Blogging teacher back, but with few students

Natalie Munroe, who was suspended and reinstated by Central Bucks High School East, returned to school today. But it was unclear whether or not she had students to teach. (File, Bill Reed / Staff)
Natalie Munroe, who was suspended and reinstated by Central Bucks High School East, returned to school today. But it was unclear whether or not she had students to teach. (File, Bill Reed / Staff)
Posted: August 31, 2011

Natalie Munroe, the Central Bucks High School East teacher suspended for her scathing blog about students, is back today and teaching classes of 10 to 14 students on the first full day of school, her lawyer said this morning.

Most of Monroe's 90 students are being taught by substitute teachers, who were given "mirror schedules" of the 11th grade English teacher's schedule, Steven Rovner said. That includes homeroom, which students also were "encouraged" to opt out of, he said.

"There were siblings of students who had Natalie and wanted to opt into her classes, but they (students) could only opt out of classes," Rovner said about the district's unusual policy of allowing students to transfer out of Munroe's classes.

As of last week, more than two-thirds of her students had requested transfers, prompting the administration to consider assigning a substitute to cover the three classes.

A district spokesperson could not confirm whether Munroe was teaching. Munroe could not be reached at the Doylestown school.

Several students said they were tired of the attention Munroe has brought to their high school.

"I just want to look forward to my last year," said one senior who asked that her name not be used. "I don't want people who don't know who we are to ruin our last year. Some of the people she wrote about are my friends, and it shouldn't be my problem to have to deal with this."

Munroe's blog posts made earlier this year did not identify students or the school. But she called some students "frightfully dim" and "utterly loathsome."

She was suspended in February when the posts became publicly known. Munroe took down the blog that month, but she has resumed posting comments about the district in addition to musings about recipes and restaurants. She has not posted any comments since early August.

The district said the 11th grade English teacher had a legal right to return to work, but it allowed students to transfer out of her class.

Munroe vowed to return to work even if her classrooms are empty. Her return took some by surprise.

"I didnt know she was coming back," a cafeteria worker said. "I guess I'll hear it from the kids."

The worker, who asked that her name not be used, said that last year students "weren't happy" about Munroe and the controversy her blog generated.

"I don't care," senior Keegan Beljanski said about Munroe's return. He did not have her as a teacher last year. "It'll pass in a week or so."

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