A Word from Legal
SOCIAL MEDIA, THE FIRST AMENDMENT, AND YOU
Recently, there have been loud calls to hold educators responsible for their social media posts related to the current political environment and gun violence. These efforts to target educators for off-duty speech raise serious concerns, especially as they have included harassment, threats, and even doxxing (when personal information is posted online with harmful intent).
In this highly politicized environment, educators will not be given the benefit of the doubt as to what their off-duty speech means. Educators should speak with intentionality and care, if they choose to speak at all.
Educators must be especially mindful on their social media, where a post can go viral and appear all over the internet in the blink of an eye. While off-duty speech by educators on a matter of public concern should be protected by the First Amendment, the fact remains that if the educator’s speech is so extreme that it creates a disruption in the school community, discipline may result.
