I'm pretty liberal when it comes to acceptable activities for teachers outside of working hours. Blogging has made me acutely aware of the problems that could arise if schools could simply fire teachers for their exercise of freedom of expression in their private lives.

But I have really mixed emotions about this.

Stephen Murmer's secret career as an artist has caught up with him.

Murmer, a popular high school art teacher, was suspended after objections were raised about his private abstract artwork, much of which includes smearing his posterior and genitals with paint and pressing them against canvas.

Murmer contacted the American Civil Liberties Union on Friday, saying school administrators had suspended him with pay for five days because of his work as a painter and that he could face further punishment, ACLU legal director Rebecca Glenberg said.

Murmer has been instructed by Monacan High School administrators not to speak with the media, Glenberg said. He did not return messages seeking comment Tuesday.

Schools spokeswoman Debra Marlow confirmed that a Monacan art teacher had been placed on administrative leave but declined to provide additional details because it is a personnel issue.

"In the school system, personnel regulations state that teachers are expected to set an example for students through their personal conduct," Marlow said. "Additionally, the Supreme Court has stated that schools must teach by example and that teachers, like parents, are role models."

Murmer went to great lengths to keep his work life separate from his activities as an artist, said ACLU executive director Kent Willis. As an artist, he goes by the name "Stan Murmur," and appears in disguise in photographs and videos promoting his art.

"As a public employee, he has constitutional rights, and he certainly has the right to engage in private legal activities protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution," Willis said.

Like I said, I really don't know what to think about this one -- is there a line beyond which we teachers cannot go if we wish to stay in the field of education? What do you think?

More on this story in the Washington Post

Posted by: Greg at 11:23 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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