I was tracked

TaraW1979 · November 2013

I was called to have a meeting with my principal today. I walked in and the human resource guy was there along with the union represenative and the vice principal. I was told they have been tracking my internet usage since Oct. 1 and I've been on 9000 sites during work time. (I'm not sure where they got that number from. That's not humanly possible). I was written up for misusing educational time. My principal was VERY mad. She basically said she would fire me if she could. I explained that my co-teacher has never really let me teach at all and that is why I have been sitting back on the computer. She didn't want to hear it. I'm only in this position until Dec. 1 and my schedule got changed all around. I have four duties added to my day so I have no free time at all.

I'm so upset. I've been crying all afternoon. I'm pretty sure all my chances of getting hired for a full time job are now over.

MeganNN12 · November 2013

I wanted to say I am so sorry this is happening to you. I was always worried the school I worked at last year would do this to me and catch my nest usage. Thankfully it never happened to me. I only visited the nest on lunch and preps.

I don't understand their animosity toward you. They liked your husband when he taught there right? It really seems like they have it in for you. I could not deal with the hostility. Like you said it is only until Dec 1st. I bet you are semi thankful this was not a year long position. Will you be staying home with Lily for a while?

TaraW1979 · November 2013

MeganNN12 said:

I wanted to say I am so sorry this is happening to you. I was always worried the school I worked at last year would do this to me and catch my nest usage. Thankfully it never happened to me. I only visited the nest on lunch and preps.

I don't understand their animosity toward you. They liked your husband when he taught there right? It really seems like they have it in for you. I could not deal with the hostility. Like you said it is only until Dec 1st. I bet you are semi thankful this was not a year long position. Will you be staying home with Lily for a while?

Thank you for responding. Yes, the principal LOVES my husband. However, she seems to hate me. IDK why. I wish I could stay home with Lily for a while but we need the money so I have to go back to subbing. I was going to sub there and the other schools in that district, with the hopes that another leave position would come up, but I'm afaird they no longer want me. The sad part is, this is where I really want to teach. I love this district so much and it's only 5 minutes from where I live. I was a fool for using the internet during school time but I was so bored since my co-teacher did most of the teaching. Also with a 5 month old at home, I rarley have time to check my email, work on my online class that I'm teaching, or shop online so I did it there. Yes, it was mostly done on my prep, but prep time is considered educational time.

jtmh2012 · November 2013

TaraW1979 said:

I was a fool for using the internet during school time but I was so bored since my co-teacher did most of the teaching. Also with a 5 month old at home, I rarley have time to check my email, work on my online class that I'm teaching, or shop online so I did it there. Yes, it was mostly done on my prep, but prep time is considered educational time.

As someone who works in IT (and having done so for a school system). If they've gotten to the point where they're looking at your internet usage, it usually means they're looking for a reason to get rid of you and don't have anything else concrete to use against you.

As for the 9000 internet sites, I understand how they got the number. It's not 9000 sites as in TN, Google, Amazon, etc....each time you bring up a website, your browser pulls down dozens to hundreds of individual items to display a page (ie. the coding for the page itself, the CSS script that determines how it is displayed, each image is an individual request, any scripts necessary for the fancy click buttons to work, etc).

TaraW1979 · November 2013

jtmh2012 said:

TaraW1979 said:

I was a fool for using the internet during school time but I was so bored since my co-teacher did most of the teaching. Also with a 5 month old at home, I rarley have time to check my email, work on my online class that I'm teaching, or shop online so I did it there. Yes, it was mostly done on my prep, but prep time is considered educational time.

As someone who works in IT (and having done so for a school system). If they've gotten to the point where they're looking at your internet usage, it usually means they're looking for a reason to get rid of you and don't have anything else concrete to use against you.

As for the 9000 internet sites, I understand how they got the number. It's not 9000 sites as in TN, Google, Amazon, etc....each time you bring up a website, your browser pulls down dozens to hundreds of individual items to display a page (ie. the coding for the page itself, the CSS script that determines how it is displayed, each image is an individual request, any scripts necessary for the fancy click buttons to work, etc).

Thanks for explaining Mark. So I wonder if the principal is understanding that or if she believes it was 9000 actual sites? I have to write a rebuttal so should I add your explaination in there?

jtmh2012 · November 2013

TaraW1979 said:

Thanks for explaining Mark. So I wonder if the principal is understanding that or if she believes it was 9000 actual sites? I have to write a rebuttal so should I add your explaination in there?

