Part of our first day back this year, was a "talk" from the principal about being very careful what we do on these social network websites.
She proceeded to tell us that an employee (she didn't say it was a school employee, but did say it was in our community) was fired because they posted on Facebook that they hated their job.
So much for freedom of speech.
But, hey, we live in a nation where a congressman can wish Sarah Palin was dead on his Facebook, and only have to apologize.
Being a Facebook "friend" of a student is not a bad thing in and of itself. I am friends with a few of my ex-students (I try to refrain from being friends with current students). The problem is INAPPROPRIATE interaction with the student like all of the people in the article. I think about comments online as if I were in my classroom - Would this be appropriate in front of a class? There is no "Vocal intonation" online, and sarcasm must be specifically spelled out. Dumb teachers that use social networking to flirt probably should be relieved of their duties.
I don't do Facebook, but I see no reason not to friend ex-students. Heck, I email several ex-students who are off at college--and a couple who have graduated college.
Or were you referring to former students who are still in high school? If that is what you meant, I completely agree.
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Part of our first day back this year, was a "talk" from the principal about being very careful what we do on these social network websites.
She proceeded to tell us that an employee (she didn't say it was a school employee, but did say it was in our community) was fired because they posted on Facebook that they hated their job.
So much for freedom of speech.
But, hey, we live in a nation where a congressman can wish Sarah Palin was dead on his Facebook, and only have to apologize.
Well, different standards for different folks.
Being a Facebook "friend" of a student is not a bad thing in and of itself. I am friends with a few of my ex-students (I try to refrain from being friends with current students). The problem is INAPPROPRIATE interaction with the student like all of the people in the article. I think about comments online as if I were in my classroom - Would this be appropriate in front of a class? There is no "Vocal intonation" online, and sarcasm must be specifically spelled out. Dumb teachers that use social networking to flirt probably should be relieved of their duties.
Simply no reason to have students, or ex-students, as friends on Facebook. They are not, and should not be, friends. Period.
I don't do Facebook, but I see no reason not to friend ex-students. Heck, I email several ex-students who are off at college--and a couple who have graduated college.
Or were you referring to former students who are still in high school? If that is what you meant, I completely agree.
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