TOTALLY GEEKED!

Rebecca Klein · Guru

A teacher has been "relieved of her teaching duties" after posting a racist Facebook rant in response to recent events at a McKinney, Texas, pool party, according to a statement from Frenship Independent School District.

Karen Fitzgibbons was a fourth-grade teacher a Bennett Elementary school of Frenship ISD in Wolfforth, Texas. On Tuesday, she posted an article to her page about Eric Casebolt, a police officer who recently resigned after being involved in a racially charged incident last Friday. Casebolt, who is white, was caught on tape throwing a black, bikini-clad teenage girl to the ground when responding to reports of a disturbance at a community pool. He also pointed his gun at other youths.

"This makes me ANGRY!" reads the post from Fitzgibbons, referring to Casebolt's resignation, according to Texas outlet the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. "This officer should not have to resign. I'm going to just go ahead and say it...the blacks are the ones causing the problems and this 'racial tension.' I guess that's what happens when you flunk out of school and have no education."

The post continues, "I’m sure their parents are just as guilty for not knowing what their kids were doing; or knew it and didn’t care. I’m almost to the point of wanting them all segregated on one side of town so they can hurt each other and leave the innocent people alone. Maybe the 50s and 60s were really on to something. Now, let the bashing of my true and honest opinion begin....GO! #imnotracist #imsickofthemcausingtrouble #itwasatagedcommunity."

The post has since been deleted.

The statement from Frenship ISD says the district "is deeply disappointed in the thoughtlessness conveyed by this employee’s post. We find these statements to be extremely offensive, insensitive, and disrespectful to our Frenship community and citizens everywhere. These comments in no way represent the educational environment we have created for our students."

"Employees are held to the same professional standards in their public use of electronic media as they are for any other public conduct. This recent conduct was unacceptable," says the statement from the district.

Spokespeople from Frenship ISD did not respond to further requests for comment.

Fitzgibbons later issued an apology, according to local outlet KCBD-TV.

"First, to anyone, of any race, that I have offended, I sincerely apologize. That was not my intent. I let my emotions get the best of me, and instead of taking a deep breath, vented in an inappropriate way. I am truly sorry," it says in part.

The apology goes on to say that Fitzgibbons teaches her students to treat others with dignity, and she is now "ashamed" of her previous Facebook post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/11/racist-teacher-mckinney-party_n_7563568.html

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Everybody has rights, except for teachers who have no free speech rights at all.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Everybody has rights, except for teachers who have no free speech rights at all.

When are people going to LEARN that if you post something racist, there ARE consequences...

flan

ed11563 · Guru

Employees of public or private businesses can also get themselves fired for posting things like this. In fact, it's easier for a company to fire someone than for a school.

If I were to do or say something that might reflect badly on my employer ...

they don't need a reason to fire someone.

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

Oh my word, she is an idiot.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

The only truly free people now are the ones on Welfare. No drug testing. Say and do as u please. Etc

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

So you have no rights really anymore.

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
So you have no rights really anymore.

I have said all along that our rights have been lost. Free speech is a thing of the past within social media.

The world is all about social image now. Who wants an employee that makes the business look bad for having hired an idiot?

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

I would NOT want her teaching MY children.

flan

Ohfour · Hooker

She has the right to say whatever wants. The right of free speech simply meant that the government cannot prosecute you for what you say. It does not mean that you won't face consequences from others.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Ohfour wrote:
She has the right to say whatever wants. The right of free speech simply meant that the government cannot prosecute you for what you say. It does not mean that you won't face consequences from others.

Like your EMPLOYER!

flan

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Ohfour wrote:
She has the right to say whatever wants. The right of free speech simply meant that the government cannot prosecute you for what you say. It does not mean that you won't face consequences from others.

Exactly.

I fired a few people for posting Target sucks or some nonsense like that on their FB. You can say work sucks, but once you mention it by name, it's game over. We went over that in orientation and people still did it.

-- Edited by Mellow Momma on Friday 12th of June 2015 10:41:40 AM

FNW · Guru

I use social media to my advantage. I post great things about how fortunate I feel to have my job and how much I love it. My boss and director are my FB friends. I keep them in mind before I post anything.

burns07 · Guru

The only truly free people now are the ones on Welfare. No drug testing. Say and do as u please. Etc
_________________________________________________________________________________

unfortunately, you are exactly right

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

People who are stupid enough to post things like that on Facebook are too stupid to be teaching kids, anyway.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
People who are stupid enough to post things like that on Facebook are too stupid to be teaching kids, anyway.

I agree.

It's one thing for a teen to post stupid stuff on FB, but an ADULT?! No excuse.

flan

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

Lawyerlady wrote:
People who are stupid enough to post things like that on Facebook are too stupid to be teaching kids, anyway.

Yup. They lack discretion.

huskerbb · Guru

Ohfour wrote:
She has the right to say whatever wants. The right of free speech simply meant that the government cannot prosecute you for what you say. It does not mean that you won't face consequences from others.

