I heard a story on the radio this morning about a middle school math teacher whose job is in jeopardy because she sent out a homework assignment to her class to decipher certain internet "code" lanugage (i.e., BFF, LOL, etc.). A couple of the the terms they had to decode included POS: Parents Over Shoulder, and NATC: Nude At The Computer. Many parents are appalled that the teacher would send out such an assignment and believe she should be fired. She spoke with one parent, but the information that parent was given wasn't released.
What's your opinion?
2007-09-10 04:46:28 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a link yet, but I'll keep looking. I wasn't going to post this question without a link first, but the suspense to what other people would think is killing me!
2007-09-10 04:54:09 · update #1
That's ridiculous! I think adults should know what all the 'code' language is so they know what their kids are typing on the internet. That teacher should get "teacher of the year" for wanting to know what the codes mean. If you would have typed NATC to me, I would have had NO CLUE what it meant and so if some parent is upset that it has the word NUDE in it...they need to get over it and quick and then have a talk with their kids about their computer privileges. That assignment was sheer genius! One that is interesting to the students and informative to adults!
2007-09-10 04:55:36 · answer #1 · answered by nursegrl 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think having them decipher NATC was a good thing because teenagers should NOT be chatting with any person who has sent the code NATC! If they now know what that means because of this assignment, it will save the teenager from asking what the code means of the person who has typed it in an IM to them! (I surely wouldn't want my teenager chatting with someone who is NATC!)
As far as POS is concerned, she should have left that one out just to avoid offending any parent who was made aware of that assignment.
I am most certain the majority of her students were already aware of what POS stands for! However, I can understand why an issue has been raised concerning this being included in the assignment.
I don't think the teacher should be fired. They had a good thing in mind but failed to use discretion when including POS. Perhaps the teacher didn't know what that meant!
I think the people who have made such a stink about this assignment should MTOB!
2007-09-10 04:56:29 · answer #2 · answered by Buddie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a father of three (17, 13, 4) and a former teacher, I'm MOST concerned with why a MATH teacher is setting a homework assignment completely outside her subject.
IF she was doing this out of concern for student-safety, she should have cleared it thru her Department Head.
I've scanned the web with my wife for lists of the standard "codes"... the girls computers are networked to ours, and have Net-Nanny blocking many sites as well as sounding an alarm if they are chatting. Their cell-phones are also restricted.
I feel SLIGHTLY more comfortable that it's a female teacher, but would like to hear more on the facts and her logic
2007-09-10 05:04:26 · answer #3 · answered by mariner31 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand the need to be informed. The more they know, the better they can decide on what is good for them. Kids these days are very curious. To teach them sensitive information, needs a lot of guidance and proper explanation. But if it will not be properly explained to them, it will not be good. Although, I really don't get the connection between math and internet terms. I kind of understand the motive, for the children to be informed. I just hope that I have more info regarding this matter.
2007-09-10 05:01:33 · answer #4 · answered by Kaye 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The teacher should be commended for trying to teach the parents codes that snot-nosed, think they know everything teenagers already know. It's the usual double-standard that is held against teachers. An athlete can do worse than that, but those same parents will applaud that athlete and give him/her another chance(Or seven). You want them to baby-sit your kids, but don't teach them anything, and don't pay them a decent wage, since parents are too lazy to care what their kids do anyway. And to a couple of other answerers, these are middle-school teenagers, the most vile creatures on the planet. What makes you think these "children" don't know and use these terms already??
2007-09-10 05:02:12 · answer #5 · answered by Laying Low- Not an Ivy Leaguer 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
She may have a teenager at home,who likes to be in places like "Chatrooms,MySpace," (etc.),and she may have come across these on the teens computer,and she wants to know what they mean. If this is so,then she could have asked her students what they mean,instead of making it a homework assignment. Most parents are not interested in chatrooms,but they want to know what the "chatter" is all about. They don't ask,because they don't want their children to fell that their privacy is being invaded. (Now) Because of all the hoopla of terroism,people are taking drastic precautions as to how the internet is used. Her Supervisor's got a preconcieved notion,that she may have some connections to these people (Go figure!). It's a shame that we have to walk on pins and needles now-a-days,because of terroism.
2007-09-10 04:59:16 · answer #6 · answered by Squeakers 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the teacher should be interviewed by the principal and school board to find out what the intent was for the assignment and if they're not satsfied with the explanation then they will have to arrive at some type of discipline or counselling for that teacher.
2007-09-10 04:51:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
She should be suspended for at least a week and warned of any further violations that could result in her termination. They should also force to see a counselor for inappropriate behavior. Anymore than that and she could probably raise a legal issue against the school board and county/city herself. If she does it again, then she has no leg to stand on and can be fired without a problem.
2007-09-10 04:52:40 · answer #8 · answered by Cup of Joe 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
if its true why would she ? if there is a lesson behind it then okay. but if not i think she should be repremanded not fired...maybe she is trying to keep the kids in a trusting place with her and she just went about it the wrong way. parents should already know those codes if your kids are on the computer you should monitor them
2007-09-10 04:58:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the teacher should be supported. My daughters school sent lists home to the parents about these codes so you would know what your kid was writing on the computer. Maybe the teacher was hoping it would open the door of communication between the parents and kids.
2007-09-10 04:50:45 · answer #10 · answered by misslepew 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