This has got to be “Education Fraud” or something…
Stacy Snyder, a recent graduate of Millersville University has been denied her teaching certificate because of a picture of her posted on MySpace. What’s the content of that photo, you ask? Apparently it is a picture of Stacy wearing a pirate hat and drinking from a plastic cup, with a title of “Druken Pirate.”
Ah-ha… you say. Illegal behavior. Young college student drinking!
Nope. It’s not even clear whether or not she’s actually drinking an alcoholic beverage, but beyond that, Stacy was apparently 25 years old when the picture was taken.
The school became aware of the picture and notified Stacy that she wouldn’t get her education degree or teaching certificate. Instead, she got an English degree. Period.
Wow. Talk about taking things too far. The school got this one way wrong. This picture was harmless, and the woman deserves the degree she earned!
How could they give her an English degree instead of a teaching one. Does it mean english majors are allowed to be drunk pirates?
The washingtonpost had an interesting column on this story this morning:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/offbeat/2007/05/myspace_photo_costs_teacher_ed.html
Maybe the Millersville administration was more upset about the pirate aspect, rather than the drunken? When you think of the scoundrels like Bart Roberts or Blackbeard, who can blame them? Although, I’m still uncertain how a land-locked campus in the heart of Amish-country PA has been affected by piracy. Perhaps the piracy of the latest Modest Mouse album, but not the seafaring type.
Then again, the Millersville mascot is the Marauder … a vision typically synonymous with pirates. If anything, she should be lauded by the admin for school spirit.
Seems silly to me to deny her a CERTIFICATE. I say if the schools are going to have a fit about the word “drunken” under a picture (or was it “pirate”? Hmmm…), then let THEM have a fit about it. They can decide whether or not they’re willing to take a gamble on a recovering high seas marauder.
MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY WINS “DRUNKEN PIRATE” LAWSUIT –
NEVER ABOUT MYSPACE PHOTO
MILLERSVILLE, Pa., December 3, 2008 – Federal Judge Paul Diamond has dismissed all charges against Millersville University of Pennsylvania and has issued a verdict in favor of five Millersville University administrators and against Stacey Snyder. The charges against the University had been dismissed earlier in the litigation. After a bench trial, the judge ruled today in favor of the defendants; Dr. Jane S. Bray, dean of the School of Education; Dr. Vilas A. Prabhu, provost and vice president of academic affairs; J. Barry Girvin, Snyder’s student teaching supervisor; Dr. Judith Wenrich, student teaching coordinator; and Dr. Beverly Schneller, chair of English.
“We are pleased with the judge’s ruling,” said Francine G. McNairy, president of Millersville University. “This ruling exonerates the University and upholds the principles of academic integrity that are the foundation of the University and our School of Education.”
“In spite of the national media saying otherwise, this was never about a photograph,” said McNairy. “To the contrary it was about performance standards. The ruling confirms that Millersville University has a quality teacher education program with high standards for certifying teachers and those principles must be upheld.” In her lawsuit, Snyder had claimed that she was denied a teaching certificate because of a photograph of her on MySpace. The photograph in question showed Snyder wearing a pirate hat with a cup in her hand, and the caption, “Drunken Pirate” below the photo.
Snyder attended Millersville from June 2002 to May 2006 and earned a bachelor’s degree in English, rather than a bachelor’s degree in education because she did not meet the requirements to become a teacher. Judge Paul Diamond ruled that Millersville University did not have the authority to award Snyder bachelor’s degree in education because Snyder failed to complete the required student teaching component of the degree; and as a result Snyder was not eligible for an initial teaching certificate. Diamond indicated that it would not serve the public interest and would be an impermissible abuse of the court’s equitable powers to order Millersville University to recommend Snyder for certification to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The judge also ruled in his verdict that the University did not violate Snyder’s First Amendment right to free expression.
“Millersville University is committed to serving our students and the children they will teach,” said McNairy. “Providing quality teachers for the Commonwealth and nation is something we take very seriously. It’s about the children.”