Most non-technical people don't understand the difference. You can include what I posted if you wanted, but honestly, I don't think it would be helpful. Like I said, even when I've worked at places with anal filtering policies, if they got to that level, they just wanted something concrete to ding you on. That just happened to be it. At the end of the day, it won't matter if it was 10 sites or 9000 sites. What you now have to defend is that you were doing anything not work related at work in the first place.

Not sure how the union works in your school or if you joined it, but it might be worth a conversation with your union rep and explain to him/her what's been going on between you, the co-teacher, and the principle. Then phrase your rebuttal accordingly.

TaraW1979 · November 2013

jtmh2012 said:

TaraW1979 said:

Thanks for explaining Mark. So I wonder if the principal is understanding that or if she believes it was 9000 actual sites? I have to write a rebuttal so should I add your explaination in there?

Most non-technical people don't understand the difference. You can include what I posted if you wanted, but honestly, I don't think it would be helpful. Like I said, even when I've worked at places with anal filtering policies, if they got to that level, they just wanted something concrete to ding you on. That just happened to be it. At the end of the day, it won't matter if it was 10 sites or 9000 sites. What you now have to defend is that you were doing anything not work related at work in the first place.

Not sure how the union works in your school or if you joined it, but it might be worth a conversation with your union rep and explain to him/her what's been going on between you, the co-teacher, and the principle. Then phrase your rebuttal accordingly.

I really can't say it was all educational. I was on here, about a dozen shopping sites, and the website for the online class I am teaching for the community college. The union rep was at the meeting and she said she will help me with my rebuttal letter.

jtmh2012 · November 2013

TaraW1979 said:

The union rep was at the meeting and she said she will help me with my rebuttal letter.

This is probably your best bet.

Good luck.....

shellyamf · November 2013

Thats a risk you take when going online at school. I often wondered if they would or did track me when I worked at UCO. But i agree with Mark that if they are tracking you, they are looking for a reason. It does sound like this position has been very hostile.

ImperiumWife · November 2013

I agree. Now I am scared to be on here. For the most part, I am only on my email, calorie counter, to do list, here, and google apps for things that aren't school related. I could even say that apps are school related, which they are. Even so, every time a new email comes into my inbox, it counts as another site visited. I would definitely talk to the union rep about not being allowed to teach because of your co teacher.

ImperiumWife · November 2013

Oh, and I would ask for more duties from the principal to take you out of the room, since you aren't allowed to teach anyway.

TaraW1979 · November 2013

I was given 3 extra duties. My prep was even taken away. I didn't think that was legally possible.

one2andnow3 · November 2013

I do not work and have never worked in schools, but is it a rule to stay off personal sites while working?

jjbmstinco · November 2013

IDK if ours is written, but I know its part of "professionalism must be shown at all times" which is written.

jtmh2012 · November 2013

aleigha85 said:

I do not work and have never worked in schools, but is it a rule to stay off personal sites while working?

Usually most acceptable use policies run something along the lines of "IT resources are for the performance of your job only some minimal personal use is allowed provided it doesn't cause problems on the network"

Like I said, having worked IT for my entire life (partly in the schools), nobody watches this stuff until they're looking for something to hang you on because they have nothing else documented.

jtmh2012 · November 2013

aleigha85 said:

I do not work and have never worked in schools, but is it a rule to stay off personal sites while working?

Usually most acceptable use policies run something along the lines of "IT resources are for the performance of your job only some minimal personal use is allowed provided it doesn't cause problems on the network"

Like I said, having worked IT for my entire life (partly in the schools), nobody watches this stuff until they're looking for something to hang you on because they have nothing else documented.

ImperiumWife · November 2013

I know that my school says we aren't supposed to use the network for other than educational purposes during contracted time. However, since I work with one student, when he is working on something that doesn't require my help, which is a lot, I can do other things. I do my best not to do anything extra, which is why I started writing fiction on Google docs to fill my time. They won't be able to tell...

TaraW1979 · November 2013

I hear ya! I did not ignore the students or my teaching duties. I was there 100% for the students each and every day. I have taught writing and social studies each day and supported the students during my co-teacher's teaching.

I was tracked

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