NH school pushing to limit teachers' social networking

shel90

shel90

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WHDH-TV - NH school pushing to limit teachers' social networking


MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Administrators at a New Hampshire school system are debating new rules for social networking sites like Facebook to make sure there's a clear boundary between teachers and students.

Manchester's school department is taking steps to keep online contact clean.

The review was prompted in part by a situation in nearby Londonderry, where a former high school teacher there, Melinda Dennehy, e-mailed nude pictures of herself to a student last year.


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VIEWER VOICES: What do you think about the Manchester, NH school's push to limit online interaction between teachers and students?


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That incident, coupled with the fact that social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace can reveal too much private information, has the school board drafting some new guidelines.

"That is the extreme. What we're concerned about is incidental or casual conversations with friends within their network, and then students may be able to access that page oh my teachers on page what she has a profile opens up areas that could be problematic," Said Manchester Superintendant Thomas Brennan.

Several parents think the measure is necessary.

"A number of incidences have happened in the paper that have proven that this kind of behavior between teachers and students can cross boundaries," said Helen Gilda, a concerned parent.

Many also agree with the superintendant that students don't need to know teachers after school activity.

"Let's say I decide to go out and party with my friends, how does a parent or student look at that?" said Superintendant Brennan.

"They think it's a cool thing to be able to talk to their teachers and see what their teachers are doing on the weekends and stuff, and that's just not any of their business," said Katrina Azagaoh, a student.

"When you have that teacher child relationship, there needs to be that parameter, because there needs to be that amount of respect, and sort of, almost mystery to it," said Michelle Boyd, a parent.

Among the list: they don't want teachers accepting friend requests from students, and warn them not to communicate online in an overly casual way when it comes to e-mails and text messages.

If the proposal passes at the next school board meeting, employees who violate the policy could face discipline or dismissal.
 
I have to agree. You want to have a good relationship with your students but you have to set some boundaries as an educator/professional and say hey, I appreciate your friend request but if I do this, this will cause us both problems we don't need. Plus I have my private adult life away from here just the same as the student has their private kid life away from school.

I don't need to know what my students are doing every weekend just the same way as my students don't need to know what I'm doing every weekend.

However, once a student graduates and enters college and wishes to 'friend me' on FB, I would go ahead and do so AFTER they have graduated and are 18. This way no one blurs the line or take something out of context and use it against me. It is bad enough that teachers have little recourse when it comes to things like this. I don't think we need to be giving them more ammunition to shoot us down with. Because a student who gets mad at you can always come back and say well me and Mr./Mrs. SoAndSo had internet sex on FB chat. Because there is no proof one way or the other, it is the teacher's word against the student's.

I think the superintendent was thinking ahead when he thought of this plan. He just wanted an extra hedge of protection between his teachers and the wildcard students. He's not saying they cannot be on FB period, it is not realistic, he is just enforcing what should be done anyway - decline any friend requests by students and be aware of what you are posting on FB.
 
souggy said:
So, what's your opinion on it, shel?
Click to expand...

My opinion or better yet, my question is 'Why were these teachers accepting their students as friends in the first place?" I would think it would be common sense.

It is just interesting how FB is really changing things..from people getting busted by insurance companies, their bosses, the government, people discovering that their significant others have been cheating on them, and now, teachers getting into trouble.

I have had friend requests by some of the students at where I work at at the beginning of the year. Denied their requests because I dont want them to know my personal business.

However, I did get reprimanded by my boss in April for posting something about a crazy field trip on my status even though I didnt name my place of employment nor name anyone specificically. :mad:
 
I can see your some of your points.
It's more sensible to be 'friends' with former students than when they were your students.

My employer gave us a booklet and it instructed us not to criticise our place of employment on Facebook and such.
 
One of my favourite teachers left the school last year due to the fact that her seniority was overruled. After she left, I added her on Facebook and my request was accepted. However, she has me on a limited profile where I can only see her info tab, which is smart... it sets the boundary between teacher and student. However, I think that once I graduate, it would be safe to take me off of that limited profile. Teachers in my board are not allowed to add current students.
 
Social Network for teachers

Hey my name is Brad, I work with Adobe, and also do a lot of work with social media. I agree teachers and students is now a sticky situation with Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, etc. really taking away almost all privacy. One helpful way for teachers to escape this is the Adobe Education Exchange, this online community gives teachers their own space to discuss topics like this among other issues. Here's the link: Adobe Education Exchange , and I hope this helps!
 
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