Yes, he almost looks like a girl in this one...
Posted on 06/16/2006 5:13:41 PM PDT by Jalapeno
AUSTIN — Until they found the topless photos, Austin High School officials considered Tamara Hoover a model art teacher with a knack for helping students find their creative streaks.
Now, she's fighting for her job.
The photos, which were posted on Flickr.com by her partner, depict Hoover in the shower, lifting weights, getting dressed, in bed and doing other routine activities.
Her abrupt dismissal highlights a new concern for employees: Your boss has Internet access, too.
"People don't realize when they put their entire diary out there, they're giving very private information to the public," said Kate Brooks, director of career services for liberal arts students at the University of Texas at Austin. "You never know what's going to appeal to someone or disturb someone."
The school district said the photos were inappropriate and violate the "higher moral standard" expected of public school teachers. As a result, she's become an ineffective teacher, she was told as she was escorted out of class last month.
The photos came to light as a result of a feud over ceramics equipment with another art teacher, according to sworn affidavits. Students who had seen the pictures showed the teacher, who then notified school officials.
Colleagues and students dispute the district's characterizations of Hoover.
"I don't view Tamara any different having seen the photographs," said fellow Austin High teacher Robin Lind. "It doesn't make her less credible or less respectable."
Still, experts say it's a risk employees take when posting personal information online. That's particularly true for teachers, said Bill Shaw, professor of law and ethics in business at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas.
"School teachers are supposed to be mature enough not to titillate their students," Shaw said. "A teacher is more or less expected to be a guide or ... demonstrably mature. And this doesn't sound to me like it meets those standards."
Hoover said Friday the photos are art and makes no apologies.
"I'm an artist and I'm going to participate in the arts," Hoover said. "If that's not something they want me to do then I want to be told that. I don't feel as if I was doing anything that was beyond expectations."
Some of her students agree.
"Many artists have nude pictures, like Georgia O'Keeffe," said 16-year-old student Austen Clements. "If Georgia O'Keeffe wanted to teach at Austin High, I don't think they'd say, 'No, you have nude pictures online.'"
Hundreds of photos of Hoover were part of partner Celesta Danger's online documentary of their lives together.
"I don't think I can be responsible for other peoples' perceptions or reactions when they look at my photos, it has to do with their state of mind at the time," Danger said. "I'm not out to change people's minds, but I'm not a pornographer."
Even in the name of art, Brooks warns her students that it's impossible to predict how potential employers might respond to personal information.
Sites like Flickr and MySpace.com have become popular not only with teenagers and adults, but with companies screening potential employees.
Internet career site CollegeRecruiter.com estimates that about 5 percent of employers research applicants on sites like Flickr, MySpace, Friendster and Facebook, but that number is growing.
Brooks said employers with whom she works regularly tell her they've rejected otherwise qualified job applicants because of material they found online.
Her counselors already warn students about what they post online. This year the university will dedicate a Web page to the issue.
"We would never tell a student to not put anything on MySpace or take anything down, that's their choice," Brooks said. "But that's the point: They need to be aware of the choices they're making."
Employers should handle the sites with caution, too, experts say.
"Information on those sites is inherently unreliable," said Steven Rothberg, president of CollegeRecruiter.com. "People post information about themselves that is not true. Their friends know it's not true, but the employers don't know that."
Hoover' teaching career remains on the line. The district wants to revoke her teaching certification, which would keep her out of Texas classrooms permanently.
Hoover will appeal the ruling and is prepared to take the case to court, she said.
"I never thought in any way I was doing anything to compromise my position at the school," Hoover said. "I love working there and I love teaching art. I feel like that's what I'm here to do."
It`s unreal isn`t it? I tell you today although I support the protection of kids, it has gone totally and completely over the top. Kids aren`t some damn untouchable holy angels, they aren`t these creatures that once you discipline them they will be "damaged for life"... I am so sick to death of this "think of the children, protect the children" politically correct bulls**t. There is a huge difference between a kid being assaulted and a kid being disciplined. Where we are today is we have blurred the lines between those two and kids know this. They can literally get away with murder now, literally. A kid can shoot his teacher and do a few years in some liberal psyche ward. To hell with these little bastards. I remember when I was 8 or 9, it was unthinkable that you would threaten a teacher no more than you would threaten your own mother. I remember one episode quite clearly this kid who was the same age as me, Jason Gregory, who lived down the block from us had hit punched his mother in the face right in front of us for her telling him to do something, and she didn`t do anything, and we were completely shocked by it. To this day I remember feeling just completely stunned, like I got in a car crash. I just couldn`t believe it. And last I heard of him, he got killed robbing a liquor store. He was the neighborhood psycho kid, not it seems all kids are like this. Anyone who doesnt think kids need a good whuppin upside the head need only read the book "Lord of the flies". This liberal mentality about raising kids is insane!
Hey Darma, does Greg know?
Keep the top on woman..bow wow wow
I'm surprised it took 25 posts before anyone even mentioned this freak's homosexuality.
It's not exactly clear from your post where you stand on the issue, but I don't think homosexuals, or other sexual deviants, should be teaching kids.
I would encourage anyone who doesn't view homosexuals as deviants to Goggle 1973 APA homosexual (or variations thereof).
Yes, Dorothy, they used to be listed right in there with child-molesters. And if it weren't for homosexual activism, and the silent majority's apathy, they still would be.
So here's a big "Cowboy Up" to the Austin School Board, and a good riddance to this freak (and her friends).
Youre in lust for that?
Somebody give her a steak and tater
She's asking for donations on her myspace.com website
According to their myspace entries, she is 29 and she is 26. I mean, "Ms. Hoover" is 29 and "Ms. Danger" is 26. My guess is that someone checked out links from Ms. Hoover's site to Ms. Danger's site, and thus saw the nudes...
No, but they certainly were offensive.
As in, have you ever seen such a bunch of butt ugly, pierced, sliced & diced (or spiked & dyked), Gothed-out losers?
The school should have run a background check before they hired her, and denied her employment involving children based on the freaks she's involved with.
A background check for a secure position probably would have had that result, and I think vulnerable children rate at least a "secure" background check.
A bit of a harsh attitude, but my grade and high school had an inordinately high percentage of homos.
I knew these teachers were somehow damaged goods before I hit puberty, and understood just how seriously F-d Up they were after. No way should they have been teaching.
Jobs amongst adults, fine. Around kids, no.
LOL! Ever since I watched the 'Blue Collar Comedy" marathon, I can't read or hear the word "tater" without thinking of the comedian Ron "they call me tater salad" White.
Very pretty.
**
And not hetero....
Yes, he almost looks like a girl in this one...
A waste, but Rossie will have her soon on The View no doubt.
That looks like it was taken 15 years later.
A psychiatrist friend of mine who's a psychiatrist attributes it to narcissism running rampant through our society, and, as a layman, I think that sounds right. But to dig deeper as to why America is this way, I think there are a few issues.
Number one is the big "self-esteem" mantra. A related one is likely the basic human need for attention, something that isn't fed in modern society with so many competitors. Those who feel they must up the ante to get that attention sell themselves out, IMHO.
"You two have sullied the internet by putting pornography on it!"
29 "Middle-aged"? If you say so. Jerry Lee Lewis
She's beautiful, but her pants are falling off.
I take that back ... the pancake on my head was too tight. But she's still losing her pants.
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