George was getting ready to do his student teaching in a school district where he hopes to be employed after graduation. Over the weekend, some friends tagged George in several wild party pictures that they posted on the social networking site Facebook. On Monday the principal of the school called George, saying that they would not be able to work George into their schedule. What grounds would the principal have for making that decision?
A) There is no telling. Facebook privacy settings should have protected him.
B) The principal violated George's First Amendment right of free association.
C) Pictures of actions such as drinking and smoking are considered "red flags" by potential employers.
D) As long as the activities depicted in the photos were legal, the principal would have no grounds to deny George the job.
E) Potential employers can deny employment for any reason, or for no reason.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Many employers view pictures of partying and other "wild" activities as red flags, and may choose not to hire someone based on those images. While George's privacy settings may protect him from some viewers, it is possible that the principal or other school officials saw the photos through a mutual friend or other means. Additionally, while George has a right to free association, that right is not absolute and can be limited in certain circumstances, such as when it may interfere with the safety or well-being of others. Ultimately, potential employers do have a lot of discretion in hiring decisions and may choose not to hire someone for reasons that may not be immediately obvious or apparent.

George Was Getting Ready to Do His Student Teaching in a School