Bon, S.C., Bathon, J., & Balzano, A.M. (2013).

Social media use and misuse by teachers: Looking to

the courts for human resource policy guidance. Journal of School Public Relations, (34), 193-217.
This article featured the outcomes of cases between 2006 and 2012 that involved the use of social media in the
dismissal of a teacher. The outcomes were analyzed to determine how the First Amendment protection was
applied, if the teacher had tenure, and the type of acceptable use policy a district has in place. These policies
were further examined to see what key ideas were included within the policies. Specific examples were cited to
show how detailed some policies are, while others include vague descriptions. Recommendations are given for
how districts and teachers should handle social media usage.
Carter, H. L. , Ewband, A.D. , & Foulger, T.S. (2008). Have you Googled your teacher lately? Teachers'
use of social networking sites. Phi Delta Kappan, 89(9), 681-685. Retrieved
from http://cosoti.pbworks.com/f/3.5.2008.GoogleTeacher.socialnetworkarticle.pdf
This article discusses the growing topic of the use of social networking sites by teachers. The authors explain
how there is a developing issue dealing with the content and professionalism of what teachers are putting on
their social networking websites and provide an example of a college student who was studying to become a
teacher and shared a link to his Myspace profile in an assignment that lead to the viewing of graphic pictures
that were not considered professional. The article goes on to discuss the growing debate on what is protected
under a teachers first amendment right and the freedom of speech and what can get them in trouble and
possibly fired. After different teachers filed law suits against their former employer for violation of their
freedom of speech, the courts have developed the Pickering/Connick test which was developed from two
separate law suits. The article ends with a Call to Action, stating that teachers and those studying to become
teachers need to think long-term about what they post on the internet.
OConnor, K.W. & Schmidt, G.B. (2015). Facebook fired: Legal standards for social media-based
terminations of K-12 public school teachers. Journal of Workplace Rights, 5(1), 1-11.
http://10.1177/2158244015575636
This article looks at a variety of situations in which social media use played a role in the termination of
teachers. Case law regarding the first amendment is described and how it applies to teachers. Specific cases
involving social media postings are examined along with how the first amendment is applied to the situation.
Tips for how to manage use of social media in an ethical and responsible manner are provided. Additionally,
suggestions for how to create policies and guidelines are given.

Russo, C.S., Squelch, J., & Varnham, S. (2010). Teachers and social networking sites: Think before you
post. Public Space: The Journal of Law and Social Justice, 5(5), 1-15. Retrieved from
http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals
This article discusses the growing legal and ethical issues that are becoming common with teachers and the use
of social media. Two separate scenarios are described in which both teachers were fired based on their actions
on social media. The article then goes on to describe how the first amendment applies to teachers and their use
of social media and addresses some major concerns that teachers have with how the first amendment relates to
what the put on the Internet.