Don't Blog

I too am currently undergoing extreme harrassment from my boss. In 2003 I started a 'poetry/muse' blog. For almost five years I had taken, what I had thought to be, all due care to ensure that my blog could not be attached to my true identity, work place etc. The poetry I write is very explicit in content, containing sexual material and explicity language. I have been teaching for twelve years. This year our old Principal retired and we go a new, younger, tech savy Principal. This Principal researched all of his staff members via the internet. Unbeknown to me, there was a reference made on one of my deleted blog entries three years ago pertaining to my real name and the country I live in due to some of my material having been published by a New Zealand publisher, but of course, many people know that a post is never truly deleted. My blog post turned up in the Wayback Time Machine Archives and the new Principal was able to make a direct connection between my poetry and my real life identity. Of course the picture is much bigger than simply being about me and my 'dirty little poetry blog', our school is currently undergoing radical change with a move towards privatisation. The Principal is endeavouring to fire all permanent teachers, replacing them instead, with temporary, short-term teachers, the aim being, minimal redudancy payments will need to be paid out at the end of the day to permanant teachers who stand their ground. Unforturnately, my poetry blog has become the vehicle through which the new Principal is seeking to not only dismiss me, but ensure that I never teach again. This is the first incident that I am aware of in New Zealand where a blog is being used as evidence to dismiss someone from their career. I am currently seeking legal advice and am prepared to fight this battle through to the end, I can't guarantee that I will win, but hopefully, I will uncover many other injustices that are going on in the NZ educational sector during the process. I still blog, I'm now being much wiser and more discrete.
By the way, I too am 'savy' at internet research, it seems that our new 'Principal' may not be all he would seem to be, he has had very little teaching, management experience within a school, but he has worked for the Ministry of Education and he has a doctorate in business studies... Interesting hu?

Great blog by the way, I haven't read it too thoroughly yet,it's great to see you pointing out some of the risks associated with blogging, but I sure hope that people don't turn into frightened little lambs and quit speaking out! Blogging can bring to light many injustices and give a voice to the 'little people' of this world, if it is conducted carefully and wisely.

Thanks