Teachers union sues Minnesota school district over policy it calls a 'gag order'

[TexasTowelie]

ST. PAUL -- The union representing teachers in Becker, Minn., has filed a lawsuit against the Becker school district over a policy it says violates free speech rights. Teachers and union officials have labeled the policy a “gag order.”

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Sherburne County District Court, focuses on a communications plan approved by the Becker school board in May. The Becker Education Association says the plan violates the free speech provision of the state constitution. The complaint claims the policy is “antithetical to the values of public education, which encourages personal growth and debate.”

Becker school district leaders have not yet responded to MPR News’ requests for comment about the lawsuit.

A draft of the Becker school district's communications plan prohibits district employees from making statements to “media, individuals or entities outside the district relating to student or personnel matters.”

Read more: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/minnesota/teachers-union-sues-minnesota-school-district-over-policy-it-calls-a-gag-order

[msongs]

1. next will they purge all jewish and glbt people nt

[JT45242]

2. Pretty standard stuff...

Was a teacher and union rep. We had policy to not talk to press about these things unless you were designated by the district or a union rep.

I work at a nonprofit, we have policy that states we are not to talk to the press and direct inquiries to the proper department.

I would need a lot more info before I thought the school district is out of line on this one. Especially, with "relating to student matters" , FERPA violations can cost big bucks.
Main story is behind pay wall.

[3Hotdogs]

3. To me, difference would be if it is "student" - singular or plural.

There have been many threads on D.U. about school working conditions, homework policies, record keeping, school ventilation during Covid and on and on. Prohibiting those, should be unconstitutional.

O.T.O.H., to converse about a specific student, .....

Then there is a grey area. A graduate of a high school student where I taught, was in all the newspapers. He worked for a company - you would well remember the name. Company went bankrupt and was one of the most hated companies in the country, like Pharma-Bro today.

He went to prison for a couple of years.

When the news first broke about the company and the individual, newspaper contacted his former English teacher at the school. Teacher was quoted in the paper, describing the former student as one of the most unliked students in our school. That was true. He was an asshole even then.

I still have mixed feelings about the teacher's comments to the press. I wouldn't have responded to the reporter.