By
Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 3:21 PM on 7th February 2012
Disciplined: Elizabeth Scarlett, 50, a teacher at Trinant Primary School in Crumlin, South Wales, was criticised by her headtecher for ‘improper’ comments on Facebook
A female teacher shocked parents and pupils at a village school after boasting about ‘drinking, swearing and sh*****g’ on Facebook, a disciplinary hearing was told today.
Elizabeth Scarlett, 50, a former teacher at Trinant Primary School in Crumlin, South Wales, was criticised by her headtecher for ‘improper’ comments on the social networking site.
The General Teaching Council for Wales heard how she had 81 friends on Facebook including 32 former pupils, 12 of whom were between 11 and 17.
At a disciplinary hearing she was accused of ‘grossly overstepping the line’ by posting ‘inappropriate and improper’ Facebook comments.
Some messages – which she claims were posted by an ex-boyfriend who had hacked into her account – referred to sex toys, getting drunk and ‘pulling a big black man.’
The disciplinary panel said it was satisfied that these offensive messages had not been sent by Mrs Scarlett, but reprimanded her for contacting former pupils.
The hearing in Cardiff
heard how Mrs Scarlet – who organised a school exchange trip to South
Africa – was outed by colleague after they saw the post about ‘black men’.
The message, which appeared on Mrs Scarlet’s Facebook page during the summer of 2009, read: ‘Getting pi**ed, dancing and pulling a big black man.’
Another
in the same time period read: ‘Thinking of buying a rampant rabbit. The
best place is lovehoney.com, they seem much cheaper on there.’
The hearing heard how Mrs Scarlet also told an ex-pupil: ‘You should pop up to see me or even better we can go out for a drink or clubbing,
‘I’m a very different person outside school I like to party hard – life is for the living.
‘I’m not a teacher on here. I’m just like anyone else, I drink, swear and s**g but don’t tell anyone.’
Another one read: ‘Ms Scarlett’s back from the pub. Had a diet coke. If you believe that you will believe anything.’
Headmaster Graham Phillips said: ‘I was shocked by what I saw on Facebook. I thought it was inappropriate and improper.
‘INAPPROPRIATE’ POSTS
The disciplinary hearing by the General Teaching Council for Wales, heard about several ‘inappropriate and improper’ Facebook posts written by Elizabeth Scarlet.
One, which appeared on her Facebook page during the summer of 2009, read: ‘Getting pi**ed, dancing and pulling a big black man.’
Another
in the same time period read: ‘Thinking of buying a rampant rabbit. The
best place is lovehoney.com, they seem much cheaper on there.’
Mrs Scarlet also told an ex-pupil: ‘You should pop up
to see me or even better we can go out for a drink or clubbing. I’m a very different person outside school I like to party hard – life is for the living. ‘I’m not a teacher on here. I’m just like anyone else, I drink, swear and s**g but don’t tell anyone.’
The primary teacher also wrote: ‘Ms Scarlett’s back from the pub. Had a diet coke. If you believe that you will believe anything.’
‘When you become a teacher I think you agree to uphold a certain set of standards to behave in a certain way and act as a role model.
‘But you grossly overstep the line when you post about drinking, swearing and details of your sex life.’
Mrs Scarlet had taught at the primary school since 1993. She did not appear at the hearing but said in a statement that she ‘did not realise’ her profile could be seen publicly.
She said: ‘I joined Facebook because my sister kept pestering me so I tried it. I found it very addictive.
‘I was consoling myself after breaking up with my partner and the daily visits to Facebook were a welcome distraction.
‘As far as I was concerned I had a Facebook profile which was locked to the highest possible setting. I didn’t realise everyone could see my comments.’
The teacher, who later left the school due to long-term illness, also claimed her ex-partner posted the comments about sex toys and black men.
The panel admitted they could not be sure she had written the sexual comments but they disciplined her because of her other posts.
She was handed an official reprimand which will stay on her records for two years – and will need to be disclosed to future employers.
Disciplinary chair Gareth Jones said: ‘She is guilty of being naive about how Facebook works.’
Share this article:
Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.
The comments below have been moderated in advance.
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
God bless Facebook, the home of idiots.
Report abuse
She isnt a teacher anymore so she can be friends with who she wants. Its common knowledge that when an account of a friend is left open you play around with it, its known as “fraping.” Leave her alone. SGC are over-reacting.
Report abuse
I read the headline and was full of anticipation ……..and then I saw the picture and laughed and laughed……………only in the UK, hehehehe.
Report abuse
“Does anyone want their doctor to be a part time porn star…NO?” – Lee, London ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I couldn’t care less if my doctor was a porn star so long as (s)he provided adequate medical care. In fact I would find it quite interesting/amusing. Stop being so alarmist and reactionary.
Report abuse
If FB is grounds for someone to be fired from their job then maybe allowing children under 18 (or 16) to create an account should be illegal (and actually apply a punishment). Parents don’t have to do any real parenting when their children are sat in front of a computer screen, I guess. This woman shouldn’t be stopped from living her life however she wants providing she isn’t hurting anyone. As for Lee, London, I don’t care if my doctor is a porn star if he/she is a good doctor. I read the article and these Facebook postings seemed to have no negative effect on her TEACHING (which is what she’s paid for). You idiot. Her mistake was adding people she knew were too young to be using the site. Lets also not pretend that most 11 to 17 year olds don’t write and say much worse things.
Report abuse
Every week we get the same old stories about teachers’ sex lives. If we must have shock horror, I wrote rude things on Facebook, type exposés then why not a bit of variety…. Tesco worker kisses in biscuits aisle. Checkout the hottest checkouts. Window cleaner spies woman in towel. Builders make lewd comment to passing girl in miniskirt. Taxi driver swears at pedestrian. Dustman picks his nose….. Constant reporting on middle age, middle class teachers being a bit silly has had its day.
Report abuse
You can’t have a personal life anymore everyone’s so inner! It’s her life as long as she dont do it in front of them what’s the big deal? Why are the kids or parents stalking her Facebook ?!
Report abuse
Actually, having read the whole article, she posted stupidly inappropriate things.
Report abuse
If people want this life, have this life, just stay far away from children as possible. If you are going to be around children, you must set an example inside and outside of school end of story. Does anyone want their doctor to be a part time porn star…NO? Then why would we want anyone who leads a full on extreme frivilous life to be around children, sooner or later their TRUE way of thinking/living will infect their teaching standards…even if it is just the case of children and parents finding out their darkside of their life.
– Lee, London England, 07/2/2012 13:21
Oh, I agree – in fact, let’s take it further: any person who is on benefits, parties regularly, has a criminal record, drinks, swears, smokes – [need I continue?] – should be BANNED from giving birth! Even better, to ensure real success, introduce selective sterilisation!
Report abuse
This woman was wrong for putting it all on public view, but how come she gets a whole article written about her? I know people that work in all kinds of public sectors (including teaching) that put this sort of stuff on facebook. Unless of course, one of the parents contacted the papers. This woman’s image will be tainted forever now- for example if people ever do a quick google search of her name, this’ll come up.
It was silly of her but she made a mistake.
Report abuse
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Related posts:
Views: 0