Teachers' Facebook Troubles

[proud2BlibKansan]

Teachers have been warned. In the days leading up to the new school year, school administrations across the country cautioned teachers about Facebook, friending students, and the dangers of social media. Although many have no official policy prohibiting the use of social networking sites, most have strong opinions on the appropriate use of Facebook and the increasingly common scenario of teachers accepting friend requests from current students.

Rules Vary

In Florida, Lee County school district issued guidelines to their teachers saying it was “inappropriate” for them to correspond with students through social media sites and urging them to be conscious of possible issues that might arise when communicating with students or parents in any manner.

Lee County may be ahead of the curve, but they aren’t the only school district putting policy to paper. Mercy High School in Burlingame, CA, included the following in the policy handbook issued to all its teachers:

"Regarding use of Facebook or other social media sites: the school requires that faculty/staff/coaches not "friend" current students of Mercy High School. It is the feeling of the school administration that "friending" current students may place the faculty/staff/coaches as well as the student in a compromising position as the content on these sites may at times be inappropriate for school personnel to share."

more . . . http://www.care2.com/causes/education/blog/teachers-told-to-unfriend-students/

[blaze]

1. OK. I'm sorry. But I had to chuckle a little

This past week, we (school district employees) received an email to check out our District's Facebook page.

But.... if you try to connect via the District, Facebook is blocked.

I can connect from home... and there's not all that much to check out....

But really.

Let's get on the same page.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. LOL same here

Plus someone keeps setting up other FB pages with our district's name. So we are now getting notices asking that the counterfeit pages be taken down.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. You know I think schools really don't get FB

or other social media


Hell, to some this place could be seen as social media. And it is.

[WinkyDink]

3. "In addition, teaching staff must not patronize local movie theatres, bar-restaurants, 'rock'-type

concerts, or local drug-stores except to purchase items of a non-personal nature. Finally, please place on file in the central office your religious affiliation and place of worship."

[teenagebambam]

6. You laugh, but....

The private, non-church affiliated UNIVERSITY where I teach has an actual policy on the books that, if I am in an establishment that serves alcohol and a current student comes in, I'm supposed to immediately leave.

[customerserviceguy]

4. Facebook is just pretty much a place

for goofy people to show the world how naive they are. At least that's the impression I get when my lady shows me all the "Look what _______ has done!" when she peruses the Facebook pages of our friends' kids.

I support the school in this initiative. There are plenty of other places for teachers and students to interact. Classrooms have served this purpose for many years.

[depakid]

7. Facebook (along with twitter) are incalculably useful devices for outing the stupid

in all walks of life.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. There's also a lot of important networking on FB

For example, every candidate I know of has a FB page.

[Skidmore]

9. I can't work up any outrage for this one.

It is the electronic version of the town gossips out and about reporting spotting a teacher at a bar to the school authorities. I know a retired teacher who told me once that when she and her husband wanted to go out for the evening, they went out to a town about 50 miles away because you never knew who would see you with a drink in your hand. It's not teachers being singled out for persecution in this manner. In fact, you can read about all types of employers who regularly look on FB to check on their employees and prospective hires in this manner.