By Efren Acevedo

Social media has allowed people to express themselves in ways never imagined. But, as with everything else, there are limits.

Many teachers believe that they have the First Amendment right to say, post or like. However, teachers can get fired based on their online posts. Teachers have gotten fired over demeaning posts about their students.

Christine Rubino, a New York City teacher is receiving a lot of attention after some controversial comments. After a horrific tragedy in which a local elementary student died at a beach, Rubino made a quick post about her rowdy fifth graders. “After today, I’m thinking the beach is a good trip for my class. I hate their guts.” Within minutes a friend responded “Wouldn’t you throw a life jacket to little Kwami?” Rubino responded, “No I wouldn’t for a million dollars.” Rubino claims that it was not her that made that post but a friend who was logged in as her.

This is not the only case that has occurred over social media. In February, a high school English teacher in suburban Philadelphia was suspended after a blog post calling her students “rude, disengaged, lazy whiners.” In another post she pictured herself writing “frightfully dim” or “dresses like a streetwalker” on their report cards.

Only teachers and other public figures can be punished for what they post. There have been many other cases involving teachers being suspended or fired due to inappropriate postings on social media. Since teachers are public figures they must watch what they do or say. In the meantime, outside or inside of school, they must avoid public language that mocks or demeans the children that they instruct.

So, does that mean that teachers can not have a social media account? They can so long as they  be careful to not post pictures of themselves drinking any alcoholic drink or partying or else they can get fired. Whatever the teachers like is also said to be protected under the freedom of speech.

In a different case, a Virginia deputy is fighting a case in which he was fired for “liking” his bosses’ election rival. A Virginia judge says that liking is a reason to get fired over because of the word “like”. The point of this is that public figures in general do not deserve to get fired over small things, such as liking something on Facebook.

Frankly I think that when it comes to social media teachers shouldn’t be fired over liking something. I understand that if they post inappropriate pictures of themselves they can be fired but, they are on social media on their free time. Teachers are teachers when they are at school, not at home or online after school. Although I agree that if they mock or demean another student through social media they must suffer the consequences. Like I said teachers are teachers during school, I would not consider them a public figure outside of school. Overall I believe that teachers should keep certain thoughts of students to themselves, and that they shouldn’t be fired for what they like on Facebook or other social media sites.