Should a Teacher Lose Her Job Because of Beliefs She Shared on Facebook?

October 19th, 2011 - By madamenoire

Knox and her husband, Gene.

I’m sure you’ve had many career advisers tell you time and time again to watch the pictures you post on Facebook. Why? Because employers often use Facebook to check up on you in the hiring process. We all know ratchetness on Facebook could possibly keep you from getting a job, but it sucks to know that the opinions you share–and display on the site–could possibly cost you your job as well.

A teacher in New Jersey named Viki Knox is in the center of the debate on free speech on through social media, as many are calling for her job after she posted anti-gay comments on her Facebook page. Knox has been put on paid administrative leave while the matter is investigated (and has been since the beginning of the month), but during a school board meeting yesterday, protesters were in full force for both sides of the matter. On one side, individuals were holding up posters that said, “No Hate in Our State,” while on the other side, a large group of people standing by the teacher held up smaller signs that said, “Don’t Bully Viki.” Many argue that a woman who teaches around young people of all different backgrounds and orientations, and is open about her disapproval of the gay lifestyle, shouldn’t get to keep working in the school. However, others are saying that firing a person because of what they believe in based on their religious teachings would be a violation of their free speech and religious freedoms.

I know what you’re thinking: if she was just speaking her mind on her Facebook page on her own time, what’s the issue? Well, according to the Los Angeles Times, Knox, 49, was commenting on the school’s recognition of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender History Month. The special education teacher wrote that being of the LGBT community was a “sin” a sin that in her mind, “breeds like cancer.” She made it clear that celebrating the month in the school is like parading “unnatural, immoral behavior before the rest of us.”

Many gay advocates say that her opinions could cause her to not keep an eye out for those bullying students of the LGBT community, and that she may not fully enforce new anti-bullying legislation passed in New Jersey last spring. Not really sure how I feel about this one, because I think it’s sad that people’s religious opinions, which are expressed outside of school halls, can still get them axed. However, some people commenting on this story did bring up a really good point: remember the story we posted about the white supremacist principal in the Bronx who was fired after it came out that he wrote a string of books about minority inferiority? Well…this is somewhat similar. Not fully though, because racism isn’t something commonly taught (at least not out in the open), while Knox’s beliefs are a common view held by some Christians due to their personal interpretations of the Bible. But still, her known beliefs could possibly play a part in how she treats her students, or even worse, how they feel about being around her. As if there wasn’t enough as an adolescent teen to be uncomfortable about in school…But what do you think?

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  • Pfft…

    But people do talk about overweight people in hostile manner all the time on public forums and nothing is ever done. Facebook is nosy. She could have posted on her page in private but all it took was for one person to reply to her comment who did not have their setting on private which would have allowed for everyone that person knew to see her post and so on. No I don't think she should be fired. She is entitled to her opinion. Unless someone can show that this woman has gone out of her way to make openly gay students feel bad about themselves or has treated them badly, I would suggest you STFU!!!

  • guest

    I believe the lady shouldn't be fired but should be punished. As a christian and a student in the school of education this person should know better. Yes love is saying the good and bad to people you care about but its also knowing when to show compassion. People don't wake up one day and decide to be gay I know this because my sister and no matter what I will NOT believe she is going to hell. Also when you study to become a teacher the first thing they tell you is to respect the differences in the people you meet, no matter the race, gender, sexual preference. People are different for a reason, maybe when we understand that we will be kinder to one another. They need to leave this women alone. She isn't trying to hurt anybody that's just the way she feel. LGBT need to understand that not everyone will agree with their lifestyle and cause, and I think their making a big deal out of this to get attention.This women needs to think before she acts. Her actions were wrong as a christian and as a teacher.Stop making this about race because she's obviously just belligerent.

  • Amanda Douglas

    The teacher does have a right to her opinions but she doesn’t have the right to display them in a public forum, especially since they were about her workplace and most likely will affect her relationship with the children she’s legally required to protect. It is not intelligent to make negative remarks about your employer in the most public way and then act indignant when they call you on the carpet. That goes for any job.

  • Allie

    I dont understand Americans are so sensitive when it comes to certain topics even more so the gay community, ever heard of freedom of speech or the ability to have your own opinion…nothing is wrong with what she says on a social networking site as long as it doesnt affect her ability to do her job in the best way possible, not because more people are open to the idea of homosexuality means everyone has to conform and not form their own opinions, she is allowed to have that.

