Teachers have a right to enjoy a private life

Should a local high school teacher be subjected to public scrutiny for maintaining a personal Web site on MySpace.com? That?s the question being posed around the community right.

Most people agree there would be no story had it not been for the situation that developed between former Centertown teacher Pamela Rogers and a 13-year-old student and her attempt to communicate with him and his sister via the very same Web site.

There?s no doubt teachers belong to a profession that demands a certain amount of decorum. They are, after all, put in close contact with our children and have an influence on them that is arguably second only to their parents or guardians.

A visit to this teacher?s MySpace site reveals no obscene photos or offensive content, but apparently some of her students have discovered her Web site and have been posting messages, and for some, this seems to be reason for concern. All of this begs the question, do teachers have a right to a private life?

Of course they do. This is America after all, the land of the free, and free speech is paramount among the freedoms we hold so dear.

Many people feel this whole situation is simply a way for the media to get a little more mileage out of the Rogers scandal, and if this is the case those involved should be ashamed of themselves. The big difference here is Rogers was guilty, and this teacher is obviously innocent. This is yellow journalism at its basest level, and it?s just plain wrong.