Am I the only one that can see a school district being sued for actions or inactions of a teacher who friends a student on FB? Am I off my rocker?

 

Inactions would be a concern. I'll be the first to admit that I only read about 50% of posts by my friends on Facebook. So what if a student posts something serious (about suicide, drug use, etc.) and I breeze over it because I'm not really paying attention? Does that put me at fault for not doing something about it?

Of course, as I said previously, parents are always culpable. If I were king ie superintendent my #1 priority is to protect the school district. Again, the issue of it being a law is fair. My point is that a leader of the school has to eliminate potential lawsuits and problems. FB is not necessary and it is NOT the only option for communicating AND it has many downsides thus no go for me. It's different than your cell phone example because I can't see texts that students send to other students. I have plausible deniability. My argument is very specific.

 

The bold is your problem. As superintendent, your #1 priority should be seeing the students in your district become successful adults. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

I don't have any students on my personal FB, but I do have former students. I do have a FB page for the sport I coach, which I use to send out announcements.

This thread gives me a whole new appreciation for teachers. I do not know any other profession that allows others, not in that profession , to dictate and jusge what they do.

What I fail to see is how facebook causes or entices illicit behavior on the part of teachers. Why is this expected? What can be more easily accomplished on facebook by a corrupt teacher that couldn't be through email, text messaging, or any other form of interaction?

What I fail to see is how facebook causes or entices illicit behavior on the part of teachers. Why is this expected? What can be more easily accomplished on facebook by a corrupt teacher that couldn't be through email, text messaging, or any other form of interaction?

 

An honest teacher could be put in a bad situation via facebook even if it is just rumors. An honest teacher doesn't have to worry about students texting them if they do not give their number out. Email and facebook can have similar problems, but do you not think that by having a teacher on your facebook as a student would possibly create problems for even the most professional of teachers?

 

My thing is why would a teacher want to be buddies with their students? To me having students on your facebook is going to blur that line for many students. JMO

 

This thread gives me a whole new appreciation for teachers. I do not know any other profession that allows others, not in that profession , to dictate and jusge what they do.

 

How many other professions are there were public opinion is so important. If the parents do not have respect for the teachers in a school, neither will the students. Public perception is huge in teaching IMO.

 

Inactions would be a concern. I'll be the first to admit that I only read about 50% of posts by my friends on Facebook. So what if a student posts something serious (about suicide, drug use, etc.) and I breeze over it because I'm not really paying attention? Does that put me at fault for not doing something about it?

 

I do believe a teacher could be held at fault but I don't know how likely that outcome is. A teacher has the duty to report of potentially harmful things students may do or have happen to them. Probably hard to prove in court, but eventually I could see a teacher losing everything over a case like that.

I'd ask mom why SHE wasn't paying attention to what her kid posts. That's absurd. I have FB, and I don't friend students. I think teacher's shouldn't but that kind of thinking is absurd. When I heard about the law, I was dumbfounded. What's next........no cell phones for teachers? Or you can have one, but you can't have a texting plan? Because of something a colleague did? Are postal workers allowed to own guns? (now I'm showing my age)

 

Funny you should mention that, you know in most places they can legally carry if they're a delivery person. If I recall correctly it had to do with them always getting held up back in the 1800's. Just thought that was kind of ironic.

An honest teacher could be put in a bad situation via facebook even if it is just rumors.

 

How? Explain.

 

An honest teacher doesn't have to worry about students texting them if they do not give their number out. Email and facebook can have similar problems, but do you not think that by having a teacher on your facebook as a student would possibly create problems for even the most professional of teachers?

 

In what way?

An honest teacher could be put in a bad situation via facebook even if it is just rumors. An honest teacher doesn't have to worry about students texting them if they do not give their number out. Email and facebook can have similar problems, but do you not think that by having a teacher on your facebook as a student would possibly create problems for even the most professional of teachers?

 

Give me specifics that apply only to Facebook.

 

My thing is why would a teacher want to be buddies with their students? To me having students on your facebook is going to blur that line for many students. JMO.

 

I am not "buddies" with my students just because we interact on Facebook. That is an absurd supposition that you are making.

 

How many other professions are there were public opinion is so important. If the parents do not have respect for the teachers in a school, neither will the students. Public perception is huge in teaching IMO.

 

Exactly how would a teacher acting professionally have parents lose respect for them on Facebook? I should add that in my case, I am "friends" with about as many parents as I am students.

