When Young Teachers Go Wild on the Web; Public Profiles Raise Questions of Propriety and Privacty

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In the article "When Young Teachers Go Wild on the Web" by Ian Shapirna, the title alone explains the subject matter. This article is about younger teachers in their early twenties having public, raunchy Facebook and Myspace pages. Schools are removing and suspending teachers from their schools for raunchy posts. Some teachers do not realize that their profiles are public to anyone who wants to see them, not just friends. Some employers are scrutinizing these social-networking pages during interviews. Teachers can claim free speech, but according to the government employees can be fired if "their speech harmed the workplace's mission and function" (Shapirna 1). This article is pointing out the consequences of teachers' having public lives that can lead to questions from parents and employers alike. Sometimes the consequence can be as bad as termination of employment.

The topic of this article is logically and effectively supported. Shapirna includes several examples of questionable things that young teachers have posted onto their Facebook and Myspace pages. Shapirna also includes the consequences that have resulted from these posts. This thus proves that the article also has relevant evidence of this new Web epidemic. This article does reach it's intended audience. I believe the intended audience is the general public, as well as serving as a warning to teachers about their social-networking pages.

I personally felt indignant at the fact that employers are actually screening teachers lives outside of the schools. The article pointed out some points that can not be denied. It's true, teachers should keep their private lives private and seperate from their professional lives, but they should not be judged or have their employment terminated based upon a post on MySpace or Facebook. Teachers have stressful jobs as it is to make sure they are teaching their students effectively and serving as role models to them as well. Teachers are people like everyone else. They need to let loose and have some fun. Even models of society aren't perfect.