This is exactly right.

People need to QUIT putting every damn thought that comes into their pea brains on the internet.

Teachers have free speech--but c'mon, there are limits. Wearing a white sheet and burning a cross in a black person's front yard is free speech, too, but I don't know of any school anywhere that wouldn't fire an employee for doing so if they found out. The only difference here is that she put it on frickin' facebook and made the school's job pretty easy in that regard.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

huskerbb wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
She has the right to say whatever wants. The right of free speech simply meant that the government cannot prosecute you for what you say. It does not mean that you won't face consequences from others.
This is exactly right.

People need to QUIT putting every damn thought that comes into their pea brains on the internet.

Teachers have free speech--but c'mon, there are limits. Wearing a white sheet and burning a cross in a black person's front yard is free speech, too, but I don't know of any school anywhere that wouldn't fire an employee for doing so if they found out. The only difference here is that she put it on frickin' facebook and made the school's job pretty easy in that regard.

Except for US, right?

flan

Lindley · Guru

Ohfour wrote:
She has the right to say whatever wants. The right of free speech simply meant that the government cannot prosecute you for what you say. It does not mean that you won't face consequences from others.

This, I remember when the Dixie chicks were in hot water for statements they made overseas at a concert. They had a right to speak their mind and the public had a right not to buy their concert tickets.

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
She has the right to say whatever wants. The right of free speech simply meant that the government cannot prosecute you for what you say. It does not mean that you won't face consequences from others.
This is exactly right.

People need to QUIT putting every damn thought that comes into their pea brains on the internet.

Teachers have free speech--but c'mon, there are limits. Wearing a white sheet and burning a cross in a black person's front yard is free speech, too, but I don't know of any school anywhere that wouldn't fire an employee for doing so if they found out. The only difference here is that she put it on frickin' facebook and made the school's job pretty easy in that regard.
Except for US, right?
flan

Well, I do think an ANONYMOUS message board is somewhat better than facebook. Certainly, there is concern that some of this could get out, but LL tries hard to keep that from happening, and so far, so good.

Facebook is public--and not at all anonymous. Splitting hairs, maybe--but I think it is different.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

I was yanking your chain, husker!

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

If there were ever any doubt that we, as a whole, are losing our right to free speech, it couldn't be more obvious now.

Ohfour · Hooker

lilyofcourse wrote:
If there were ever any doubt that we, as a whole, are losing our right to free speech, it couldn't be more obvious now.

No we are not. Tell me the last time you heard of someone arrested for what they said. THAT is what free speech is...

huskerbb · Guru

Ohfour wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
If there were ever any doubt that we, as a whole, are losing our right to free speech, it couldn't be more obvious now.

No we are not. Tell me the last time you heard of someone arrested for what they said. THAT is what free speech is...

Or fined--which several people have been for their beliefs on gay marriage.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

It's just a matter of time.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Ohfour wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
If there were ever any doubt that we, as a whole, are losing our right to free speech, it couldn't be more obvious now.

No we are not. Tell me the last time you heard of someone arrested for what they said. THAT is what free speech is...

She POSTED racial crap on Facebook.

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
It's just a matter of time.

Of course it is...

flan

ed11563 · Guru

flan327 wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
If there were ever any doubt that we, as a whole, are losing our right to free speech, it couldn't be more obvious now.

No we are not. Tell me the last time you heard of someone arrested for what they said. THAT is what free speech is...
She POSTED racial crap on Facebook.
flan

She embarrassed her employer, and they fired her. She should have known better. Now some other people might know better.

Ohfour · Hooker

flan327 wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
If there were ever any doubt that we, as a whole, are losing our right to free speech, it couldn't be more obvious now.

No we are not. Tell me the last time you heard of someone arrested for what they said. THAT is what free speech is...
She POSTED racial crap on Facebook.
flan

And she has that right. She's not in jail. She got fired. That's how this free speech thing works...

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

You really don't see the erosion?

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

lilyofcourse wrote:
You really don't see the erosion?

No, lily. A private company firing people for inappropriate behavior is actually not new. Companies have been doing it forever.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
You really don't see the erosion?
No, lily. A private company firing people for inappropriate behavior is actually not new. Companies have been doing it forever.

And racist talk was once acceptable, when there were "colored" drinking fountains, etc.

But this is 2015.

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Ok.

If you say so.

Waiting for someone to be fired because of Christian beliefs expressed on FB.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Teachers used to be fired for all sorts of things. They are entrusted with teaching our children - the very least they need to show is decorum.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
Ok.

If you say so.

Waiting for someone to be fired because of Christian beliefs expressed on FB.

Because that is EXACTLY the same thing as hate speech...

flan

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
Ok.

If you say so.

Waiting for someone to be fired because of Christian beliefs expressed on FB.
Because that is EXACTLY the same thing as hate speech...
flan

You have called certain statements of belief as much regarding a certain topic.

TOTALLY GEEKED!

Texas Teacher Fired After Disturbingly Racist Post In Response To Pool Party Incident