As they prepare lesson plans for fall, teachers across Missouri have an extra chore before the new school year begins: purging their Facebook friend lists to comply with a new state law that limits their contact with students on social networks.
The law was proposed after an Associated Press investigation found 87 Missouri teachers had lost their licenses between 2001 and 2005 because of sexual misconduct, some of which involved exchanging explicit online messages with students.
But many teachers are protesting the new restrictions, complaining the law will hurt their ability to keep in touch with students, whether for classroom purposes, personal problems or even emergencies.
The new law forbids teachers from having "exclusive access" online with current students or former students who remain minors, meaning any contact on Facebook or other sites must be done in public rather than through private messages.
I'm not sure how I feel about this. On one hand, I'm impressed that some teachers are going above and beyond the call of duty and taking on the role that's normally assumed by parents, and doing it on their own time. On the other hand, is off-duty, unsupervised social work part of their job? Adults chatting with/messaging children privately strikes me as a bit creepy, but I do think there are some really good teachers out there who genuinely care about the welfare of kids, whether they're on or off the clock.
I think this is a great idea. Facebook is a good tool that teachers can utilize for assignments and whatnot - but it needs to be a private group done through the school. Or just keep it on the school website, as many places already do.
ReplyDeleteThe kids need to get their assignments at school, and if they screw that up, they need to live with the consequences. All this chasing kids around to "help" them succeed only gives them more reasons NOT to succeed. Because they know there are no consequences for their irresponsibility.
I would never, EVER have "friended" students when I was teaching. A teacher shouldn't be up in their student's social business. In fact, I think that the increasing familiarity of teachers and students is a very, very bad idea. Kids need to grow up respecting those in authority, and familiarity breeds contempt.
Also, I'm apparently a crochety old woman.
Also, I'm apparently a crochety old woman.
ReplyDeleteSince when? If *you're* a crochety old woman I'm REALLY in trouble...
Also, I'm apparently a crochety old woman.
ReplyDeleteOh, I just LOVE crocheted things, they look so pretty ;)
HAH! You guys... :)
ReplyDeleteCrochet? I thought we were calling that "Freedom Knitting" now...
ReplyDelete<neocon-retro/>
On topic - I agree with afw. Srsly.
ReplyDeleteI have extraordinary respect and understanding for my teachers in highschool now, from the perspective of adulthood. OMG. I don't know how they put up with us. Me in particular.
If I were a teacher today, I would not extend any consideration of privacy or confidence to any student. They would understand that my terms and conditions were those of radical transparency - any online conversations we might have, through any media, would be preserved and open to inspection - indexed and searchable. I'd never be under any illusions that I could say things to them which would remain private, and vice versa.
I think every teacher should follow these criteria.
Of course this eliminates an entire set of adults from a teenagers circle of confidants. It would force teenagers to recognize they could never "trust" teachers. I think that just reflects reality - they can't and they shouldn't.
I believe it is appropriate for some adults to have confidential discourse from time to time with adolescents, even those other than their own children.
But education is an institution - state run, most of it. Representations of confidentiality between students and teachers intrude on the family. The institution of education should reject this type of intrusion as a matter of policy.