False statements on social media can seriously damage Tennessee teachers, but defamation suits here face steep hurdles. Tennessee courts classify teachers as public officials, meaning they must prove actual malice—that the poster knew the statement was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth (Campbell v. Robinson; Finney v. Jefferson). Teachers must also show real injury, such as reputational harm, emotional distress, or financial loss—anger alone isn’t enough. With strict deadlines (one year for libel, six months for slander), swift action and evidence preservation are critical. Cease-and-desist letters or retraction requests may help before filing suit. While difficult, litigation remains an option when actual malice and clear harm can be proven.

C1.G and several friends were at a thrift store on Friday 13th, 2019. They placed wigs and hats on, one of which resembled a foreign WWII military hat. C.G. posted the picture to Snapchat stating “Me and the boy’s bout to exterminate the Jews”. While C.G. removed the post an hour later and posted an apology the next day, a parent had taken a screenshot and reported it to the school.

Districts and schools can face harsh criticism from parents, students and community members. Often times such comments can go viral causing conflict within the school or the community. As a result, officials often make the mistake of selectively deleting comments or blocking users from their official sites.

Amidst all the drama surrounding the case of the praying coach – Kennedy v. Bremerton School District – was an important free-speech question: when does a public employee engage in protected personal expression versus unprotected government speech?

Prayer in school has always been a controversial topic. Throughout the last century, public schools have transitioned from mandatory bible readings to a prohibition on public prayer at the beginning of a graduation ceremony. In this article, I plan to cover a brief review of landmark cases, including TN law, and a summary of the current limitation of prayer in public schools.

To begin, it’s important to note that a retaliation claim is not limited to termination and dismissal. In addition to the aforementioned actions, it is also unlawful for an employee to be punished for:

Question: When is a teacher's speech protected under the 1st Amendment?

ANSWER: A public teacher’s speech is protected when: