• Sweden edition

Headmaster fired after Facebook pic scandal

Published: 18 Jun 09 12:02 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/20148/20090618/

A high school principal in northern Sweden has left his post after publishing risqué photos of himself on Facebook and joining a number of sexually-themed groups on the popular social networking site.

Anders Karlsson served as principal of Norrlands Entreprenörsgymnasium, an independent school associated with a public sector business development organization in Luleå.

The 53-year-old Karlsson is also well-known within the town’s business community and taught courses at the school on religion and entrepreneurship.

But Karlsson was also active on the Facebook social networking site, where he chose to post pictures of himself in sexually suggestive poses and was a member of groups with names like “Multiple orgasms”, “Vi som är sexgalna” (‘Sex maniacs like us’), and “All sexy bikinis 4U”.

The revelations came to light on Monday on the nyheter24.se news website, resulting in an emergency meeting of the school's board on Tuesday.

The fact that the school’s top official and most prominent public face freely associated with at least one Facebook group that featured links to pornographic websites and had published compromising pictures of himself which could be seen by students, didn't sit well with the board.

Following an internal investigation, the board decided to ask for Karlsson’s resignation, saying he had “had a lapse in judgment”.

“Karlsson’s views on what someone is allowed to do as a private individual differ from the opinion of the board,” the school’s CEO Majvor Müller said in a statement.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday Müller emphasized that Karlsson hadn’t broken any laws.

“But he is the students’ ambassador and a role model. There’s a moral and ethical limit when someone works with young people,” the Norrländska Socialdemokraten newspaper reported her as saying.

Karlsson claimed he was the victim of a smear campaign by nyheter24.se

“They’re spreading obvious lies and I’ve become a victim of moral panic,” he told Norrländska Socialdemokraten, adding that he has reported the news website to the police for libel.

“I can say that my life has been destroyed and I’ve been deeply violated. The border protecting the sanctity of one’s private life has been grossly overstepped.”

Karlsson added that he didn’t think he’d done anything wrong, nor did he feel there was any shame in speaking openly about sex.

“I think sex is a natural and joyous part of life and don’t see any reason to try to hide that,” he said.

“Unfortunately, it seems to be unacceptable for a principal to have a normal, healthy sex life.”

External link: Article (with pictures) from nyheter24.se »

David Landes (news@thelocal.se/+46 8 656 6513)

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12:46 June 18, 2009 by justanotherexpat
Oops - not the best thing to do - surprised he didn't have an account on helgon.net too, exploring his goth past and penchant for fetishism........

......but on the other hand, they tend to be a bit less tolerant of anyting "different" in Norrland, so it does indeed look like an inner-circle witchhunt - probably all freemasons on that school board anyway.

"He's not done anything illegal but we'll sack him anyway cos......well........he's not quite one of us is he..........I mean.....come on..........he's almost certainly deviant cos he admits liking sex!"

Flippin' 'eck, it sounds almost British in response! Poor bloke.
14:12 June 18, 2009 by Nemesis
This is ridiculous.

OK so someone has a sex life.

What matters as a teacher is if he is good around kids, and a good teacher.

This sounds like puritan nonsense on the part of the authorities.

What next, teaching intelligent design, because that is probably the next step for this backward authority.
14:28 June 18, 2009 by High Priestess Kang - Slut
Eh...it's not so much ridiculous as it's a fine line to walk...not unlike any other profession, when you think about it.

Good, bad or indifferent, teachers are in the public eye and they work directly with children. I don't agree that parents or the general public should dictate how teachers should conduct themselves in their off time (so long as it's within the limits of the law) but I do think there are measures which can be taken to have some sort of anonymity when engaging in certain social/leisure activities.

It's really not much different than my hiding my tattooed legs when I visit a client. Why distract someone with something that should be of no concern to them?
14:34 June 18, 2009 by Benzed
What a dipshit. It doesn't take a genius, be they at grade school level or university, to work out that this is inappropriate conduct for a headmaster. If so inclined, at least use a fake account name to access unbecoming sites or networks. Either way, if you want to post dodgy photos of yourself at age 53 and advertise the fact that you're a sex maniac, you should look for a more appropriate profession.
14:43 June 18, 2009 by Jamtjim
The company I work for has a policy on alcohol and drugs. Suprisingly I am not allowed to come to work pissed up or after snorting a few lines of charlie. However I have not read anything which says that I cant wave my dangley bits around on the internet.

Mind you, I dont know what my clients, collegues or boss would think if they saw me. Who knows... maybe they would be jealous!
14:44 June 18, 2009 by Rat bat
Well I have no problem with the headmaster having a healthy sex life, he is human after all. He can do what he likes in private with consenting adults for all I care.

But I do think it is not quite right for him to parade his sex life in public on facebook the way he did.

Things like posting dirty pictures and openly joining groups like "Multiple orgasms", "Vi som är sexgalna" ('Sex maniacs like us'), and "All sexy bikinis 4U" is not right for a man who is a headmaster.

What he does in private with consenting adults is OK, but his facebook exploits are wrong.
14:48 June 18, 2009 by High Priestess Kang - Slut
Agreed, Rat bat.

It's not only unrealistic to expect that teachers cannot have t3h secks, it's also exceptionally audacious to think that they should reconsider their profession because they are sexual creatures. The only thing (and granted, it's quite a significant thing) the headmaster was lacking was discretion.
15:14 June 18, 2009 by justanotherexpat
"Either way, if you want to post dodgy photos of yourself at age 53 and advertise the fact that you're a sex maniac, you should look for a more appropriate profession."

Pop star?

TV presenter?

Ooooh a vicar!

Please. The problem here is excessive moral judgement as much as it is indiscretion.
15:45 June 18, 2009 by GefleFrequentFlyer
I fail to understand the attraction of social networking sites and tools. To me they seem narcisstic, menial and distracting from the real issues in life.

I'll remain Web v1.0 thanks.
16:25 June 18, 2009 by Greg in Canada
What an idiot. He knew he was in a public position as a principle so should have been more discrete. Who did he think was looking at his facebook photos anyway - his students??
16:32 June 18, 2009 by vladd777
...'taught courses at the school on religion'..!! Wonder which church he attends???
18:37 June 18, 2009 by Streja
Vlad, religion is a subject that covers all religions of the world more or less. It has nothing to do with being a believer of any religion. You can be an atheist and teach religion.
19:25 June 18, 2009 by vladd777
Streja..ja I know that. Was just wondering if he 'runs with the hares and hunts with the hounds'..so to speak.

Anyway it's still sad to read that a person who essentially should be showing good example is doing exactly the opposite. And yes..I am being judgemental.
20:47 June 18, 2009 by Bender B Rodriquez
Indeed, norrlänningar loves everything that has to to with increased govt control. They are also very fond of Systembolaget and Apoteket. Say anything bad about those (or the Social Democrats) and you will be an outcast...
23:57 June 18, 2009 by lingonberrie
He should get thousands of requests and pursuits now from the girls and women at the clubs and bars shown on the galleries each mid-week and week-end.

See what happens when you advertise?

I read a forum recently where one married Swedish young woman was about to go crazy from frustration and was also ready to start her own pursuit in town. Appears that some are very mismatched in these departments.
09:31 June 20, 2009 by Aigbe73
This facebook can break marriages, make people loose their jobs, create friendship and enemity.
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