A Pennsylvania middle school is drawing national attention over students’ First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Middle school students in Chester County set up nearly two dozen fake TikTok accounts to impersonate teachers.
The New York Times, which first reported on the accounts, said a group of eighth graders in the Great Valley School District posed as teachers and made 22 fake TikTok profiles filled with pedophilic and homophobic remarks, racist memes and rumors about sexual hookups between the staff.
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The accounts first surfaced in February, but the district’s superintendent said more have popped up over this summer break. District officials said they consulted with law enforcement and acted at the school level. Multiple sources said the students behind the accounts were suspended.
“It’s so disheartening and I want to extend my sincere concerns for our staff and know that this has truly hurt them,” Superintendent Daniel Goffredo said in a news conference Monday, July 8. “Our students’ behavior has truly wounded the staff here at great valley. I want to assure our staff that we have your back. We are going to continue to support you. We will hold students accountable.”
However, the superintendent said legal action could not be taken because the accounts were created on students’ personal time and may represent their right to free speech.
This comes as a Massachusetts teacher lost her federal appeal after being fired for controversial TikTok posts she made.
The teacher – who is also a local school board member – said she was fired over anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-critical race theory posts on the social media platform.
She appealed the decision, saying the firing violated her right to free speech. The court did not agree.
