I presented a very interesting article for discussion for my solo current event presentation. I discussed the topic of "Should students, teachers be Facebook friends"? Facebook and other social networking sites are more popular than ever. Whether students and teachers should be "friends" on these sites has become a controversial topic. As Facebook, Twitter and others have grown in popularity, more and more U.S. teachers have reportedly being disciplined--even fired--for sharing photos and messages deemed inappropriate by their school system. I've been reading several cases of teachers having to resign or being suspended for writing inappropriate things on Facebook. A Massachusetts teacher was asked in August to resign after posting comments on her Facebook wall describing students as "germ bags" and parents as "snobby" and "arrogant". Although the teacher said she intended the comments for her close friends only, her privacy settings were open enough that others in her town could see what she had to say.
Where does the line between professional and personal life lie? In my opinion if you wouldn't say it in the classroom don't use it in some other media that may get out to students and parents. You can say those things privately all you want, but if it gets out to the wrong people or students and parents, then it becomes the school's business. Facebook can be a valuable tool for classrooms...but remember if teachers extend the classroom to cyberspace, the rules go with them. Having a school or class-related Facebook page (for clubs, sports, fundraising) could be a way for teachers to use the site professionally to cancel practice or send out reminders. It seems as if younger teachers in particular seem to have a hard time limiting Facebook correspondence. For teachers fresh out of college, social networking is a natural part of their world. In the end Facebook is not going away and it is a great way to communicate, teachers just need to know how to use it appropriately.
Your Facebook presentation topic concerning whether or not teachers and students should be friends on FB was interesting. I think teachers who intend to engage in inappropriate behavior will do so with or without FB. I think what is worrisome about kids and technology is that their parents are so far behind the learning curve. This creates a cyber-existence that the parents know nothing about and fear of the unknown creates this anxiety concerning FB, Twitter and other new ways of communicating.
ReplyDeleteParents inherently trust teachers to instruct, discipline, and be role models (whether they want to be or not) for their kids. Many teachers spend more time with kids than their parents do. Facebook, like all new technology should be embraced to enhance the learning experience, not feared because it’s innovative.
PS I think I am drinking way too much caffeine… I argued in class more than I actually care…