Story Archive

Hot for Teacher

Leigh Anne Arthur said she took a picture on her cell phone for her husband. The private picture was still on her phone while she was teaching at Union County (S.C.) High School. A student found the unlocked phone in Arthur’s desk, took a picture of the racy photo, and sent it out to friends via text message and social media. “He had to hit my apps button and to open up all my apps,” Arthur said. “And then open my gallery.” School district officials gave Arthur a choice: go through a dismissal process or resign. “Students had access to very inappropriate pictures of a teacher,” interim superintendent David Eubanks charged. Eubanks was unsure, however, if the student who took the phone would face any discipline. “I think we have a right to privacy, but when we take inappropriate information or pictures, we had best make sure it remains private,” Eubanks said. (MS/Columbia State, WYFF Greenville) ...Better to teach a lesson to the teacher and not the student.