Anonymous wrote:OP here - my child is 5 and SN. Teacher is SN head teacher at public school program.

I really want to be anonymous about it. Or should I tell other parents? I'm friends with the PTA president.

I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but....It bothers me immensely that the teacher is immature and dumb enough to post about this on social media (clearly accessible to those outside her 'circle') and to come to work smelling of pot (I hear what the PP's are saying but there are ways to ensure you get rid of the smell). I'd be talking to the principal regardless of what grade or class the teacher taught. But I am particularly concerned that the teacher is working with the most vulnerable population (SN, 5 and under) and that s/he's in a leadership position. Awareness and alertness need to be tripled, in my opinion, and judgment needs to be crystal clear as well as leadership. Posting about potentially illegal activity (assuming that this isn't in a state where pot's legal) and literally wearing that to work isn't exactly modeling behavior or exhibiting judgment.....

Every SPED teacher I know (I was one) smokes pot. It's such an emotionally and physically draining job that most people need to escape a bit. There are varying degrees of being stoned, did the teacher seem impaired? Are you sure it wasn't funky B.O.?

I'd be careful about the accusations that you smelled it on the teacher. Are you certain she didn't just come from a home visit or a tutoring job at another student's house before class? What if she lives with a roommate who smokes and she's trying to move out? Hell, what if she's helping to care for an ill relative who smokes for legit medical reasons? Photos on social media is one thing, but going to the principal because you smelled it on someone (especially if this does not happen regularly) is probably overkill IMO.

Also, LOOLLLLL to the person who said teachers don't smoke pot. Yeah, they do. I used to sell life insurance for an insurance company whose target market was educators. I was in my 20s at the time and wrote between 100-200 life insurance policies per year for close to ten years, the majority of which were on educator households. I can tell you that marijuana use amongst teachers is in line with everyone else in the general population who doesn't have a security clearance (or live with someone who does). As long as you smoke <16 times per year and can time your blood work accordingly, most life insurance carriers give no shits about pot use, btw.

I taught K. I cannot imagine being in the classroom under the influence. The teacher needs to be alert. Your child is in this teacher's care. Report her!

Anonymous wrote:OP here - my child is 5 and SN. Teacher is SN head teacher at public school program.

I really want to be anonymous about it. Or should I tell other parents? I'm friends with the PTA president.

Tell other parents? Then you're gossiping.
GO TO THE PRINCIPAL OR BE QUIET. Those are your choices. Let the principal handle it.
Grow up OP.

Send a note to principal with the link to the website with the pictures. Teacher should be fired.

OP here - my child is 5 and SN. Teacher is SN head teacher at public school program.

I really want to be anonymous about it. Or should I tell other parents? I'm friends with the PTA president.

I had beer and shot pool with my daughters fourth/fifth grade teacher. I wouldn't blink if she told me she smokes weed. But posting it online so the public can see would be hella dumb.

I would be less than thrilled about the lack of judgement regarding posting it online. However, I do know several professionals who smoke on their off time and are still very successful in their career and highly regarded. I don't partake myself, but depending on the situation, I wouldn't be overly bothered by it either.

Anonymous wrote:MJ is legal in DC. Grow up.

It is not legal - it is decriminalized which is different.

I'd be concerned about smelling it on the teacher at drop off.

I don't know what I'd do - it would depend on several things, I think - the age of the class, how well i liked the teacher (as a professional), how well I thought the classroom was run.....

If I was generally overall pleased, then I might just gut it out. But if anything seemed off - and it sounds like with another parent sending you these pics there's some talk of things being off - it should probably be reported.

I'm anti marijuana, for a his tot reasons. I try to tell myself that it's just like alcohol and approach it logically, but I just can't. I don't like it. So, to think of it this way, if a teacher came to work smelling of alcohol I think that would warrant complaints, no? Particularly if there was anything off in the classroom.

Anonymous wrote:I bet 90% of your kids teachers smoke pot. Posting about it is stupid!

No...thinking that 90% of teachers smoke pot is really stupid. Unless they have a medical prescription on a state that allows it they would be breaking the law. Very few would be willing to take that risk. I've been teaching for a long time. I can assure you that probably a few do pot and certainly alcohol in the privacy of their own homes but teachers are not reallying big on promoting substances to kids by example. Most teachers I know are fairly negative on pot and quick to look for signs in kids. Plus- being a regular pot user would definitely prohibit working to the level that is currently expected. In this case it really is the poor judgement to post on social media. The teacher is wildly immature, a pothead, and the administration would love to know why she is such a bad teacher to begin with. They didn't know. Now they will.

Anonymous wrote:what's the big deal, seriously? is he high at work? if not, is it really a problem? plus it's legal. not much you can do, nor is it a big deal.

- parent and teacher who does not smoke pot

Well, if he smells like MJ at drop-off, I suspect yes he is.

Alcohol is also perfectly legal and it isn't rocket science to know I can't have alcohol with lunch and do my job 100% in the afternoon.

I was a teacher who did smoke pot -- back in the 90s. I was extremely discrete, and NEVER smoked in a way that affected business hours or anywhere a student would see me.

Anonymous wrote:what's the big deal, seriously? is he high at work? if not, is it really a problem? plus it's legal. not much you can do, nor is it a big deal.

- parent and teacher who does not smoke pot

So you'd be OK with your colleague posting about his/her pot smoking? And you'd be fine if that person taught your kid?

Someone who has poor judgment should NOT be in the classroom!

- also a teacher and a parent who doesn't touch the stuff

Anonymous wrote:I'd be most concerned that the teacher was stupid enough to post that shit on social media.

I would think she'd be asked to leave - even in the most liberal of areas. Teachers are held to a higher standard - with the school community and culture dictating who should stay.

What a dumb move!