  • cj

    Look it isa sin and if you have never sinned then feel free to walk around pointing out the sins of others. Since that is not the case, who is anyone to single out a particular sin. She should be fired because she was hired to teach. Ic she felt so strongly about it, then she should teach in a school that doesn’t have any homosexuals. I wish her luck in finding one. She choose to not make her page private, so she can deal with the outcome. Freedom of speech comes at a price.

  • Paul

    I think this teacher showed bad judgement with her FB page and it's not her opinion that will potentially get her fired but the vitoral that can be read in her choice of words. I don't know if people are born gay, but I do know some folks that have had "tendencies" since they could form an opinion (9-12 yrs old). People really need to see FB as potential evidence that can and will be used against you in a court of law. Maybe she should look into teaching at a Private / religious school where others will potentially share in her opinion.

  • Guest

    This is why i don't have Facebook. Its just an avenue for people to be nosy and find a reason to find fault. The one thing that I have learned about keeping my job is to keep my mouth shut, opinions to myself, and do my job. Even though Facebook is part of her private life and she does have freedom of speech that freedom cost her job to be terminated. I have seen it time and time again where employees have posted things on the internet and have gotten in trouble. People need to wake up and learn what you post online follows you into the real world.

    • https://www.facebook.com/calandrial Calandrial PhoenixRising Afriyie

      I completely agree with your post. I am on FB and I ensure that I post things I don't mind being shared.

  • jjac401

    I think the teach should NOT be fired. She has a right to her belief system just as anyone else. The post on her FB page did not say anything about believing that LBGT people should me mistreating.

    Plus FB pages are usually just for friends usually although some use it for PR reasons. I doubt that the teacher is doing PR work.

    She just feels that is a sin.

  • Annette

    I think that a lot of christians are torn about this issue these days. A lot of us know and love people who are gay. And you don’t want to say something that will hurt them or alienate them. But the truth is the bible does say that the gay lifestyle is wrong. And anytime someone says it out loud society kind of treats the person like they are some kind of hateful person. And it’s simply not true.

  • Annette

    I agree with hello. I think the LGBT wants everyone to believe what they are doing is right and if not than the person is a bigot. I know this is a foreign concept in today’s society but you can actually care about someone and still believe that what they are doing is wrong. I wish everyone would stop comparing it to racism. The racist principal made a book saying whites were superior to blacks. Where did this lady say that straights were superior to homosexuals or better than or that she hates homosexuals as people? She simply said that she believes they should not celebrate something that is a sin.

  • http://twitter.com/hair_by_llyj snaillyj

    She should be fired. Its the exact situation as the principal. Her views are definetily going to effect the way she does her job. If she would be able to separate her views from her career she wouldn’t have felt the need to broadcast them on facebook.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1371160615 Uc Oh

      Well said. It's like a teacher making racial slur on his/her FB page then goes back to teach a diverse group. How do you think the people targeted by the hate comment will feel knowing that their teacher views them in such a negative life. She's a teacher-someone who educates, disciplines, motivates and inspires. If she's making such a vile and despicable remark about others, then what moral conduct does she possess to teach? The same bible she's trying to represent says that ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE and Love thy neighbor as ye love thy self! Which means, human beings should focus on bettering themselves and spreading the love of God NOT hate, cuz hate is from the devil. I'm tired of these self righteous pretentious devil's advocates who use the name of God to carry out evil and justify their hate, wickedness and lewd acts upon others. God bless everyone.

      • hello and hello

        I think people confuse judging with pointing out what is right and wrong. Clearly being gay is wrong. that's biblical! And it's not hate, people really make me angry with that crap. You're not suppose to accept sin. and being gay is sin, point blank period! And doesn't loving someone ensue letting them know the bad things they are doing. Loving someone doesn't involve just letting someone be whatever no matter how destructive it is. Wouldn't you want someone to tell you what you're doing wrong??

        • Reese

          What about thou shall not judge? Alot of people are out here sinning alot worst than homosexual. Alot of other relationships that people don't agree with. But you cannot put in on your fb page. She should of known her job would be in jeopardy.

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