CB East teacher defends blog posts

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. - February 16, 2011

30-year-old English teacher Natalie Munroe makes no apologies for some of the critical comments she's made on her blog about students, coworkers and the administration at Central Bucks High School East.

She wrote the entries under the name "Natalie M." and never specifically identified which school she taught in or the district that employed her, but her picture was posted on some of the blog entries.

During a Wednesday morning interview on ABC's "Good Morning America", Munroe called the descriptions of students 'caricatures that were not based on any single student.' She also said the blog was meant for the few friends she knew were reading it.

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"I'm not sorry that the truth is out there. The kids don't want to hear negative things about themselves," Munroe said.

Munroe said she started the blog in August 2009 as a diary and a way of keeping up with friends.

"Just because I'm a teacher doesn't mean that I'm not a human being and it doesn't mean I check my rights at the door," Munroe said.

When asked by Robin Roberts on Good Morning America if she wanted to continue teaching, Munroe replied, "Yes."

"I have no plans for a career change, so I guess we'll see what happens," Munroe added.

RELATED: Watch Natalie Munroe's interview on Good Morning America

Controversy erupted last week when students found and reposted Munroe's blog where she didn't name names, but referred to some kids as "rude, lazy, disengaged whiners." She also wrote she wished on the comment section of report cards there was a way to describe a student as a "grade-grubber with an unrealistically high perception of own ability."

A portion of the blog entry included profane things Munroe wished she could call students in the comment section of report cards, but did not single out which student would get those comments.

Munroe says instead of being angry, some students and parents should look in the mirror.

"[They say] 'it couldn't be in this area, not these kids, not my kid.' Some people who think they have wonderful kids have kids who come to school and bully other people or are very rude and disrespectful," Munroe said.

Munroe, who's 8-and-a-half months pregnant, was suspended last Wednesday with pay. What will happen next is unclear, but the school district has said she could be dismissed.

Munroe's attorney Steve Rovner says she can't be fired because she didn't do anything wrong.

"They don't have a blogging policy. She didn't do anything that was immoral or unethical," Rovner said.

One of Munroe's former students, who now attends McDaniel College in Westminster, Md., said he was torn by his former teacher's comments. Jeff Shoolbraid said he thought much of what Munroe said was true and that she had a right to voice her opinion, but felt her comments were out of line for a teacher.

"Whatever influenced her to say what she did is evidence as to why she simply should not teach," Shoolbraid wrote in an e-mail to the AP. "I just thought it was completely inappropriate. As far as motivated high school students, she's completely correct. High school kids don't want to do anything. .. It's a teacher's job, however, to give students the motivation to learn."

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