Protest over teacher's erotic vampire website

[KarenCee 3]

That logic could also apply to a child molester because their private life has nothing to do with the school.

Common sense would dictate that when someone is employed by a religious school, a certain degree of ethics is expected...

I beg to differ with you on this point...child molesters DO matter when it comes to schools. Here in Georgia (it may be national law, I'm not sure) they cannot live within a certain area of schools. So, if a child molester considers that as their private life, in reality it is not. But I'm certain that was NOT what you inferred to here.

I think if a teacher is not breaking any laws and makes a reasonable attempt to keep what they do outside the classroom private (or at least not known by the school or students) then they should be allowed to their right to privacy...period.

I agree, but it's definately not the case. Teachers, all educators, are strongly encouraged to monitor their private lives since we have such a definate influence on the community by virtue of what we do....educating children. That's not to say if you don't that you'll be fired, but it for certain won't do you any good professionally. You'd be surprised what some of these kids know about your lives outside the classroom...especially in a small community like I live in. People talk...especially parents, and those that are really good friends with other teachers in the system. I'm very careful how close I get to my own co-workers as a result of this.

I don't know...when I entered education I was told to monitor my personal life as it reflected on my professional life. I mean...for example if I go out wearing hoochie clothes and I See a student, it reflects on me. Fair or not, when you work with young kids you have to think about those things. What if I worked at a strip club and a kids dad was there and saw me...

I mean they gave us tons of examples. I'm fine with it, of course, but I don't know. This is similar to the woman who got pregnant out of wedlock and got fired....

Same here Caroline. We were strongly "encouraged" to maintain a higher level of professionalism when out in public. I see my kids and other kids from my school EVERYWHERE I go it seems...from the supermarket to the mall. We are expected to set the example and believe me, if you don't you will for certain hear about it come Monday.

Edited February 18, 2007 by KarenCee

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

While I do think someone should have a right to their privacy and the right to do what they wish (so long as they aren't breaking any laws) in their own spare time, they must also recognize that what they do may impact their career. Whether or not that's fair is moot, that's how it is in today's world for anybody.

This teacher understood what she was getting into when she applied for and was hired to work for a religious school. Knowing this, she still decided to create an "erotic vampire website." I personally believe she has the right to do that; however, the school also has the right to terminate her contract.

I'm not sure you can say "she knew what she was getting into" - do you really think that there's some sort of code of conduct that says "fantasy/horror/erotica writers" are not welcome. I wouldn't expect that... Why would she?

She is a writer, in addition to being an English teacher - that is not untypical. In fact, you will find that a good few big name writers were teachers at one time or another without. The argument here is with the specific nature of her fiction - vampire erotica. If she were writing C.S. Lewis type stuff I wonder if she would be having this kind of problem...

Here's another version of the story with some comments by a few of her pupils.

Teacher investigated for 'lurid' vampire websites

[KarenCee 3]

While I do think someone should have a right to their privacy and the right to do what they wish (so long as they aren't breaking any laws) in their own spare time, they must also recognize that what they do may impact their career. Whether or not that's fair is moot, that's how it is in today's world for anybody.

This teacher understood what she was getting into when she applied for and was hired to work for a religious school. Knowing this, she still decided to create an "erotic vampire website." I personally believe she has the right to do that; however, the school also has the right to terminate her contract.

I'm not sure you can say "she knew what she was getting into" - do you really think that there's some sort of code of conduct that says "fantasy/horror/erotica writers" are not welcome. I wouldn't expect that... Why would she?

She is a writer, in addition to being an English teacher - that is not untypical. In fact, you will find that a good few big name writers were teachers at one time or another without. The argument here is with the specific nature of her fiction - vampire erotica. If she were writing C.S. Lewis type stuff I wonder if she would be having this kind of problem...

Here's another version of the story with some comments by a few of her pupils.

Teacher investigated for 'lurid' vampire websites

Personally I feel that religious schools have some sort of "unwritten" expectations that one is expected to just psychically know ahead of time, and far too many "regulations" or requirements which is why I'm glad I don't teach in one. Of course if she were writing CS Lewis type stuff it would be applauded. Anything out of the ordinary and not in accordance with their particular belief is automatically seen as pagan, worldly, inappropriate, etc etc etc. Code of conduct? Oh yeah, I'm sure there is one...and they'll say to you that being a private school they are well within their rights to expect one to follow that code...whether written or unwritten. It just seems that if one teaches in a religious school, your personal life is no longer yours. JMHO.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

While I do think someone should have a right to their privacy and the right to do what they wish (so long as they aren't breaking any laws) in their own spare time, they must also recognize that what they do may impact their career. Whether or not that's fair is moot, that's how it is in today's world for anybody.

This teacher understood what she was getting into when she applied for and was hired to work for a religious school. Knowing this, she still decided to create an "erotic vampire website." I personally believe she has the right to do that; however, the school also has the right to terminate her contract.

