The noun is preceded by the adj. SANCTIMONIOUS!

Anonymous said...

But what did she mean by "Bad", was she talking about their performance or demeanor?

Did the tattler in this case lead her into making her statement?

How do the students feel about that teacher?

It's entirely possible that this is just an excuse to get rid of an under performing teacher who is disliked by her class and colleagues. It's also possible it's an under performing staff trying to rid themselves of the one bright light that makes them look bad but the comment quoted leans toward the former.