Dec 21 2008
Placing Students on Teacher’s Facebook
Most people are familiar, or at least heard of, the social-networking Web site, Facebook, especially kids between the ages of 9 and 19. Well, many adults, including teachers also have a Facebook profile. It is a great communication tool that was originally created for Harvard University students exclusively. It has since captured the interest of people from elementary school to the Baby Boomers.
To keep in touch with the kids, the teachers can add the students as a “friend” on their account. Well, this produces mixed opinions. Proponents say it is a great communication tool and a way to keep in touch and update all of the students in the class. The opponents say it is unprofessional and creates mixed signals and inappropriate relationships with the students.
In a technological-age, social networking is a common tool for networking and well, socializing. Communicating online can sometimes be more time effective and resourceful than what previous generation teachers used for communication with the students. However, there is also a concern about teachers being viewed as sexual predators by talking with a student online. So, is it appropriate for teachers to be “socializing” with his or her students on Facebook? I think not.
In a Mississippi school district, teachers are prohibited to communicate with students on a social network. I think most schools and parents align with this state’s thoughts. Teachers are not students ‘friends’, they are in a professional role and it should stay that way. Perception is everything in the education community and why even come close to giving the wrong impression?
There are other options to keep in touch with students electronically, in a professional way. There are teacher Web sites and Blogs that can be created for posting assignments and give parents awareness on classroom and school activities.
Keep Facebook for your friends, not your students.
In Florida it’s also not permitted to befriend any students on social networks. Many teachers have been written up and even fired in some cases because it’s considered inappropriate. And the students do get the wrong impression. There are other ways to keep in contact with your students, but myspace or facebook is just to casual for a teacher/student relationship
Thanks for the comment. I agree! Facebook is not for student-teacher relationships. Even if it is purely innocent, it can be misinterpreted in so many ways. In addition, I don’t really want my kids to know too much about my personal life! LOL
I’m a student aged 14 and i have been having an issue over facebook with two of my teachers. one male and one female. Will the teachers get in trouble for talking to me over facebook even thought it wasn’t sexual or innapropriate?But saying that it wasn’t exactly aboout homework either!……
even tho it was me who caused it all.
????
Personally, I do not think it is appropriate and could cause more harm than good. I would check with the school’s policy because I know some schools (as mentioned above about Florida) do not allow it, and yes it can get the teacher in trouble. It is best to avoid it and keep it professional.
I really don’t see a problem with talking to teachers on Facebook! I’m a 16 y/o girl in the UK and I’ve just left school, similarly on of my teachers has just finished teaching at that school. But we stay in contact over Facebook, it’s nothing innapropriate, just innocent everyday chat, nothing I wouldn’t say to him face-to-face. The fact that he’s 9 years older than me means nothing because now he’s just like any other person I’d meet and we happen to get on really well. In a way it’s just a coincidence that he used to be my teacher.