I'm not sure you can say "she knew what she was getting into" - do you really think that there's some sort of code of conduct that says "fantasy/horror/erotica writers" are not welcome. I wouldn't expect that... Why would she?

She is a writer, in addition to being an English teacher - that is not untypical. In fact, you will find that a good few big name writers were teachers at one time or another without. The argument here is with the specific nature of her fiction - vampire erotica. If she were writing C.S. Lewis type stuff I wonder if she would be having this kind of problem...

Here's another version of the story with some comments by a few of her pupils.

Teacher investigated for 'lurid' vampire websites

Personally I feel that religious schools have some sort of "unwritten" expectations that one is expected to just psychically know ahead of time, and far too many "regulations" or requirements which is why I'm glad I don't teach in one. Of course if she were writing CS Lewis type stuff it would be applauded. Anything out of the ordinary and not in accordance with their particular belief is automatically seen as pagan, worldly, inappropriate, etc etc etc. Code of conduct? Oh yeah, I'm sure there is one...and they'll say to you that being a private school they are well within their rights to expect one to follow that code...whether written or unwritten. It just seems that if one teaches in a religious school, your personal life is no longer yours. JMHO.

As someone pointed out above - "religious schools" in the UK are not the same as those in the US. This is a public school (as in publicly funded) with additional private contributions from church trustees.

Who's interests are best served here? The school who doesn't want the "Scandal" of someone who writes "lurid" fiction, or the kids who will now be left with a supply teacher in the run up to their GCSE exams?

[KarenCee 3]

While I do think someone should have a right to their privacy and the right to do what they wish (so long as they aren't breaking any laws) in their own spare time, they must also recognize that what they do may impact their career. Whether or not that's fair is moot, that's how it is in today's world for anybody.

This teacher understood what she was getting into when she applied for and was hired to work for a religious school. Knowing this, she still decided to create an "erotic vampire website." I personally believe she has the right to do that; however, the school also has the right to terminate her contract.

I'm not sure you can say "she knew what she was getting into" - do you really think that there's some sort of code of conduct that says "fantasy/horror/erotica writers" are not welcome. I wouldn't expect that... Why would she?

She is a writer, in addition to being an English teacher - that is not untypical. In fact, you will find that a good few big name writers were teachers at one time or another without. The argument here is with the specific nature of her fiction - vampire erotica. If she were writing C.S. Lewis type stuff I wonder if she would be having this kind of problem...

Here's another version of the story with some comments by a few of her pupils.

Teacher investigated for 'lurid' vampire websites

Personally I feel that religious schools have some sort of "unwritten" expectations that one is expected to just psychically know ahead of time, and far too many "regulations" or requirements which is why I'm glad I don't teach in one. Of course if she were writing CS Lewis type stuff it would be applauded. Anything out of the ordinary and not in accordance with their particular belief is automatically seen as pagan, worldly, inappropriate, etc etc etc. Code of conduct? Oh yeah, I'm sure there is one...and they'll say to you that being a private school they are well within their rights to expect one to follow that code...whether written or unwritten. It just seems that if one teaches in a religious school, your personal life is no longer yours. JMHO.

As someone pointed out above - "religious schools" in the UK are not the same as those in the US. This is a public school (as in publicly funded) with additional private contributions from church trustees.

Who's interests are best served here? The school who doesn't want the "Scandal" of someone who writes "lurid" fiction, or the kids who will now be left with a supply teacher in the run up to their GCSE exams?

Yet it still has the religious school foundation. With the additional private contributions, maybe that gives them the "right" so to speak, to regulate what this teacher does or does not do. If they don't please those private contributors they could lose their funding, and I'm wondering if the public funds they receive would be enough to absorb such a loss?

BTW, I'm not familiar with the term "supply teacher". Is that like a substitute?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

BTW, I'm not familiar with the term "supply teacher". Is that like a substitute?

Yes - usually from an agency

[Fandango 1,440]

E's link:

http://www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.u...1185046.0.0.php

Her personal MySpace website, which has now been taken off public display, included:

Provocative images and videos.

References to her gothic writing which she boasts contains "adult content with vampire eroticism, violence and blood lust."

That is not exercising a reasonable attempt at maintaining privacy.

And who else found this funny coming from an English teacher????:

On her website she wrote: "The recent success of Vampire novel Gabriele Caccini has been the fulfilment of a lifelong dream."

The site reads: "Like all good author's she drew on her own knowledge and passions to write it.

But this school talk is all by the by, because she's getting spectacular press for her books

Oh and as far as this not being too religious a school:

The school's websites says that religious worship and religious teaching are important aspects of the curriculum.

Edited February 18, 2007 by LisaD

[DeadPoolX 9]

And as we all know, that's what is really important -- press coverage. Sure, she may no longer be a school teacher, but I think she'd prefer writing books for a living and making substantially more money.

The real losers in this are the students. Of course, that's assuming she was a good teacher as well. While there are a lot of good teachers, there are a lot of bad teachers too. I remember I had an English teacher back in High School who was pregnant, barely taught us for a month, had her kid, and then moved away with her husband. For the rest of the school year, we had a string of substitute teachers. It wasn't a pretty picture.

