Why didn't she just turn off the monitor and send a kid to the principal asking him to come to the classroom so that he could deal with it?

If there was a reason she couldn't turn off the monitor - I've known kids at the library that get into places - and if they don't turn off the monitor they hang paper in fron tof the monitor.

NowI'm going to read the story and see if I still make sense.

The NPR story says that she called the office repeatedly, and no one helped her. In terms of the monitor, it appears that she honestly had no idea how to turn off the monitor without turning off the computer. Sadly, that doesn't surprise me--most of the subs I worked with didn't have much experience with computers. Personally, I think that the school should be held responsible for not having a friggin' firewall in place, and I think the regular teacher should have known better than to leave the computer on in the first place. Don't get me wrong--the woman was unprepared and didn't handle the situation as well as she should have, but there is no way she should be made the scapegoat and sent to prison for 40 years, IMO.

(Beth, if you have time to listen to the NPR story, it's much clearer and more detailed than the blog I linked to first.)

Remember a couple of days ago when somebody (Sue?) was all excited about the Accidental Husband - that movie with Colin Firth, Sam Shepherd and Jeffrey Dean Morgan? I kept waiting for you guys to point out the best thing -- but you didn't!

JDM plays a fireman in the movie.

I just read the story

1) she had a really bad lawyer.

2) yes, there are pop ups that you don't have to click on

3) the school let the filter software expire???

4) I don't know a lot of teachers that have had any real training on computers.

5)I still say she should have covered the monitor

But 40 years - that's just stupid. and if she did call for help and got none, there are bigger problems at the school and she is the scapegoat.

3) the school let the filter software expire???

By a couple of years, apparently -- which as I understand it means the school system is out of compliance with all kinds of child protection laws, and makes me think that, while she may not be the brightest of bulbs, she's getting the shaft in the system's place.

I'm not a big believer in filter software, but I can't imagine not having it at a school. Too many kids to watch and keep an eye on. and there are sights that pop things up on you screen

By a couple of years, apparently -- which as I understand it means the school system is out of compliance with all kinds of child protection laws, and makes me think that, while she may not be the brightest of bulbs, she's getting the shaft in the system's place.

Precisely.

And to defend teachers, most schools do try to give them computer training, but substitutes have no such resources. They typically get paid between $50-$75 per day, I might add. $100 at the most.

she had been explicitely told not to turn the computer off.

You know, I just... I'm sorry, get scolded for turning the computer off when it's showing porn? No. That's just dumb. She could have unplugged the computer or taped paper over the monitor, or something. But sitting in front of the computer all day, clicking on the porn and putting her body in front of the monitor so the kids didn't see something? Oh, please.

And yeah, the articles I read made me think her lawyer was as stupid as she was.

I need a new job like woah.

anyone wanna hire a good project manager/get-shit-done - er/bossy mcbosserson in midtown NYC for 8:30 - 5 with willingness to work occasionally after hours if it can be done from home?