Posted on 12/05/2008 12:35:57 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Millersville University was correct to deny a former student a teaching degree in May 2006.Stacy L. Snyder, a former student teacher at Conestoga Valley High School, filed suit against Millersville University and five of its employees after the school declined to award her a teaching certificate and a degree in education.
Reports at the time suggested the decision was based primarily on a photo Snyder had posted on her MySpace page.
However, Judge Paul S. Diamond's opinion dismissing Snyder's suit indicated the photo played little role, if any, in her fate.
The photograph showed Snyder, a dean's list student, wearing a pirate hat and drinking from a plastic cup. A caption reading "Drunken Pirate" appeared underneath the photograph.
Snyder, a 28-year-old single mother of two sons, spent about three months in 2006 working as a student teacher at Conestoga Valley High School.
In the lawsuit, Snyder claimed that she was not granted an education degree or teaching certificate because of the photograph and, as a result, claimed her First Amendment Right to freedom of expression had been violated.
However, Diamond ruled that Millersville University could not under state regulations award Snyder the degree because she had not completed the requirements.
Her practicum was unfinished because CV had barred her from its campus. The university instead awarded her a bachelor's degree in English.
The judge also ruled that the university did not violate Snyder's First Amendment right to free expression because her role at CV was essentially that of a teacher. Teachers and public employees have limited First Amendment rights: they are protected when they speak out as citizens on public matters, but the institutions they work for may curtail them in their professional capacity.
The lawsuit named five MU employees: Jane Bray, dean of the school of education, Vilas A. Prabhu, provost and vice president of academic affairs; Judith Wenrich, director of the early childhood education department and the field services department; Beverly Schneller, chairwoman of the English Department; and J. Barry Girvin, a supervisor in the student teaching program.
Snyder could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
"Stacy is deeply saddened that, because of the judge's erroneous decision, she remains unable to teach in Pennsylvania's public schools," her attorney, Mark W. Voigt, said in a written statement. He said she plans to appeal.
Bray said she was not surprised by the judge's decision.
"It does indeed exonerate the university and upholds standards of academic integrity," Bray said. "This was serious for us. We are very, very pleased with the ruling."
Bray said the decision not to grant Snyder a teaching certificate or degree in education was the "result of a number of issues" including a poor evaluation based on her performance in her student-teaching practicum at CV.
Teachers supervising her practicum found her behavior consistently unprofessional, according to testimony at a hearing before Diamond in May.
Among other things, Snyder was warned not to be casual and share personal details with students. She also was told not to direct students to her MySpace page, or to mention teachers or students on the page, according to testimony and published reports.
However, according to evidence cited in the judge's opinion, a post accompanying the "Drunken Pirate" photo commented that students were asking Snyder why she wasn't planning to apply for a job at CV. "Do you think it would hurt me to tell them the real reason (or who the problem was)?" the post read.
CV barred Snyder from campus a few days after the post came to light.
Although Snyder denied the post referred to one of her CV teacher supervisors, "that denial was not credible," Diamond wrote.
"All teacher candidates must meet high standards," Bray said. "Any candidate who does not meet standards runs into different problems."
Bray said the decision to not grant Snyder a teaching certificate had nothing to do with the MySpace photo.
"Absolutely not," Bray said.
This is the 2005 photograph of Stacy Snyder posted on
her MySpace site that was deemed "unprofessional."
This is just in time for the 75th anniversary of the repeal of prohibition.
Not guilty, pending more definitive documentation.
She could have been drinking a soft drink. What’s the big deal?
Public universities are like alien planets anymore.
I missed this part. You should never let the kids get into your personal life.
If the practicum is incomplete then she is not eligible for teaching credentials.
And she’s entitled to post whatever she likes about herself on the internet.
And the school district, has every right to bar her from their campus, as she is NOT a district employee. The school district gets nothing from the college for hosting the practicum, while the hosting teacher gets three graduate credit hours gratis, as compensation.
Case closed honey...you blew it by being stupid.
Sounds like she was getting into theirs. Hoping for a replay of her senior year?
Maybe its just me, but when will it occur to the world that a ‘my space’ page is just asking for trouble?
From this kinda of thing being used in the workplace, to parents creating false one’s to screw with other parents kids, its one of the dumbest things you can do on the internet.
Well you could post your Social Security number and info on the your entire family tree going back 4 or 5 generations on the web. That would be dumber.
Yep.
It already is, my friend. Every HR department ‘googles’ applicants these days. They won’t admit it, but they do.
And just as you can get away with not hiring somebody with bright orange hair by saying ‘we hired a better qualified applicant’ thats what is happening today, now.
... Reports at the time suggested the decision was based primarily on a photo Snyder had posted on her MySpace page.
Gee. It's a good thing she never declared war on the USA, waved an enemy flag while our nation was at war, and bombed the pentagon. She's never get to work as an educator. < /s >
You do realize that it is "dangerous" for a president to even have an EMAIL address because everything he sends/receives becomes a matter of record, right?
Big Brother is here.
Thats been with us since the Watergate tape ruling. Personally, I’m amazed the Reagan Diaries were kept out of the public eye til after he was dead.
Walt Disney did not permit his employees to have facial hair or smoke. Note his cigarette and mustache.
If that’s the case I know a wuite a few Lawyers/Judges and Professors that should immediately resign.
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