School board files tenure charges against N.J. teacher who made anti-gay comments on Facebook [View all]

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It was three months ago when anti-gay comments posted on Facebook by a Union High School teacher caused a nationwide controversy. Now, those comments may cost the instructor her job.

The Union Township school board announced today it has filed tenure charges against Viki Knox, the longtime teacher and faculty adviser to the high school’s Bible study group.

Board president Francis R. Perkins said the charges were formally filed in late December after a three-month investigation of Knox’s conduct, the first step in what could be a lengthy and costly process to fire her.

"Every student, no matter what race, creed color or sexual orientation ought to be able to come to school and feel comfortable in a learning environment that’s welcoming and nurturing," Perkins said.

full: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/school_board_files_tenure_char.html

I have mixed views about this decision:
- No student has ever complained about Knox harassing them directly in class. There's a difference between posting bigotry on a forum like Facebook and harassing another person directly with such bigotry.
- Hate speech is not a crime in the US unlike in many European countries.
- Can a public school constitutionally make someone give up free speech rights (like on Facebook postings) as condition for employment?
- However, if I came across my kid's teacher's facebook and saw comments like Knox's or how teacher boasted about being a white nationalist etc. I'd feel uncomfortable with the teacher.