Did you hear about the substitute teacher that is going to jail due to a pop up?
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
United States
May 21, 2008 5:05pm CST
I don't know the whole story, just what I read online today. But, basically there's a substitute teacher that got arrested and convicted because "bad" popups appeared on the classroom computer while kids were using the computer. She got arrested for endangering the children, even though she did not visit any bad sites.
Apparently, this was not her personal computer and was the first time she'd used the computer. The regular teacher had to log her into the computer, because substitutes don't have their own accounts.
The computer had no safety features or anti-spyware software at all. And, even though all this was introduced in court, she still may spend up to ten years in prison because some slime-ball infected the schools computer with popups. Personally, I would have questioned the regular teacher to find out which sites he or she was visiting off school hours. You don't just get this type of spyware on your computer for no reason. Be sensible! Someone visited a site they shouldn't have.
Keep in mind these were popups leading to adult sites. Evidence showed that the spyware that caused the pop ups were on the computer up to three days before the substitute arrived. So, how is it her fault? Man, I wouldn't want to be in that kind of situation. What a travesty for her and her family. Why isn't the school officials being blamed for not keeping spyware blockers on the computer? Because it's just easier to blame a defenseless woman? Apparently so. Did you hear about this case? What is the latest on the court verdict?
6 people like this
7 responses
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
29 Jun 08
I have not heard about this, but I don't think that it is fault of the substitute teacher's as she is not the owner of the computer. The school needs to treat her fairly for those popups. Thank you, beauty friend.
2 people like this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
30 Jun 08
Thank you for your response my friend.
Yes, indeed! This is a great injustice.
I would have expected more from the American
legal system.
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
28 Jun 08
Greetings beautyqueen26.
Gosh, I haven't heard this story about a substitute teacher going to jail because of an x-rated popup at school. I have to wonder if there isn't more to this story. I mean, it would be easy enough to prove the popup was on the computer before she'd ever touched it or worked in the room.
Plus school reps. would know which day(s) she would have worked at the school. I just don't get it. How does this happen? If she is so clearly innocent, how on earth did she get convicted?
I'd like to read the original news article on this one. Thanks for sharing. Take care.
2 people like this
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
22 May 08
I hadn't heard about this but it definitely is not the substitutes fault. Spyware can be found all over the night just from visiting normal, every day sites. And, as far as I'm concerned, it's the school distracts fault for not having a anti-virus software installed on the computer as well as anti-spyware software. Just seems like they're too cheap to spend any money for that sort of thing and would rather fire anyway and throw them in jail for their mistake.
2 people like this
@greysfreak (1384)
• United States
4 Jul 08
Oh wow, this is just insanity! That is so wrong that she is facing a ruined life and career because some irresponsible person was messing around on dirty sites. Although, I have to wonder, yes the other teacher could have been looking at dirty sites, but another thing could be that they opened an e-mail that contained a virus that in turn infected the computer. No matter the situation, I think it is horrible that this substitute is getting in trouble for something that was out of her control. I am sure that she was mortified when she saw the pop-up.
Also, another thing to consider is, it sounds like there were no kinds of protection on this computer, has anyone even considered that a student could have been looking at inappropriate sites? Kids do have curious minds. They don't always know right from wrong. I know a friend of mine searched for dirty sites on my computer when we were just in 7th or 8th grade! I kept telling her not to because I thought it was gross, but I am not very forceful, so I just looked away from the screen(still to this day I won't look at that trash! LOL), and then it was over. So I wouldn't be surprised if a student was responsible either.
I haven't heard this story, but I do think it's horrible when people automatically want the innocent woman to be at fault, when a good portion of the time they aren't.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Jun 08
surely with a good intelligent lawyer she could get off this charge as its so patently unfair, she was a substiture, so whoever used the computer before her knew just what he or she had added to the computer this case should be thrown out as there is no way this lady could be guilty. surely the school officials are to blame for bo spywared blockers.
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
28 Jun 08
I say shame on the school for not having the proper filters in place on their server to prevent this from happening on ANY computer in the school.
1 person likes this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
30 Jun 08
I do agree!
Maybe now that someone is going to jail over a
simple mistake that was not their own fault, schools
will be forced to change and get with the modern times.
A person should not be held accountable for something
that was not their fault.
Where's the mens rea (mental intent to commit crime) here?
I don't think this case will survive appeal.
So many more deserving criminals out there that
deserve to be locked up and not some poor defenseless
substitute teacher.
I guess it must have been election year.
You can always tell when politicians and district attorneys
are up for election. Cause they take on cases
like this and prosecute people that are not always
guilty.
Thanks for your comments.
Be well.
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
29 Jun 08
This is absolutely sick!!! It sounds like they are using her as a scapegoat of some sort. I hop that things got ironed out evetually. It' just impossible with omputers these days. One really has to be careful.
