Students, teachers should be wary of Facebook’s personal nature

February 10, 2011

In today’s technologically-driven world, students and teachers can learn everything they’ve ever wanted to know about each other and more with just a few clicks. But with too much available information on the Internet, inappropriate relationships can develop between students and teachers. MCPS should prohibit teachers from communicating with students over websites like Facebook to prevent such relationships from forming.Because the Internet is less formal than the classroom, it offers more opportunities for unhelathy relationships to evolve. The Virginia Board of Education is considering a proposal to limit extracurricular student-teacher interaction online after several incidents of teachers abusing students.

Most recently, Mannassas teacher Kevin Ricks sexually abused several students, using social networking sites to stay in touch with victims, according to the Washington Post. Though similar incidents haven’t occurred recently in Montgomery County, MCPS should create checks as a precautionary measure.

But Internet interaction isn’t a one-way issue. Students can also develop crushes on teachers, which could get out of hand if students find information about their teachers’ personal lives on Facebook. Students can also communicate inappropriately using chat or messaging.

The lack of boundaries blurs the line between a student-teacher relationship and a friend-friend relationship. Students, would you want teachers looking at that gorgeous, yet ‘slightly’ low-cut dress you wore to your best friend’s party Friday night? Faculty, do you want students looking at the post you jokingly wrote on your husband’s wall?

Through Facebook pictures, posts and statuses, teachers and students can delve into each other’s personal lives. Students may forget they’re Facebook ‘friends’ with their teachers when they post messages or photos they wouldn’t want a teacher to see.

Proponents of student-teacher Facebook communication argue that the site is a great way for teachers to contact students. They say many students don’t use e-mail, making Facebook the best option. But there’s an excellent alternative to Facebook that teachers can use to get their message across: Edline. For example, teachers can tell students to check Edline frequently for updated assignments and schedules. MCPS buys this resource to connect students and teachers, so they should use all of its capabilities. Teachers can post documents, messages and even a calendar of events on Edline.

Because MCPS offers Edline as an easy communication tool, there’s no reason to use a site that blurs the line between professional and personal relationships.

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Irrelevant • Mar 11, 2011 at 12:41 pm

Agreed. Though certainly teacher-student personal relationships are important, there is no need to use facebook. The privacy boundaries of the Internet are blurry yet.

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