news-record.com

CHARLOTTE (MCT) — An attorney for a suspended Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teacher said Thursday she never intended for the public to view negative comments she made about students on Facebook.

But the case is now part of a national debate that pits teachers' right to free expression against how communities expect them to behave.

"This is a new frontier in education, where technological and social norms are outpacing law and policy," said Tom Hutton, an attorney for the National School Boards Association.

John Gresham of Charlotte, who represents the teacher, said she only meant to share her comments with friends with access to her page on the popular social networking site. She now faces possible firing for listing "teaching chitlins in the ghetto of Charlotte" among her activities.

"Facebook pages are only meant to be viewed by people permitted to see them," said Gresham, who questioned how her private postings became public.

On Thursday, CMS spokeswoman Nora Carr said the district allows teachers to post personal information online, but had to take action because it affected the teacher's ability to interact with students and parents. She called the comments racially

insensitive or offensive to students at Thomasboro Elementary School, where she teaches.

"Clearly, when there is poor professional judgment, it impacts the teacher's ability to do their job," Carr said.

CMS officials plan to send a memo to their 19,000 employees saying that Web postings that can be viewed by the public should be appropriate.

CMS announced earlier this week it had suspended the teacher and disciplined four others for postings on Facebook. The action came after WCNC, the Observer's television news partner, discovered the pages on the Web site by searching for people who identified themselves as CMS employees.

Postings include photos of female teachers in sexually suggestive poses and a black male teacher who listed "Chillin wit my n---as!!!" as an activity.

In her "About Me" section, the suspended teacher wrote: "I am teaching in the most ghetto school in Charlotte." Most students at Thomasboro Elementary are minorities from low-income homes.

Gresham said the district took action against her because officials were embarrassed by news reports. He questioned whether it was appropriate for a reporter to air private postings.

He said the teacher is helping the district with grading while she is suspended, and has been sharing lesson plans.