At some point in their careers every teacher is faced with an extremely important, potentially career-altering decision: whether or not to "friend" their students. (Watch out, you'll be seeing me verb a lot more nouns in the future, it's how I do).
I live about an hour away from school by public transportation, and although I have run into students in my neighborhood, it's very rare. It is more common however to run into my students online. When this happens, what's a teacher to do? I'm no longer the social networking slut I used to be in college, I'm down to a facebook page only now. That being said, I'm no spring chicken, I've been places, I've done things, do I really want my work life to tango with my personal life? I tend to follow a strict no friending current students policy, I will however add students that have graduated. I usually don't add them as friends, because, let's face it: it would suck to be denied. This summer is the first time I've added students to facebook and I think it's a lot of fun reading about what they are up to, and all about their pre-college excitement and jitters. It's all very, ahem, rewarding. *blush*
Any thoughts on this? If you're a teacher do you friend your students?
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6 comments:
Hi senorita.
I have a strict "no current students" policy too. However, I created a completely separate facebook page where I allow graduated students to friend me. (Like you, I also don't actively "friend" them.) It's a more generic page that doesn't detail much of my private life, but I think some students appreciate the contact. I would recommend it this way, as allowing them on your "regular" page allows them to see way too much private information. Plus, I don't want them to read everything my friends write on my wall!
Hope that helps!
Gracias Profesora,
That's an excellent idea, I've thought of that in the past but think I'd have trouble keeping up with more than one facebook profile. Maybe I should just buckle down and do it though...
Hi Senorita,
I think it’s an important topic than needs to be discussed more broadly because current handling of the subject is very narrow and restricted largely to groups who are always playing hard defense.
As you know, I also allow my students to friend me on Facebook. And I agree with you that friending them is just weird. However, I like to leave the option to do the friending open to them because I've always liked the notion of "teacher transparency"--I think it's better for students to know more than less about their teachers. It helps us build relationships with them and Facebook gives us a more natural and relaxed forum for providing them with human role models: 44-minute periods with bells at the beginning and end don't allow enough room for that.
But I'm also different in that I've got 10+ years on you and most young teachers and I primarily started my account to stay in touch with my former students from Korea and elsewhere. If I had used Facebook personally in high school or college, I would probably have a much different attitude. I would certainly have a much different attitude if less than 5 years separated me from the seniors, as is the case with many young teachers.
Regardless, I have also been considering the Profesora's idea for a while. The prevailing attitude among elder educators, unions and boards of education is anti-social networking. (If you ever read the American Educator you will know their editorial staff regard Facebook as the greatest threat to teachers since McCarthyism...) For example, last year I was confronted (horrifyingly at the entrance to the men’s room [it was a female teacher]) by an elder teacher over sharing my instant messaging screen name with my AP students. She didn't really understand what it was I was sharing with them, but it terrified her. More so because she didn't understand the new technology than that she was worried about my career, I believe, but I do think it wise to avoid raising worry among certain parties over this.
For the record, all of my students' parents know that I communicate electronically with their children--it has never been an issue with any of them. It's the professional field for who it is an issue. And honestly, I do appreciate their professional concern and I know its source, but cookie-cutter protectionism is not the best resolution to this issue.
But compromise options are available to us: For how I want to use Facebook with students--maintaining contact, conducting academic counseling, creating groups to raise awareness of human rights issues, spreading ideas through media and networking with students and teachers at sister programs and schools--having a specific teacher account may be the way to go. Perhaps even a "page" like you have created for your Senorita persona is an even better option than providing them with a teacher profile.
If our students are going to have that kind of relationship with Edward Cullen, Lady Gaga, Chinese New Year, and "Staying Up Late", maybe it's better that they "fan" us instead of "friend" us too.
--A World History Teacher in the City.
Hi World History Teacher,
I am familiar with your facebook relationship with students and really admire your work with your classes online. I am interested in doing something like that myself for my current students, and I think your fan page idea might just be the way to go. Really there's nothing better than facebook. I've tried to use different blogs with my classes but it's such a hassle getting them all to join yet another website. They are mostly all on facebook already and if not, this is just a positive reason to join.
The fan page is convenient as it can be maintained and updated from your regular account, no need to create another log-in name, etc.
Ah, our colleagues, is it almost September already?
Señorita,
I, too, only accept students who have graduated as a friend on Facebook. However, I limit what they can see in my profile. I created a "former students" group and block them from seeing my pictures, wall posts, etc.. You can do this by going to the settings page and security.
That's a good tip Dana, I forget that Facebook allows you to alter your security settings.
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