[Mags 112]

Oh and as far as this not being too religious a school:

The school's websites says that religious worship and religious teaching are important aspects of the curriculum.

They may say that, but CofE schools are REALLY not the strict religious places that that quote would have you believe. I know it seems kinda contradictory but it's true.

[Fandango 1,440]

Oh and as far as this not being too religious a school:

The school's websites says that religious worship and religious teaching are important aspects of the curriculum.

They may say that, but CofE schools are REALLY not the strict religious places that that quote would have you believe. I know it seems kinda contradictory but it's true.

no, I know they're not the same as let's say a Catholic school here in America...Lord knows, I went to one of those for a few years, and I know what strict is.

But the point I was making with that was to show that THEY believe it's important. On a sliding scale, they might be the least strict, but if they feel it's important to them and this somehow goes against the morality of things, then the fact that it's mildly religious is somewhat superfluous.

Perception is everything

[Heracles 417]

This kind of reminds me of the time when my buddies and I in high school went on a cruise to an area known for hookers and saw one of our teachers there. We never let him live it down.. Apparently he was hungry for a burger at 2:30am..

[Fandango 1,440]

This kind of reminds me of the time when my buddies and I in high school went on a cruise to an area known for hookers and saw one of our teachers there. We never let him live it down.. Apparently he was hungry for a burger at 2:30am..

an azz burger?

[rebeccajo 14]

Seems more a question of somebody trying a little too hard to 'promote' writings and maybe pushing the envelope a bit.

There are lots of professions that require a bit of public demeanor. If you are at all in the business of 'serving' people you need to keep your 'interests' in line with the public image of your profession. I don't feel that's unique to teachers or that they should be cut some extra slack.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Oh and as far as this not being too religious a school:

The school's websites says that religious worship and religious teaching are important aspects of the curriculum.

They may say that, but CofE schools are REALLY not the strict religious places that that quote would have you believe. I know it seems kinda contradictory but it's true.

no, I know they're not the same as let's say a Catholic school here in America...Lord knows, I went to one of those for a few years, and I know what strict is.

But the point I was making with that was to show that THEY believe it's important. On a sliding scale, they might be the least strict, but if they feel it's important to them and this somehow goes against the morality of things, then the fact that it's mildly religious is somewhat superfluous.

Perception is everything

"They" believe its important to deprive students of a senior English teacher (who is also the head of the drama department) in the run up to their final GCSE exams.

This is one of the books in question.

Still, do we really have to ask with all the riduculous furore over the "promotion of witchcraft" in the Harry Potter novels that this woman could have written 'any' type of fiction and still have found herself in this kind of situation. As a writer myself, unless you are huge (like J.K Rowling) you cannot make a living solely by your writing - and in fact, to be successful you generally aren't motivated by financial concerns. Hence there are very many writers out there who write part time, while holding down full time jobs in any number of professions.

This has happened partly due to the way the Web blurs public and private. The teacher did not even use her own name on her MySpace site, just posted her picture which some parent came across. We all have different faces we show to different sets of people. When we are relaxing with friends, we do have the same persona as we adopt in our professional lives. The internet raises the possibility of adopting an even wider range of identities, some of which may be pure fantasy. You can actually be a vampire if you want to, short of tasting the blood.

Which raises some questions. It is so easy to find out stuff about people online. If my employer found out, for sake of argument, that I was a regular poster on a metal website, and was a particular fan of satanic black metal, could that be cause for a witchhunt? Could I be judged by the lyrics of a Bathory song?

I am not denying that there are two sides to this. For example, I remember once looking at posts from a particular contributor to imdb.com who seemed to have a sick fascination with movies involving rape scenes. I wouldn't like to think of him working with children or vulnerable adults. But then, how far do we take this?

Just remember, though, folks. You may think you are safe, but in cyberspace, there are twitching net curtains all round...

The end result here is that the students are being deprived of a gifted teacher and committed writer. And that is surely not in the best interest of the students - yet some people seem to honestly believe that it is her who is at fault and not the school's arbitrary set of rules. They can do what they like within the limits of the law, but they are going to find themselves short of decent candidates if they are really that concerned by a harmless outside interest.

[Fandango 1,440]

"They" believe its important to deprive students of a senior English teacher (who is also the head of the drama department) in the run up to their final GCSE exams.

Apparantly so!

But then again, she doesn't know the difference between writers plural and writer's possessive...so she's prolly a ####### teacher anyways

Seriously though, I see this sense of 'entitlement' more and more these days. If you have an employer, you have to play by his/her rules. The school has every right to make a code of conduct or to expect the teachers to behave a certain way outside of the school. If you don't like it, then don't work there.

Oh wah wah wah 'the religious b@stards infringing on the rights of so and so!!!'

but as I said before, I'm sure the teach is most prolly loving the attn and the press, and her book sales will have most probably increased since this story broke. This could be her career making moment!