I'm not sure what you're asking.

 

Unless you believe there are simply no downsides to teachers being friends with students then I'd argue your "that's where the fish are " logic is not sound.

 

Your contention is that you use FB because that's where the kids are. That seems to indicate that your students are so stubborn that they would not go to another site if that's where you told them they had to go to have the same "conversation" with you. I don't buy that. Do you really truly believe that if you laid down the law and said "here's where you can go online if you want to continue to receive help from me outside of class" that your students would not follow?

 

Simply put I don't believe your students would not follow you to wherever you wanted them to go for help.

 

It's a very simple question, Clyde. If a teacher's only intent it to facilitate homework and he/she has no inappropriate material on their page, what are some of the worst things that could potentially happen. I'd really appreciate an answer.

 

Your third paragraph reminds me of "Mr. Holland's Opus," where he is teaching the students music through rock and roll and the assistant principal has a fit and wants him to teach the classics.

I am with TB&G on this one.

 

Clyde, I think TB&G has you on this one, yes you can use other mediums but they wouldn't be as efficient or inclusive.

 

How about we crush the teachers that step out of line instead of playing big brother.

COuldn't agree more.

My point is that this "alternative" isn't an alternative at all. It's just another resource. It might look like Facebook, but it doesn't function like Facebook. It's just another thing to register for and then never check.

 

When you were in college did you tell your professor where he/she could post their syllabus OR did you go and find it and then go to wherever you had to go to get info?

It's a very simple question, Clyde. If a teacher's only intent it to facilitate homework and he/she has no inappropriate material on their page, what are some of the worst things that could potentially happen. I'd really appreciate an answer.

 

Your third paragraph reminds me of "Mr. Holland's Opus," where he is teaching the students music through rock and roll and the assistant principal has a fit and wants him to teach the classics.

 

It's not only a matter of material on the teacher's page. It's about what the teacher can see on a student's page and the POTENTIAL problems it can cause for the school system. I am 100% confident there are no problems on your page. There are plenty of potential problems on your students' pages. Schools are now considering how to handle texting between students and teachers. Why? Because it's not coming through their network so they can't see it or inspect it. That's not the case with school email. That's not the case with FB private messages. Those types of communications are exactly why schools are nervous. They have already head problems and they can forsee other problems. That's the point I've been trying to make. A leader's job is to look and plan ahead and protect the system. Innocent teachers suffer because of a few bad apples. That's life. It's that way in almost every profession. Rules often times are in place for the very few.

 

No one has yet to address my argument that kids will go to wherever you lead them for answers so I, too, would really appreciate a response to my contention that FB is not the end-all-be-all for students getting the help they need from teachers.

Do schools have rules in place about teachers meeting one-on-one with students in their classroom? Can a teacher meet with a student one-on-one with the door closed?

Do schools have rules in place about teachers meeting one-on-one with students in their classroom? Can a teacher meet with a student one-on-one with the door closed?

 

Never mind. Checked around. Some schools have rules in place that require a teacher who is meeting one-on-one with a student to leave their door open. Why? To protect the school and teacher as much as possible from a false claim made by a student.

 

99.9% of the teachers would NEVER do anything wrong if the door was closed. Yet we still have that rule. No different than MY rule because it's aimed at protecting the teacher and the school.

 

Are those that are in favor of FB against the "door open" rule?

Never mind. Checked around. Some schools have rules in place that require a teacher who is meeting one-on-one with a student to leave their door open. Why? To protect the school and teacher as much as possible from a false claim made by a student.

 

99.9% of the teachers would NEVER do anything wrong if the door was closed. Yet we still have that rule. No different than MY rule because it's aimed at protecting the teacher and the school.

 

Are those that are in favor of FB against the "door open" rule?

Comparing physical proximity to a social media site is a sure-fire sign that this argument has "jumped the shark".

It's not only a matter of material on the teacher's page. It's about what the teacher can see on a student's page and the POTENTIAL problems it can cause for the school system. I am 100% confident there are no problems on your page. There are plenty of potential problems on your students' pages. Schools are now considering how to handle texting between students and teachers. Why? Because it's not coming through their network so they can't see it or inspect it. That's not the case with school email. That's not the case with FB private messages. Those types of communications are exactly why schools are nervous. They have already head problems and they can forsee other problems. That's the point I've been trying to make. A leader's job is to look and plan ahead and protect the system. Innocent teachers suffer because of a few bad apples. That's life. It's that way in almost every profession. Rules often times are in place for the very few.

 

No one has yet to address my argument that kids will go to wherever you lead them for answers so I, too, would really appreciate a response to my contention that FB is not the end-all-be-all for students getting the help they need from teachers.

 

You still did not answer my question.

Comparing physical proximity to a social media site is a sure-fire sign that this argument has "jumped the shark".

 

:thumb:

When you were in college did you tell your professor where he/she could post their syllabus OR did you go and find it and then go to wherever you had to go to get info?

 

Of course I didn't get to tell the teacher where to post the syllabus and I don't think anyone is arguing that to do otherwise would make sense. It's not about having this place where there is educational information and access to help, it's about whether that platform has the desired effect of further engaging students and integrating the educational experience into social media. This application you've linked to may well have solid educational value, but it is not, of itself, a useful stand-alone social networking platform. And for that, there is simply no replacement for Facebook. I'm not saying that the other thing can't be helpful; it might be a useful educational platform, but it doesn't achieve the desired effect of integration.

Comparing physical proximity to a social media site is a sure-fire sign that this argument has "jumped the shark".

 

Incorrect and only for those that look at it with narrow eyes.

 

The rule is NOT put in place SOLELY due to physical proximity. It is put in place to reduce the chance of a)inappropriate contact or b)a false claim by a student that inappropriate contact took place. In other words, the rule is there to help reduce the chance for a lawsuit - merited or not.

 

That is NO different than my rule which says no FB contact because of the POTENTIAL for merited or unmerited lawsuits.

Of course I didn't get to tell the teacher where to post the syllabus and I don't think anyone is arguing that to do otherwise would make sense. It's not about having this place where there is educational information and access to help, it's about whether that platform has the desired effect of further engaging students and integrating the educational experience into social media. This application you've linked to may well have solid educational value, but it is not, of itself, a useful stand-alone social networking platform. And for that, there is simply no replacement for Facebook. I'm not saying that the other thing can't be helpful; it might be a useful educational platform, but it doesn't achieve the desired effect of integration.

 

Can there be negative consequences for a teacher friending students on FB?

You still did not answer my question.

 

I did. You said what's the problem as long as teachers do not have inappropriate content on their page.

 

I answered by saying that's not the issue. I doubt many/any teachers have inappropriate content. The debate has never been about that.

I like fb but am always hesitant to use it. Too many people tend to type words or post pictures first, then think of the consequences later. Be that as it may, I would never be a friend with a student, but I would establish groups within fb to interact with students. You can be in groups, post comments, and send messages without being friends.

I like fb but am always hesitant to use it. Too many people tend to type words or post pictures first, then think of the consequences later. Be that as it may, I would never be a friend with a student, but I would establish groups within fb to interact with students. You can be in groups, post comments, and send messages without being friends.

 

Are you sure? If I am the administrator of a fan page you as a student first have to click "like" to have my page come up on your wall. Wouldn't I then have access to your page ?