Full question:
Can a principal tell a teacher that she/he cannot speak to school board directors without his permission outside of school hours? I am being 'reprimanded' for speaking to school board members on my own time. There is no written policy on this. Also, I am a member of a political organization that meets monthly and I see and have neighbors who ask me questions/complaints to in return ask the school board of directors.
- Category: Employment
- Date:
- State: National
Answer:
Teachers generally have the right to freedom of expression, including speaking to school board members on their own time. However, there are some limitations. For instance, teachers cannot disrupt educational activities or undermine authority within the school. While teachers at private schools may have less protection than those at public schools, they still retain the right to comment on public matters related to their roles.
Disciplining a teacher for speaking on matters of public importance is generally not permissible unless it can be demonstrated that the speech significantly harms school operations. School administrators cannot impose overly broad or biased rules that limit how teachers communicate with school members unless it is clear that such communication would negatively impact the workplace.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.