 

I do believe a teacher could be held at fault but I don't know how likely that outcome is. A teacher has the duty to report of potentially harmful things students may do or have happen to them. Probably hard to prove in court, but eventually I could see a teacher losing everything over a case like that.

 

A teacher acting professionally WOULD report potentially harmful things that they see. I have done that before.

 

The bottom line is that a teacher acting professionally can use Facebook for a great deal of good, if they chose (and thankfully our state and my district lets me choose.) One that doesn't is going to likely to get in trouble somewhere, Facebook or otherwise.

How? Explain.

 

 

 

In what way?

 

All it takes is a rumor or two before people start talking.

 

Facebook is something students do with their friends. Becoming a "friend" there strains the teacher/student relationship IMO. Especially for guy teachers. There are enough pervs out there that I think any teacher should be cautious. How often these days do you here about anything bad going in Email from students? Now what about facebook?

Give me specifics that apply only to Facebook.

 

I am not "buddies" with my students just because we interact on Facebook. That is an absurd supposition that you are making.

 

Exactly how would a teacher acting professionally have parents lose respect for them on Facebook? I should add that in my case, I am "friends" with about as many parents as I am students.

 

A teacher acting professionally WOULD report potentially harmful things that they see. I have done that before.

 

The bottom line is that a teacher acting professionally can use Facebook for a great deal of good, if they chose (and thankfully our state and my district lets me choose.) One that doesn't is going to likely to get in trouble somewhere, Facebook or otherwise.

 

Facebook is where alot of problems for kids start. It is rarely email anymore. It is sometimes texts, but I think texting students unless they're in the sport you coach, club you run or sponsor, etc. is unprofessional.

 

Do all of the kids understand you're not "buddies". You must work in an amazing school district completely unlike anything anywhere else.

 

If I'm a parent I'd want to know exactly why my kids teachers have them on facebook. Even if it is for assignments, I wouldn't go for it.

 

I think an unprofessional teacher is going to get in trouble anywhere true. But, I just do not think that a professional teacher would have nothing to worry about.

 

You like having students on facebook. It is your choice. Good luck to you and hopefully nothing bad ever happens. If it does, don't complain is all I'm saying.

I'd invite folks to check this out. I read about a teacher/student "FB type" site in this morning's paper. It's being used by some local school districts.

 

http://www.appappeal.com/app/edmodo/

 

IMO this does everything (and maybe more) that a student/teacher can do on FB WITHOUT all of the negatives.

 

Thoughts?

Facebook is where alot of problems for kids start. It is rarely email anymore. It is sometimes texts, but I think texting students unless they're in the sport you coach, club you run or sponsor, etc. is unprofessional.

 

I keep asking for you to give me specific scenarios, but you just keep giving general statements.

 

Do all of the kids understand you're not "buddies". You must work in an amazing school district completely unlike anything anywhere else.

 

I have no evidence to think that any student thinks that we are "buddies." Yes, I do work in an amazing school (my overall district needs some work). Our ACT scores have skyrocketed the last three years, due to an administration that has the students' best interests in mind and allows the teachers to do what is needed to increase rigor in the classroom and to hold students to high expectations.

 

If I'm a parent I'd want to know exactly why my kids teachers have them on facebook. Even if it is for assignments, I wouldn't go for it.

 

If you are a pro-active parent, then you'd be monitoring what your child is doing, including his/her online activity and texting activity and I can't imagine how it would be a problem. Like I said, I have MANY parents as "friends" on Facebook.

 

I think an unprofessional teacher is going to get in trouble anywhere true. But, I just do not think that a professional teacher would have nothing to worry about.

 

Again, specifics. Give me your worst case scenario.

 

You like having students on facebook. It is your choice. Good luck to you and hopefully nothing bad ever happens. If it does, don't complain is all I'm saying.

 

That last sentence is a real kicker. Thanks.

I read today that the initial report of it being law that teachers cannot friend students is not correct. The law states that each district must come up with a policy regarding electronic communication between students and teachers. That seems to contradict the wording I read. I think the law deals more with private messages than that straight forbidding of contact on the FB wall.

I read today that the initial report of it being law that teachers cannot friend students is not correct. The law states that each district must come up with a policy regarding electronic communication between students and teachers. That seems to contradict the wording I read. I think the law deals more with private messages than that straight forbidding of contact on the FB wall.

 

I wonder if the new law will allow students and teachers to talk one on one in public out of earshot of anyone else. :sssh: