Hello,
I am Law Denning and I am a practising solicitor in a High Street practice. I
have been an expert on this website in UK law since 2008. During that time, as
you appreciate, I have answered thousands of questions from satisfied users on
a variety of subjects. Because we are all in practice with clients and court
and other users, I might not always respond in minutes, particularly evenings
and weekends. Please bear with me in that case
It is my pleasure to try and assist you with this today.
On
the contrary, Facebook is not Private by any stretch of the imagination, it is
public facing.
It
does not have to be about someone or about an organisation but if the average
man in the street thought that it could possibly be about (in your case) the
school, then the comments are probably defamatory and you could be subject
to a disciplinary. The school doesn't have to be named.
The
burden of compliance because of the job you do which appears to be a teacher, is
high and therefore a higher standard of conduct would be expected from you than
from anybody simply working in a factory for example.
I'm
sorry to disappoint you but I do think that they have grounds to discipline you
over this.
You
are quite correct in that they cannot tell you what you can and what you cannot
post on your Facebook page or anywhere else for that matter but they are able
to discipline you over it.
I
also disagree with you that there is a problem with anybody printing it off and
showing it. Clearly, the school has a problem with it because the fact remains
that you did it so the fact that someone printed it off and brought it to the
school's attention should be no problem whatsoever if you are actually proud to
stand behind what you say. That appears not to be the case.
Please
remember that I don't know who you are or know what the school is and I can only
base my answer based upon the facts that you give. I have no vested interest in
saying that you are blameless in this or totally at fault because it makes no
difference to me. Indeed, I have a higher chance of being positively rated and
hence getting paid for my answer if I tell you what you want to hear as opposed
to telling you what you don't want to hear.
However,
would be irresponsible of me to tell you that you have a genuine grievance here
and you should file it because I do not think that you have got a genuine
grievance.
I think you are faced with taking any reprimand on the chin and confirm
that you will not do this again.
Sorry
I am happy to
follow up any individual point you make
I am off-line
shortly until tomorrow but am generally online and off-line each day and most
weekends.
Please don't
forget to positively rate my answer service (even if it was not what you want
to hear). If you don't rate it positively, then the site keep your deposit and
I get 0 for my time. It is imperative that you give my answer a positive
rating. It doesn't give me "a pat on the head", "good boy" (like ebay), it is
my livelihood!
If in ratings you feel that you expected more or it only helped a little,
please ask. Thank you.