Comments on: Student Denied Teaching Degree over MySpace Photo

By: Alinah P

Alinah P — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:43:56 +0000

Noways, how can they refuse the degree of someone because of the way they wear.It is unfair to be gugded by your look.

By: DLyttle

DLyttle — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:45:31 +0000

This is a slippery slope if there ever was one. If we are not careful we could awake one day and find all of our basic human rights gone. Stacy deserves the degree of her choice, the degree which she earned. The actions of the university were arbitrary and capricious. I hope she prevails in her lawsuit and I hope she receives quadrupal damages. There are corrupting influences in the world and we cannot root them out without destroying the essense of what it means to be alive and human. If the university wants to improve the quality of life on this planet, then let then let them fight real evil, like those who brainwash people into suicide bombings and those who preach hatred and bigotry.

By: DLyttle

DLyttle — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:45:22 +0000

By: Greenman

Greenman — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 16:01:37 +0000

If the young lady in question fulfilled her requirements then she should have been issued a teaching credential. Although her behavior can be judged unprofessional, the University shouldn’t be the one to make such judgement. Rather, Millersville University should be more concerned with ensuring that ALL their student teachers are prepared to teach. Perhaps it’s time to re-examine the ACTUAL need for education departments at our colleges and universities.

By: Mary Ann

Mary Ann — Thu, 17 May 2007 03:50:09 +0000

That was ridiculous! She has every right to sue the university and I hope she wins. And having a drink (or more) is not against the law. The university needs to worry more about illegal drug use than drinking!

By: Mrs. P

Mrs. P — Sat, 12 May 2007 13:35:08 +0000

This My Space posting clearly shows a lack of good judgement on the student’s part. However, to deny the degree is equally a poor decision by the university. She is academically qualified to teach via her training, and as such, should be conferred a degree. It will have to be the decision of a school district whether she is employable based on her skills and her judgement. I would bet (another “sin”) that she has learned a valuable lesson that will make her a thoughtful teacher and excellent example to children as she matures and works through her career.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Thu, 10 May 2007 09:12:40 +0000

Teachers are no longer allowed to have a “private” life. Why? Everyone else screams when their privacy is abused. Teachers are human. They make mistakes. They lose patience with a child occasionally and speak too loudly. They have problems at home just like anyone else. They have children who get in trouble just like other families. Why do we have to be saints to be teachers? Children can still learn from our mistakes if we can be open and honest about them. We can model taking responsibility. But we can’t do that now for fear of being crucified by the press, by our administrator, by our parents. Then they wonder why we take a drink now and then.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 09 May 2007 20:06:42 +0000

It does seem rather unfair if this is the whole reason – one problem with voting ( should’ve gotten? by the way!) is that the whole story is rarely told. Perhaps to be sure we should all stop singing “What should we do with the drunken sailor” or “A pirates’ life for me (Yo,ho,ho and a bottle of Rum)” with children, in case they are tarnished with a drink problem for life. The ironic fact is that research shows teaching is so stressful that a huge percentage of teachers actually do drink too much to cope with the pressure.
I hope the public attention on this case will allow this student the chance to utilise the training that the public has supported by allowing her to teach.

By: Joan

Joan — Wed, 09 May 2007 19:53:40 +0000

What is really unfair and repugnant is the double standard that is implied — we have many commentators, political and religious leaders, and other well-known people who have PUBLICLY done something wrong. When it ‘all blows over’ they continue to operate in whatever sphere or endeavor they are in. That this girl is being denied her teaching credentials is ridiculous! Plus, as a teacher, I have known many others who did take a drink or two too many when in party circumstances; but, it did not impair their functioning as teachers!

By: Charles

Charles — Wed, 09 May 2007 17:44:31 +0000

To deny a degree for such a flimsy excuse—does sound like a fairly serious civil rights violation to me and I certain hope that Ms. Snyder will find a good lawyer and sue the pants off the university administrators who made that decision. The case is only slightly weakened if there is more to the story or if the school is a bastion of Bible-Belt Baptist bigotry committed to stamping out alcohol. It happens that I no longer drink precisely because I used to drink way too much in my college and university (grad school) days, but this doesn’t mean ANYTHING regarding how other people should behave or be treated, and if every graduate student who drank to excess were denied a degree….well, I guess the one positive result is we wouldn’t have nearly enough Ph.D.s around to fill all positions, so academic salaries might start to creep up again….