Sunday, October 31, 2010
Teachers and Students friends on Facebook?
This is not based on any reading, but rather on stories I hear on TV and the radio. It seems to be a growing trend that teachers are becoming friends with their students on facebook. I am just wondering what other people think about this. I believe that it is giving the students too much of a look inside my personal life. I am able to control what I post, but not what my friends post and I don't think it is my place to expose my students to whatever someone else feels is appropriate. I also believe you are setting yourself up for possible trouble down the road if a student wants to accuse you of saying or doing something that you didn't do or say! What do you think?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree with you 100%. What I do in my personal life is my business. I will say I have had several students friend request me, and have turned them all down. I also typically wait a couple years after a student has graduated before I would consider accepting their request. I know many teachers that accept student students as well. And while I haven't seen anything that would be remotely suspicious, the simple fact that you may say or do something that you wouldn't want your studnets to know about, is enough to make sure I don't accept any students.
ReplyDeleteStudent "Friends" on facebook shouldn't be mixed with because I think you need to keep that fine line between teacher and student. Sure we can help, teach, and care for our students but we need to keep relationships professional. For some students we as educators are the only role models some have. I like to keep my private life private.
ReplyDeleteI agree that teachers need to keep their private life private but I am "friends" with many students on facebook. They are all part of group that can only see certain things and none of my personal information. I have always felt that people who live their lives one way in real life and a different way in their cyber-life are a little shady. That is to say that I don't swear in front of students at school and I don't swear on facebook. I am "friends" with my Mom and my Mother-in-law and my 6th grade neice in Oregon. I live my online life in a manner that is respectful just as I do when I am out in the community.
ReplyDeleteI have made connections with students through social networking sites that may have been missed otherwise. I have also helped kids with their math homework through a facebook chat window so for me.. it's time to keep up with the times and embrace the technology that our students are growing up with. :)