I'll admit, I was a facebook skeptic. After years of badgering, I finally broke, signed up and immediately got hooked. Sharing pictures and birthday reminders and getting the dish on high school people you never want to actually talk to again.... amazing.Sadly, a lot of teachers I know are nervous about joining facebook because it will be nearly impossible to avoid students and the inevitable friend requests coming your way. One teacher even joined with a psuedonym to avoid that awkward "Ignore" moment
The major concern for these teachers is maintaining that professional line between you and your students and avoiding a "worlds colliding" situation. Do you really want to worry about your students seeing every message, picture or detail listed on your profile? A recent eschoolnews.com article echoes these concerns:
"We're seeing, culturally, a shift of formal structure" in the academic hierarchy, said Jared Stein, director of instructional design services at Utah Valley University. "A lot of students call teachers by their first name. I believe that educators should keep a clear line separating educational relationships from social relationships. As long as the use of the tool is related to learning, education, or professional development, I don't see it as being a problem." http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?i=55535
On the other hand, some proponents claim that reaching students through facebook or other social networks where they spend much of their time could help teachers reach out to students.
So what do you think: Should teachers "friend" students on facebook? Take the poll or put your thoughts in the Comments section.
5 comments:
I feel like there should be a line between teachers and students. One of the problems in society, I feel, is that parents do not want to be parents. They want to be friends with their children. This is fine except that when it comes to discipline, these same parents are concerned about the child being upset or mad at them. A parent is a parent.
In the same light, a teacher is responsible for learning and classroom discipline. The teacher can be friendly to students. When it comes down to it, however, he or she is required to make the room one of learning.
Due to some unfortunate events facilitated by teachers who did not draw a line between themselves and the high school students, teachers in our school are not allowed to be called by their first name in front of the student body. I must refer to them by their title (Ms., Mrs., Mr., etc.)and their last name. This is a simple and respectful rule that we all have.
The facebook debate seems to go along these lines. I do have a facebook. I have not had one request by a student to be my friend. I guess I am a mean guy. Good. I feel that I would have to ignore that request until the student has graduated in the intrest of our Sue-Happy society. I don't need to give anyone any reason to try to sue me. They seem to appear even when I do what I should be doing in a way that I should be doing it. Why open the door?
I think many teachers might do a better job of creating an inviting forum for interaction and collaboration, but there must be a respectful distance between students and teachers. Just like there should be a respectful distance between parents and children. Another way to look at this is to consider that kids need their privacy, too. For completely healthy reasons they construct their own culture specifically to exclude outside authority and/or interference. They establish their own authority as an experiment, knowing full well that there is some other authority in reserve if they need it. It is an interesting problem...how to engage students without becoming "one of them."
The only question you have to ask is "Do you have a personal life that you don't want your students to see?." It doesn't have to be anything scandalous... just simply private. If the answer to that question is "yes"... then don't "friend" students. Simple.
If you DO choose to "friend" students, then it is up to you to manage every element that appears on your profile with the awareness that the students (and their parents) can view it at any time. This includes items that other people post about you (tagged photos, wall posts, etc.)
Re: Anonymous post
"It is an interesting problem...how to engage students without becoming "one of them."
I think about this one a lot. I always had a problem with the idea of "keeping a professional relationship with your students." It makes our existence in the classroom sound like a business transaction. While not trying to imply that we should be on equal terms with our students, I do strongly believe in establishing a human connection, one through which it becomes clear to the community that you serve: You are NOT there because of the paycheck... you are there because you care. If you keep yourself at a too far a distance, that element is lost.
To me the answer is to think of my position as similar to that of being a youth minister. Leader and mentor who succeeds through friendship not in spite of it.
I see some really good thoughts here. I have made a standard policy to not have anyone on my MySpace or Facebook profiles unless they have graduated high school. I have two exceptions and both of them live hundreds of miles away from me and I have known them and their families for years.
As a band director, our relationships with the students tend to be closer than those in other disciplines. As a result, I have had a number of requests from students, either those who I currently teach, or those in other districts I have taught previously. I deny them all and let them know to add me when they have graduated.
It's really kind of interesting to see how some of the kids from schools in north Texas have met some of the kids I've taught in south Texas when they go off to college.
Plus, I have connected with college and high school friends I'd lost touch with. Especially through Facebook.
Two words:
Absolutely not.
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